The word "Escalhão" derive from the word "Secalhão" for once to deal with an arid region. Another version says that "Escalhão" comes from the Latin "Scanlan" at "Scalarius" down the rocky mountains that we climbed.

   With a surface: 7843 / ha, and a resident population of around 1100 / inhabitants, is the most common of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo.

   The common "Escalhão" to limit to the north and the Douro "Barca d'Alva, at the river is the town and Agueda Mata de Lobos, south of the same common border at Vilar Formoso, a the main border with Spain. A West Village "Vilar de Amargo" and the river Aguiar.

   The main routes are the RN 221 and 604.

   Towards the north, on the RN 221on can see the viewpoint of "Alto da Sapinha, almond blossom, which leaves a huge white blanket on the Douro Valley.

   Among others there is also a beautiful fountain "Fountain" built in 1797, even fed population Escalhão water.

   In the distant past we are very familiar can, knowing that only once has existed a Lusitanian-Roman castle and remains of a medieval fortress, built on the same in 1310, by order of D. King Dinis of Portugal.

   One of the benchmarks required the Mother Church, describes the style Manueline, dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels "Senhora dos Anjos" protector of the town. Construction of the sixteenth century, believed to be remnants of the medieval fortress. Its interior has a high artistic, highlight the valiant work in carved and gilded size of mannerist frescoes painted on the ceiling of the XVII century.

   Another feature of this National Monument are the marks of cannon balls that can be seen on the stones of very high walls, resulting from bombardment of 1642 with the neighboring Spanish during the War of Restoration.

   On October 17 the same year, Portugal was invaded by the Spanish army commanded by a disowned João Soares De Alcarcão, with 4500 soldiers and 400 knights. The towns they passed by or were emerged in suffering, destruction and ruin.

   Reached Escalhão they found resistance when they were not expecting. Street closures, 30 soldiers commanded by Lieutenant João Rodrigues and 150 "Escalhonenses" directed by Paulo Freire, it is realized that the enemy was much higher numbers, are refugees in the church to be near to the face enemy invader. The "Escalhonenses" are defended heroically against the cannon balls that had targeted the main church. The enemy surprises and weakened by the resistance of the brave people, came in a panic to see that their leaders had died following the battle. The people of Escalhão took the time to leave the temple and turn back the enemy to seize their weapons they abandoned them in fleeing, leaving many dead.

   The legend tells of a man dubbed January "Janeirinho" would have killed the leader of the Spanish Captain Zamora with a bellman he threw at the top of the tower of the church.

   In September 1978 the Mother Church fu classified as National Monument.