A dos Cunhados


A dos Cunhados is a former civil parish in the municipality of Torres Vedras in the central Oeste subregion of Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish A dos Cunhados e Maceira. Covering an area of approximately, its population in 2001 was 6936 resident inhabitants.

History

The settlement of this area, originated in the ancient Paleolithic period resulting from the fertility of the soils, enriched by margins of the Alcabrichel River.
The name A-dos-Cunhados reflected the first inhabitants: three brothers-in-law who inhabited a large estate, that was later divided amongst them and their descendants. But, from the writings of the Bishop, there were two brothers-in-law and not three.
The parish of A-dos-Cunhados was created in 1581, by Jorge de Almeida, archbishop of Lisbon after he, in 1572 had authorized the first celebrations of mass in the local chapel two years earlier.
By 1527 there were 27 neighbors in the parish.
In 2001, 6936 people inhabited the parish that included the villages of A-dos-Cunhados, Boavista, Bombardeira, Brejenjas, Casais do Rego, Casais da Serpegeira, Casais Vale da Borra, Casal da Barreirinha, Casal da Carrasquinha, Casal da Popa, Casal da Portela, Casal de Serpa, Casal da Varzinha, Casal das Paradas, Casal de Além, Casal do Seixo, Casal dos Feros, Casal Figueira Velha, Casal Ventoso, Louribetão, Palhagueiras, Pinheiro Manso, Póvoa de Além, Póvoa de Penafirme, Praia da Vigia, Quinta da Piedade, Santa Cruz–Pisão, Sobreiro Curvo, Vale Janelas and Valongo.
A dos Cunhados became a town on 21 June 1995, but the parish was subdivided in 1997, when Maceira was elevated to the status of civil parish.