Alvega

Template:Geobox Alvega is a Portuguese civil parish, located in the municipality of Abrantes, in the central district of Santarém. It stands on the left bank of the river Tagus. The parish has a population of 1,729 inhabitants and a total area of 56.44 km².

History

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia, the village of Alvega

On top of a hilltop encountered 300 metres (980 ft) to the southwest of the confluence of the Tagus River with the Lampreia River, in the area of Barca de Bandos, are the ruins of a fortress. The vestiges of the surface area indicate the precense of the Phoneicians and Greeks.

By the time that the Romans began occupying the Iberian peninsula around 130, the area was already an important community, desiganted Ayre or Aritium, with river port that provided a military connection between Lisbon and Mérida. The destruction of the Roman fort was attributed to the invasion of Vandals, on their way to Andalusia. Of this Roman civitas there are still some buildings, house foundations and graves, underground galleries, likely the ruins of an aqueduct, military roads, and along the Tagus, there are markers to indicate a Roman bridge.

During the Muslim occupation the city continued to support a populous community. The toponymy, Alvega, came from the Arab name Alrega, with its history extending as far back as the Muslim occupation of Hispania.

Geography

The parish is located in the easternmost tip of the municipality, neighbouring with the municipalities of Mação to the north, with Gaviãoto the east and with Ponte de Sor to the south.

The parish includes a relatively small population of 2175 (2001 Census) occupying an area of 56.6 square kilometres (21.9 sq mi), that includes the localities of Alvega, Areia de Baixo, Areia de Cima, Casa Branca, Casal Ventoso, Lampreia, Monte Galego, Portelas and Tubaral. Ironcially, the civil parish local authority (Junta de Freguesia) is located in the village of Santo António.

It is situated on the left margin of the Tagus River, 17 kilometres (11 mi) from the municipal seat of Abrantes. It is the centre of the Beira Baixa rail-line, in addition to having two river ports along the Tagus in Alvega and Barca de Bandos.

Economy

Alvega is essentially rural, involved in the cultivation of cereal grains, cork and olive orchards, as well as the raising of goats and sheep. In addition the extration of sand from the river, the fishery, horticulture and fructiculture, among other activities are important parts of the local primary sector economies.

Meanwhile, there are portions of the community involved in traditional tin, carpentry, tailoring and embroidery crafts, as a source of tourist dollars.