The
Dolmen culture reached the regions of Penedono during antiquity. The area of Antas, for example, was primarily constructed on the religious-funerary monumental dolmen that was constructed during the Neolithic. In the flanks of the mountains these tribes established
castros that were later appropriated by Roman garrisons to support their positions in the lands. They also constructed new roads that intersect the hills, discovering gold and silver deposits, in addition to precious metals, which they exported back to Rome. In 1321, during the reign of King
Denis there existed three parochial churches in Penedono, to the invocation of São Pedro, São Salvador and Santa Maria Madalena. Over time the parish of Santa Maria Madalena was extinguished, and its lands divided into the remaining authorities. Similarly São Salvador, also, became extinct.
Monarchy The last foral was donated to Pene de Dono during the reign of
Manuel I of Portugal, undersigned by Fernão de Pina, on 27 November 1512. The land rents and rights of the crown at the time were set at 2$970
réis to be paid by the residents and municipality to the
alcalde of the village castle. Of the sheep and goats that grazed in the lands without license, there was an obligation to pay one
real per head, and in the case of cattle, 10 réis. Among the rights of the local authority, the alcalde had rights of portage and to cook bread. During the 1527 population cadastral inventory of King
John III, the municipality of Penedono included 486 homes and 1500 inhabitants. The most populous area of Antas, with 130 homes, followed by Castaínço (85), Beselga (82), Prova (78), Vila (73) and Alcarva (48); Antas represented almost a third of the resident population. In 1708, Penedono was part of the
comarca of Pinhel, divided between the ecclesiastical parishes of São Salvador and São Pedro, abbeys of the royal
Padroado. The municipality included at that time its first
Casa da Misericórdia, Hospital and five chapels, in addition to seven civil parishes: Granja, Castainço, Alcarva, Prova, Antas, Beselga and Ourozinho. At the time Pedro Álvares Cabral de Lacerda e Valadares, descendant of Fernando Afonso Correia, master of Farelães and Valadares, was the alcalde of the castle. In the second half of the same century, Joaquim de Azevedo, abbey of Cedavim, composed his
História Eclesiástica da cidade e Bispado de Lamego, now Penedono, to be transferred to the comarca of
Trancoso. By decree on 23 December 1873, it magisterial rights were stripped, and municipal authority remained. In turn, in 1895 Penedono was extinguished on 7 September, to be restored on 13 January 1898, along with all pre-existing civil parishes. ==Geography==