Ribatejo

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The Ribatejo (pronounced [ʁibɐˈtɛʒu]) is the most central of Portugal's traditional regions or provinces, with no coastline nor border with Spain. The region is crossed by the river Tagus (Ribatejo = "Upstream, (on the banks of) Tagus" or "Upper Tagus") and is home to some of the richest agricultural lands in the country. It is particularly famous for raising the horses and bulls used in the Portuguese style of bullfighting.

Although the province no longer has any officially defined borders, being only a historical and cultural region, the places normally considered to be part of it are Abrantes, Alcanena, Almeirim, Alpiarça, Azambuja, Benavente, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Constância, Coruche, Golegã, Ponte de Sor, Salvaterra de Magos, Santarém, Tomar, Torres Novas, Vila Franca de Xira and Vila Nova da Barquinha.

Historically, the biggest towns in Ribatejo were Santarém and Tomar. As an administrative subdivision, the province disappeared in 1976, after being formally created in 1936, and its territory was incorporated by Portugal's present regions.

v • d • e Historical provinces of Portugal (1936-1976) Açores · Algarve · Alto Alentejo · Baixo Alentejo · Beira Alta · Beira Baixa · Beira Litoral · Douro Litoral · Estremadura · Madeira · Minho · Ribatejo · Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro