History of the Ribatejo:

Grupo Folclórico Alma Ribatejana represents the Ribatejo region of Portugal, formed in 1936. The Ribatejo consists of municipalities of Azambuja, Ponte de Sor, Vila Franca de Xira. Three distinctive zones, Geo-ethnography consist of Lezíria/Borda D’água, the Bairro and the “Charneca”.

Ribatejo is located next to the Tejo River which gives origin to this province’s name (Riba-tejo) signifies the upper river bank. Its area is 7,500sq kilometers with a population of approximately 532,600 inhabitants. In total, the area encompasses 17 of the 21 counties of Santarém and three of the 14 counties of Lisbon. The Ribatejo is located northeast between the Estremadura and Alentejo regions, a half-hour from Lisbon.

Ribatejo is known for its wine, vineyards, campinos (Portuguese cowboys), bullfights, and folklore. The Ribatejo has castles, monasteries, and churches that speak to its history, cities and towns governed by royalties. The Tejo, one of the two most important rivers of the peninsula, originates in the Alps of the Albarracim, Spain. The Tejo enters Portugal at the Portas de Rodão and travels through the Ribatejo region following its course into Lisbon emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.