The district of Santarém is located in the Tagus River Valley, forming the core of the traditional province of Ribatejo, including municipalities belonging to the Beira Baixa and Beira Litoral. Its area is 6747 km ², with a resident population of 465,599 people in 2006.
One of the parts of the district is covered by the Natural Park of Serra de Aire and Candeeiros, with its Cave of Algar do Pena.
Santarém was always present in the principal moments in the history of Portugal, where were born princes, lived kings, met cortes of the kingdom, it took place battles, were built towers and monasteries, temples and some of the most beautiful palaces of Portugal.
The administrative capital of the district is Santarém, situated less than 80 kilometers from Lisbon and nicknamed the "Capital of the Gothic", being characterized by the beauty of its narrow and winding streets.
In the city of Santarém, is located in the well-known Portas do Sol Garden, surrounded by the defensive walls of the city, which had a great importance in the Middle Ages, a period in which obtained most of its vast artistic and cultural heritage, with magnificent views of the river and the vast plains of the Lezíria area.
In Santarém, there are monuments that stands out, between them, the Roman-Gothic Church of São João de Alporão, where is installed the Archaeological Museum of Santarém and some of the city's Gothic heritage, such as the Church of Graça, the Church of Santa Clara or the Church of Santa Maria de Marvila. It also highlights the Santuary of the Santissimo Milagre and the Museological Time Nucleus, located in the Tower of Cabaças, one of the first generations of watch-towers built in Portugal.
In the Lezíria, the agricultural zone of the district, there are other points of interest, as the village of Alpiarça, with its beautiful church and the Patudos House Museum or the city of Almeirim, known for its wines and, in particular the stone soup.
In the city of Tomar, besides the beatifull streets, there is the Convent of Christ, that belonged to the Templar Order and which architecture shares Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque traces.
In the district of Santarém, is organized every year, the Fair of Golegã, a very important event, which began in mid-eighteenth century, which is also present the National Horse Fair, the most important of all the fairs of its kind that take place in Portugal. Other attractions are the National Gastronomy Festival in Santarém, the principal gastronomic show of the country, which takes place in mid-October and the National Fair of Agriculture of Ribatejo, organized in the first week of June, also in Santarém.
The cuisine of the district stands out for the known stone soup, the Ram-style Alpiarça the Brave Meat Cooked, the Cachola Soup, the Stew of Fragateiro, the Bread of Sável, the Torricado, the Eel Stew, without forget the great desserts, as the Celestes, the Almoster Arrepiados, the Abrantes Straw, the cheeses of Heaven, the Bowls, the Delights of Potato, the Pinion and Honey Bread.
