its own parish. On 4 February 1999, PS deputy Jorge Valente (elected in the Algarve) brought before the National Assembly a petition to formally elevate the urban seat of Alcantarilha to the status of vila (town). This project was approved in plenary on 13 May 1999, and proclaimed on 1 November 1999. Architecture Civic Manor of the Mascarenhas Marreiros Leite () Railway Station of Alcantarilha-Armação de Pêra () Military Castle of Alcantarilha () Religious Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (), the parochial church of Alcantarilha, from the 16th century, is marked its Manueline-era main chapel with gilded retable (dating to the 18th century), a 17th-century tiled ashlar baptismal chapel and sacristy, highlighted by niche in acanthus leaves (also from the 18th century). Alongside the main nave is the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), located on the southern lateral annex; this chapel is constructed completely of approximately 1500 skulls and thigh bones, arranged in lateral bands and surmounted by a Romanesque arch; Church of the Misericórdia of Alcantarilha () Notable citizens José António Mendonça (Alcantarilha, 21 July 1800 — Lisbon, 17 February 1870), Baron of Alcantarilha and Jaraguá; Sebastião José Mendonça, Baron of Alcantarilha; brother of José António Mendonça José Diogo Mascarenhas Neto, the first Superintendent-General for the Mail and Post (Superintendente Geral dos Correios e Postas do Reino), who revolutionized the Portuguese postal system (1799-1805), and was responsible for the elimination of the Office of High-Courier João Ortigão Peres, military officer José Joaquim Rasquinho, painter, responsible for the paintings in the Church of Santo António, in Lagos, and Church of the Lay Carmelites, in Tavira References Former parishes of Silves, Portugal