Alentejo
Alentejo is a geographical, historical and cultural region of south-central and southern Portugal. Literally, in Portuguese means "beyond" (além) Tagus river (Tejo).
Alentejo includes the regions of Alto Alentejo and Baixo Alentejo. It corresponds to the districts of Beja, Évora, Portalegre and the municipalities of Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém and Sines, in the district of Setúbal. According to the interpretations, the municipality of Ponte de Sor (in the district of Portalegre) may be included either in Alentejo or, alternatively, in Ribatejo.
It has borders with Beira Baixa in the North, with Spain (Andalucia and Extremadura in the east, with Algarve in the South and with the Atlantic Ocean, Ribatejo and Estremadura in the West.
The Alentejo is a region known for its traditional polyphonic singing groups, similar to those found on Sardinia, Corsica, etc.
History
The comarca of the Alentejo became the Alentejo Province, divided into upper (Alto Alentejo Province) and lower (Baixo Alentejo Province) designations. The modern region of the Alentejo was expropriated from the medieval provinces and historical territories of Estremadura Province (specifically the 1936 portions of the Ribatejo).
The term "Entre-Tejo-e-Guadiana" has become obsolete; it referred to roughly the same land area between the Tagus and the Guadiana rivers part of the Kingdom of Portugal.