 The population in 2011 was 441, in an area of 31.68 km².The parish had its beginning in the 13th century, when the area was then referred to as "Aldeia da Mata", and recognized for the quantity of wood gathered in the district ("aldeia da mata" is Portuguese for "hamlet of the hinterland").It was also recognized for the land rents obtained from cultivation and harvesting of olive and pine trees.