Escurquela

Average of the country in the 2001 census: 0/14 years old-16,0%; 15/24 years old-14,3%; 25/64 years old-53,4%; 65 and above years old-16,4%

Average of the country in the 2011: 0/14 years old-14,9%; 15/24 years old-10,9%; 25/64 years old-55,2%; 65 and above years old-19,0%

In this town there is a parish church, two chapels, a cemetery and two stone cross. The parish belongs to the diocese of Lamego and till 1834 the Recto of Fonte Arcada presented the priest to the parish.^[4]

The parish church is located in the middle of the town from east to west. Made with only one nave, the church is dedicated to Saint Dominic having an altar mor and two side altars. It still has the wooden ceiling liner nicely painted and the high altar richly gilded, both made in 1713 by the craftsman Manuel de Afonseca, on that time inhabitant of Escurquela.^[6] Unfortunately restorations done in the 21st century hide richly grave stone slabs that composed the floor of the church. Also with the changes driven by Paul VI, it was also added a middle altar in 1969.

On highest parts of the village, near the cemetery, there is also a very old chapel: the Capela de Santa Bárbara (Saint Barbara Chapel).

Outside the town, on the foothill of Penedo de São Tiago exists the chapel Capela de São Tiago (Saint James Chapel) that, according to tradition, was the first mother church. In relation to this temple, tradition attributes its current dedication to Saint James because there he appeared miraculously on a horse during a battle in which the Christians were being slaughtered by their enemies. With his encouragement, the Christians regained strength and came out winners. The footprint miraculously left by the horse's hoof on the stone, can still be observed by those who rise to the top of the "Penedo de São Tiago" (Rock of Saint James in English).

In this hamlet there is also a XVIII stone fountain, a small manor house, a primary school and a public laundry tank for washing clothes (see Washhouses).