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AlcAntara[AlkAn´tArA] Pronunciation Key, town (1990 pop. 2,213), CAceres prov., W Spain, in Extremadura, near the Tagus River. A fine Roman bridge (Arabic al-kantara) built (A.D. 105–106) in honor of Emperor Trajan and the ruins of the convent and church of the Knights of AlcAntara are located in the town. The Order of AlcAntara, one of the great military religious orders of Spain, established its seat in the town in the 13th cent. after the expulsion of the Moors and enjoyed a period of great splendor (13th–14th cent.).
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