Alcains

Alcains
Parish
The pillory and the Roman fountain
Alcains
Coordinates: 39°54′58″N 7°27′22″W / 39.916°N 7.456°W / 39.916; -7.456Coordinates: 39°54′58″N 7°27′22″W / 39.916°N 7.456°W / 39.916; -7.456
Country	Portugal
Region	Centro
Subregion	Beira Interior Sul
Intermunic. comm.	Beira Baixa
District	Castelo Branco
Municipality	Castelo Branco
Area
• Total	36.94 km2 (14.26 sq mi)
Elevation	370 m (1,210 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	5,022
• Density	140/km2 (350/sq mi)
Postal code	6005
Patron	Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Website	http://www.jfalcains.pt

Alcains is a Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Castelo Branco. The population in 2011 was 5,022, in an area of 36.94 km².

Remote history, indicated by diverse archaeological testaments, indicate a human presence in the area extending back to the pre-historic. During the Neolithic period there were implements discovered in the sites such as the Grulha and Lameira de Curia (today housed in the Museum Tavares Proença Júnior).

The Romanization of the area was also documented in the number of vestiges found in Cabeço da Pelada, such as a kiln and altar dedicated to the divinity Reve, from the 2nd century B.C. Remnants from two altars were identified in 2008, during excavations in the Chapel of São Domingos, that also identify the Roman influence on the parish's history.

The toponymy Alcains is derived from the Arabic word for church and, according to some historians, may have had the same origin as Alcañiz, a city in the Spanish province of Teruel.

In the 12th century the region belonged to the numerous villages and lands that comprised the Herdade de Açafa, dominion of Afonso Henriques. Much later, Afonso III donated these lands to the Knights Templar. Throughout the Middle Ages, its development was somewhat irregular, due to the constant demographic recessions of the region. By the end of the 14th century, the creation of the municipalities led to the survey and delimitation of the parish of Alcains.

Rich in historical and religious patrimony, the region was used by the nobility for summer homes and estates; the Viscounts of Oleiros (whom owned the Solares de Alcains) and the Viscounts of Idanha-a-Nova (who owned the Solares dos Goulões) were beneficial in developing the land in this region, and providing job opportunities. Several stories, legends and anecdotes surfaced during this period, identifying the daily humour and mythos of the community. By the early 16th century, Alcains began to recover economically, by taking advantage of its good geographic situation, through the creation of several workshops, and it later progressed due to the predominance of agricultural activities linked to creation major industries.