Local Commerce

Francisco Roque Gomes da Silva founded Santo António’s Factory in 1893. Since the beginning, the factory and shop have been in the same location, at Travessa do Forno and Rua 5 de Outubro. It started by producing biscuits and crackers, with evident English influence (especially from the largest biscuit factory in the world – Huntley & Palmers), from the recipes to the logo of the 5 Kg tins, in tin foil and lined with paper. Santo António’s Factory continues in its sixth family generation.

It keeps an important batch of the furniture used along with its existence, as well as some equipment, which is exposed in the commercial area. In 1948, the factory was remodelled and adapted to electricity, but the modernisation was spared, however, the main machine, a biscuit moulder, dating from 1900, was only adapted to the new driving force.