population reached a record low number of 1,352 inhabitants as measured since the 1864 census, the São Marcos da Serra railway station was closed, increasing further its dependence on the neighboring town of São Bartolomeu de Messines. However, rural tourism-focused facilities and events have been developed in São Marcos da Serra since the 2010s in order to take advantage of the newly-built Odelouca Dam with a catchment area of 393 km² and the area's pristine, sparsely-populated natural landscape nested between two mountain ranges of inland, western Algarve. Geography The parish seat of São Marcos is north-northeast of the centre of Silves, the seat of its municipality, 16 kilometers north of São Bartolomeu de Messines and is south-southeast of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. Located between the junction between the Serra do Caldeirão and the Serra de Monchique mountain ridges, the parish is intersected by the Ribeira de Odelouca, which bisects the main village, also known as the Ribeira de São Marcos. The Odelouca receives water from two tributary streams: the Ribeira de Azilheire and Ribeira de Besteiros. A typical mountain community, the buildings are spread over the slopes of the mountain valleys, resulting in steep roadways. At the highest point of the village is the parish church, located in the main square, whose western extent is also used as a market. A landscaped space, the square is bordered by the church, across from the health center, while a statue of António Bernardino Ramos, a celebrated physician and respected inhabitant of the village, is located at its centre. On the heights along the rail-line, are the urban developments of Poleirão and Montinhos, consisting of the typical whitewashed buildings, in addition to several cafés and a restaurant. The parish seat is located west of the IC1 roadway that links the Algarve to Lisbon, through Santana da Serra and Ourique. In addition, there is a direct link to Silves, while the municipal road 541 connects São Marcos to Alferce by way of Nave Redonda. Until 2011, rail service supported the bus services in the morning and afternoon between São Marcos da Serra and São Bartolomeu de Messines, but it was discontinued. The population of the entire civil parish in 2011 was 1,352, in an area of 166.07 km². Almost all the population lives in the village of São Marcos da Serra proper. The village proper stands about between 110 to 130 meters