ALENTEJO

'Alentejo' (pron. IPA //) is a south-central region of Portugal. Its name's origin, "além do Tejo", literally translates to "beyond the Tagus". The region is separated from the rest of Portugal by the Tagus river, and extends to the south where it borders the Algarve. There are four sub-regions; the Alto (High) Alentejo, the Baixo (Lower) Alentejo, the Alentejo Central, and the Alentejo Litoral. Its main cities are Évora (region's capital), Santarém (formerly belonging to Ribatejo region), Portalegre, Beja, and Sines. It has 776,585 inhabitants (2001), and an area of about 26,000 km² (density of 30 inhabitants per square kilometre).
It is one of five Regions of Portugal (NUTS II subdivisions). Today Lezíria do Tejo subregion, formerly belonging to Lisboa e Vale do Tejo region, is part of Alentejo NUTS II region.

Contents

Geography

Nature

Economy

Trivia

Subregions

Geography

Topographically the countryside varies considerably, from the open rolling plains of the south of the Alentejo to the granite hills that border Spain in the north-east. To feed the water needs of this considerable area a number of public dams have been constructed, most notably the Alqueva Dam.

Nature

To the east of Portalegre is the Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede, a Nature Park Area that includes charming medieval villages that have changed very little from those days. In the south near Mértola is another Nature Park Area named Parque Natural do Vale Guadiana. This is mainly uninhabited and a contrast to the other above. To the west, the coastal strip that runs from the port of Sines down to Cape de São Vicente is also a reserved area.

Economy

The area is commonly known as the "bread basket" of Portugal, a region of vast open countryside with undulating plains and rich fertile soil. With very few exceptions all the major towns are mainly reliant on agriculture, livestock and wood. There are several types of typical cheeses, wines and smoked hams and sausages made in Alentejo region, among these: ''Queijo de Serpa'', ''Queijo de Évora'' and ''Queijo de Nisa'' (cheeses); ''Vinho do Alentejo'' and ''Vinho do Redondo'' (wines); and presunto (ham). Marble, cork, olive oil and mining industries are other important activities in the region.

Trivia

★ The Alqueva dam is today a landmark of this region.

★ Alentejo is a region known for its polyphonic singing groups, comparable to those found on Sardinia and Corsica.

★ Alentejo provides the setting of Monica Ali's second novel, namely ''Alentejo Blue.''

Subregions

★ Alentejo Central

★ Alentejo Litoral

★ Alto Alentejo

★ Baixo Alentejo [1]

★ Lezíria do Tejo