MONTIJO
38° 42′ 17.6″ N, 8° 58′ 32.4″ W
It is the seat of the Municipality of Montijo with an area of 348.62 km² and 51,222 inhabitants (2011), subdivided into 5 parishes. It is one of the few municipalities in Portugal that are territorially discontinuous, being the one that is the most evident. The main portion, where the municipality's seat city is located, is the smallest (348.6 km²) and is limited to the north and east by the municipality of Alcochete, southeast by Palmela, south by Moita and west by the estuary of the Tagus. The secondary portion, about 15 km to the east, is limited to the north by Coruche, to the east by Montemor-o-Novo and Vendas Novas, to the south and southwest by Palmela and to the northwest by Benavente.
The Vasco da Gama Bridge, inaugurated in March 1998, and the Transtejo river transport, ensure the connection between Montijo and Lisbon. On June 29, Montijo celebrates the Popular Festivals of São Pedro, patron saint of seafarers, and is known for its land of bullfights, good food and fado.
In 2002 the new Seixalinho River Terminal was inaugurated, more than 2 km from the city, ensuring the continuity of the Lisbon-Montijo crossing. The choice of locating this equipment was the subject of a controversial discussion that has not yet been agreed upon in Montijense society.
The municipality of Montijo is divided into 5 parishes:
Atalaia e Alto Estanqueiro-Jardia; Canha; Montijo e Afonsoeiro; União das Freguesias de Pegões; Sarilhos Grandes.
Territorial discontinuity
The municipality of Montijo is one of the territorially discontinuous municipalities in Portugal, being geographically divided into two parts:
Western part – constituted until 2013 by the following parishes: Montijo, Afonsoeiro, Atalaia, Sarilhos Grandes and Alto Estanqueiro - Jardia, with an approximate area of 56.3 km². From 2013 onwards, the parishes of Montijo and Afonsoeiro were joined by aggregation, becoming the Union of the parishes of Montijo and Afonsoeiro. and Alto Estanqueiro-Jardia;
Eastern part – constituted until 2013 by the following parishes: Santo Isidro de Pegões, Canha and Pegões, with an approximate area of 291.7 km². As of 2013 the parishes of Santo Isidro de Pegões and Pegões were joined by aggregation, starting to name Union of Pegões parishes.
