The construction of the new Cruz de Pelo roundabout on National Road 206 is allegedly causing cracks in the ceiling of the church of the Monastery of São Francisco de Assis, in Vale São Martinho, Famalicão. The project is the responsibility of Infraestruturas de Portugal and has been ongoing since February 2025, following a prior municipal work to renovate the water and sanitation connections.
Sister Cândida Barros, representative of the Poor Clares congregation, installed in Famalicão for 50 years, explains that the "shaking of the road" and the dynamics inherent to the construction work are the source of the "many cracks" that appeared in the chapel ceiling. The representative also alerts to the condition of the pedestrian walkway, emphasizing that the pavement "is very deteriorated," with risk of collapse.
The lack of safety conditions on the access routes has affected the routine of the community, with some elderly people no longer frequenting the space. The nun regrets that these faithful "have no other means" and "won't walk in the middle of the road," although they have left assurances that they will return to the site once the works are finished.
The new roundabout is an infrastructure demanded for more than two decades, with the aim of improving traffic flow on the connection to Regional Road 309. Given the damage to the heritage, the Poor Clares congregation sent a letter to Infraestruturas de Portugal requesting an intervention to safeguard the monastery, but has not received any response to date.
