Almeirim.

Almeirim lies in the Ribatejo region, on the flat, fertile plains that border the Tejo river. The land has supported vineyards, orchards and market gardens for generations, and the town is counted among the region's centers for Tejo wine. Almeirim is also known across Portugal as the birthplace of sopa da pedra, a hearty stone soup built around beans and meat, simmered slowly with vegetables and bread. Local legend credits a traveling friar who persuaded villagers to add ingredients to the pot one by one until it was full. The dish is still served in restaurants across town and marked each year with a dedicated festival. Agriculture still sets the pace of local life: markets sell produce from the surrounding fields, and the farming calendar, from spring planting to autumn harvest, shapes much of what happens in town.