By the time the Romans began occupying the Iberian peninsula around 130, the area was already an important community, designated Ayre or Aritium, with river port that provided a military connection between Lisbon and Mérida.

It is the centre of the Beira Baixa rail-line, in addition to having two river ports along the Tagus in Alvega and Barca de Bandos.

[8] Alvega is essentially rural, involved in the cultivation of cereal grains, cork and olive orchards, as well as the raising of goats and sheep.

In addition to extraction of sand from the river, the fishery, horticulture and fructiculture, among other activities are important parts of the local primary sector economies.

Meanwhile, there are portions of the community involved in traditional tin, carpentry, tailoring and embroidery crafts, as a source of tourist dollars.