 São 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.