Abrunhosa-a-Velha

The parish includes several settlements, not only including Abrunhosa-a-Velha, but also Vila Mendo de Tavares and Gouveia-Gare: a population of 880 inhabitants.[3]

It is served by rail services through its Abrunhosa-a-Velha and Gouveia railway stations.[3]

Around 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the main village is the hermitage of Nossa Senhora dos Verdes, which was founded around 1600, which is the basis for the modern parish.[3] A pillory classified as property of public interest (Decree 23122, 11 October 1933), served the civil judge during the period, when that official occupied a local building (identifiable the building with a 15th-century Manueline window).[3]

Around 1608, a papal bull conceded indulgences to the Irmandade de Nossa Senhora dos Verdes de Abrunhosa-a-Velha (Brotherhood of Nossa Senhora dos Verdes).[3] The chapel was still standing following a plague of grasshoppers that destroyed the municipality, part of Fornos de Algodres, across the Serra do Bom Sucesso and parish of Castelo (in Penalva do Castelo).[3] Since this period, on the first Monday of Holy Spirit, a pilgrimage (both religious and devotional) occurs in the parish.[3]

When in the 18th century, Pais Amaral de Mangualde was made the donatarys of Abrunhosa-a-Velha, he also received for the small village, the category of vila (town).[3]

In addition to Vila Mendo de Tavares, this region was part of one municipality: Tavares, with its own civil judge and comarca administration.[3] The captain-major and five ordinance officials guarded the outpost, while a superintendency for local tithes was invested in the juízo de fora of Mangualde and Tavares (in addition to two smaller municipalities at the time).[3]

By 1811, the donatary was already part of the royal possessions.[3]

Annually, the parish is the center of festivals in honour of Saint Cecilia (village of Abrunhosa-a-Velha) and Saint Dominic (in Vila Mendo de Tavares).[3]