Habitat and territory in Northeastern Alentejo

Abstract

Marvão lies at the northern tip of the Portuguese “High Alentejo” region, which in earlier times also corresponded to one of the provinces into which Portugal was divided. In spite of the replacement of their administrative status, in 1835, by the “Districts” (named after their capital cities), the earlier names for the provinces are still used in Geography, Literature, or colloquial conversation. Many of them rose from territorial features, such as: “Entre-Douro-e-Minho” (between the Douro and Minho [rivers]), “Trás-osMontes” (beyond the hills), “Ribatejo” (along the Tagus) – or Alentejo (beyond the Tagus)