São Marcos da Serra

São Marcos da Serra is a civil parish in the municipality of Silves, in the Algarve region, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 1,352, in an area of 166.07 km².HistorySão Marcos takes its name from Saint Mark, the Evangelist.Since 1999, several apparitions of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady Mother of Goodness (Nossa Senhora da Bondade) were reported near São Marcos da Serra, resulting in some worldwide notoriety, in particular by the Catholic youth and priests. Although these events resulted in pilgrimages by some faithful to the northern Algarve, the Holy See have never officially recognized these apparitions.GeographyThe parish seat of São Marco is 27.2km north-northeast of the centre of Silves and is 250km south-southeast of Lisbon. Located between the junction between the Serra do Caldeirão and the Serra de Monchique mountain ridges, the parish is intersected by the Riberia de Odelouca, which bisects the main village, also known as the Ribeira de São Marcos. The Odelouca receives water from two tributary streams: the Ribeira de Azilheire and Ribeira de Besteiros.A typical mountain community, the buildings are spread over the slopes of the mountain valleys, resulting in steep roadways. At the highest point of the village is the parish church, located in the main square, whose western extent is also used as a market. A landscaped space, the square is bordered by the church, across from the health center, while a statue of Doctor Antonio Bernardino Ramos is located at its centre. On the heights along the rail-line, are the urban developments of Poleirão and Montezinhos, consisting of the typical whitewashed buildings, in addition to several cafés and a restaurant.