Constância

Constância is a municipality in Santarém District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 4,056, in an area of 80.37 km².

Constância is a riverside village born from the green meeting of the Zêzere river with the Tagus river. Formerly known as "Antiga Punhete", a name derived from the Roman name "tagi pugna" [fight of the Tagus) due to the rebelliousness of the waters at the meeting of the rivers. Queen Maria II changed its name to Constância in 1836, due to the "constancy that its inhabitants had shown in support of the liberal cause. Conquered from the Moors in 1150, it was given the status of 'town' in 1571 through a charter from King Se- bastian. Renowned Portuguese poet Luís de Camões lived here between 1548 and 1550, on the occasion of the exile caused by his love for D. Catarina de Ataíde, maid of honour of Queen Catherine of Portugal. In 1809, the English army met in Constância before marching on Spain, on their way to the Battle of Talavera, where Wellington defeated the French. Constância suffered greatly during the French invasions. It was later re- stored and, to this day, much of its beautiful landscape, architecture and archaeological treasures. This beautiful town has many interesting monuments, including the Nossa Senhora dos Mártires Church, the Pillory, the Misericórdia Church, the Casa Memória de Camões, the Clock Tower and the Chapel of Sant'Ana to name just a few.

The present mayor is António Manuel dos Santos Mendes, elected by the Unitary Democratic Coalition. The municipal holiday is Easter Monday.

Parishes
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 3 civil parishes (freguesias):
 * Constância
 * Montalvo
 * Santa Margarida da Coutada

Notable people

 * Tomaz Vieira da Cruz (1900 in Constância – 1960 in Lisbon) a poet, musician and journalist.