Portugal

The Country of Beautiful Landscapes, Promising History and Vivid Culture

Situated on the western side of Europe, the land of Portugal is a country boasted with several lures of beautiful beaches, ancient cities, and culture. Portugal has everything to offer, with its sun-kissed beaches that encompass the Algarve and a picturesque historical city like Lisbon to not forget the clusters of vineyards that are spread throughout the Douro Valley. Lost in the cobbled roads and streets of Porto, tasting the Portuguese awesome cuisine, or being in the state of rest on the magnificent beaches of the Portuguese coast, Portugal is a must place to visit, and a place that is remembered by everyone!

To obtain all information about Portugal, look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Portugal

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Geographical Location

The geographic location of Portugal is the Iberian Peninsula where it has its only land boundary with Spain in the east and north, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west and south. It is a coastal country with a long coastline of more than 800 kilometers thus highly suited as one of the most adequate destinations in Europe in terms of beaches, surfing and water sports.

Portugal is subdivided into two main regions- mainland and autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores which are islands of the Atlantic Ocean. There is also an area of diversity in the mainland itself as the land in the north is mountains and the south is the undulating lands.

Natural Features and landforms

Nature of Portugal is diverse and varied. The northern parts of the country are covered by the mountainous geography of the Serra da Estrela range, where the highest point on the mainland, Torre, is located at the altitude of 1,993 meters. The southern border of Portugal is portrayed to have sun-lit beaches, especially within Algarve which is known to have golden sand beaches and steep cliffs.

There are also some rivers in the country, which include the Tagus and the Douro, flowing through the fertile valleys to give unique sceneries. The forests within Portugal are endowed with memorable biodiversity, and Alentejo is the region in the south with blissful countryside and vineyards.

Climate

Portugal has a Mediterranean climate of hot and dry summers, and cool rainy winters. Algarve region is especially known to be a sun-loving destination with sunshine all year round with beach-goers and sun-soakers. Conversely, the north of Portugal experiences milder weather and more rain, particular in the winter.

The best times to visit are spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is good, and there are less people. The climate in Portugal provides an ideal location to do an outdoor activity like hiking, surfing, and sightseeing the beautiful countryside of Portugal.

History Ancient and Medieval

The history of Portugal is as old as the world itself with history depicting early settlement of man since the Celtic, the roman and Mozarab civily. The Romans build numerous cities in the area, including Conimbriga and Braga, which gave place to Roman ruins and aqueducts.

The Visigoths arrived in Portugal in the 5 th century and the Moorish captured a large area of Iberian Peninsula including parts of the modern day Portugal by the 8 th century. The Christian conquest or Reconquista started in the 12 th century and the Kingdom of Portugal was declared in 1139 under King Afonso I (Afonso Henriques), this marks the start of independence of Portugal.

Colonial Empire and Age of Exploration

The Age of exploration was the golden age of Portugal in the 15th and 16 th century. Vasco da Gama and Pedro Alvares Cabral, Portuguese explorers, ventured to Africa, India and Brazil thus establishing a large colonial empire involving parts of Asia, Africa and South America. The Portuguese Empire was built to last over a few centuries and still left its vestige on the cultural, linguistic and architectural destinies of the lands under its control.

Modern History and Democracy

Following a dictatorial phase during the previous century in the 20th century, Portugal became a democracy in 1974, when, during the Carnation Revolution, a peaceful coup de etat, it overthrew the Estado Novo regime. Portugal remained stable and is a democratic country and member of the international institutions like the European Union and NATO since then.

Portugal today is a land of rich culture, modern cities and vibrant economy which is founded on tourism, agriculture and the technological sector.

Diversity in Ethnicity and Religion

Portugal is much ethnically Portuguese with a strong cultural background of Celtic, Roman as well as Moorish ideas. It is also very homogeneous country with few communities made up of immigrants of countries like Brazil, Cape Verde and Angola.

Portugal is predominantly Roman Catholic and the religion greatly influences the culture and traditions of this nation. The land has numerous religious festivals including Christmas, Easter, and the Feast of Our Lady of FAtima among others.

Practices and Customs Cultural

Portugal is famous because of folk music, especially Fado which may be defined by its sad and sorrowful tones. In 2010 the Fado genre was termed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Glenda also keeps time, with some dance heritage originating as early as in 1500s, that comprise dance forms, such as the Vira and the Fandango.

The Portuguese cuisine is varied and the coastal and agricultural orientations of the country. The gastronomic traditions of the country are based on such dishes as bacalhau (salted cod), pastes de nata (custard tarts), and sardinha assadas (grilled sardines). Portugal is known the world over as a producer of wines particularly Port wine of the Douro Valley.

Language

Portuguese is a native language of Portugal, and native to various countries that were colonies of this country as well as the colonies that were settled worldwide like Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique. Portuguese is a Romance language that has its origin in the Latin language and the most spoken language is the 6th in the world.

Language literature

Portugal is a rich literary nation, with some influential authors, such as Luiz de Camoes, who composed the epic the Os Lusiadas, and Fernando Pessoa, a well known poet. The Portuguese literature has a rich experience with the exploration of the issues of the national identity, colonialism, and romanticism

Religious Festivals

In Portugal Christmas is a very big celebration, which is characterized by family reunions, dinners and some time midnight Mass. Easter is also a big celebration especially in such cities as Braga and Ouro Preto, where processions and religious ceremonies are held.

Special Days and National Holidays

The national holiday of the country is the Portugal Day (June 10th) and it is organized in honor of the independence of the country and its culture. Another important event is the Carnival in Lisbon and Oporto, which is celebrated with the parades, costumes and in the street fairs.

Cultural Festivals

There is a variety of cultural festivals in Portugal. Festa de Sao Joao (Festival of Sao John) is considered a popular celebration that is characterized by music, fireworks and typical foods that are celebrated in Porto. Another event of note is the Lisbon festival in June which includes music, street partying and colorful revelries.

Economic Development

In the past decades, Portugal has been experiencing considerable economic growth especially since its membership in the European Union in 1986. The economy of the country is well divided into various sectors with tourism, agriculture, textile, and technology as its major sectors. Portugal is a chief wine, olive oil, cork and textile exporter.

Tourism

One of the greatest sources of Portuguese economy is tourism. It is a country with its beautiful beaches in Algarve, historic cities, such as Lisbon and Porto and its vineyards in Douro valley. Portugal offers a lot in the form of history, hospitality and cultural delights, among others, which form great attractions to tourists the world over.

Trade and Industry

The main exports in Portugal include cork, wine, and olive oil, Portugal being one of the main producers of these products. It also has an emerging technology industry and, specifically, startups and innovation.

Portugal: Attractions not to be missed.

The six highlights in Portugal that are worth watching include:

1. Belems Tower (Lisbon)

Bellem tower in Lisbon is also one of the most famous symbols of Portugal which portrays a water culture of the country. The tower presents a panoramic view of river Tagus.

2. Madeira Lake Bled

Madeira has beautiful sceneries and Lake Bled is a tranquil site to do hiking, swim, as well as experiencing nature.

3. Douro Valley

The Douro Valley is the area renowned port wine and vineyards. It is full of beautiful sceneries and river trips by boat through the river Douro.

4. Sintra

Sintra is an old royal city with the fairytale castle Palacioda Pena mounted in the Sintra mountains that is classified as World Heritage site by the UNESCO.

5. Algarve Beaches

Algarve is notable by its fine beaches, picturesque cliffs and clean shoreline. The good golf courses are also available in the region.

6. Porto

Another location that Porto is famous about is its historic architecture with an interpretation of Ribeira and the Port wine cellars where one can partake in tasting the famous wine of the world.

Healthcare System

Portugal has universal healthcare (SNS) that covers all the residents of the country and offers medical services to them. The system comprises one of the best systems in Europe, and mature options of both public and privately-owned healthcare services.

Education System

Portugal provides free of charge education up to the higher level. Premiere universities are also found in this country and notable institutions include University of Lisbon as well as University of Porto.

Transport Network

The transportation in Portugal is well developed and there are good highways, railway routes, and airports. The major international centres are Lisbon and Porto, within which the busiest airport is the one of Lisbon.

Urban Development

There are such cities as Lisbon and Porto that are a mix of modern infrastructure and historic attributes. Trams, buses, and metro transportation are cheap and fast.

Ideal Seasons

The ideal months to visit Portugal are spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October), as the weather is mild and not so many people come to the country.

Special Events and Festivals

The Lisbon Festival, Carnival of Porto and Festa de Sa Joao are among the main cultural festivals in Portugal to be seen.

Conclusions: Future of Portugal

Portugal remains to be a nation of rich history, new age advancements and natural scenery. Portugal is an ideal destination country, especially to tourists and globetrotters as it has good drivers, attractive culture, and hospitable people among other factors.

The Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to go to Portugal?

The optimum time to go is during the spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October) so that you can get nice weather and avoid crowds.

Which are the best places to visit in Portugal?

The most popular ones are Belm Tower, Douro Valley, Lake Bled, Sintra and Algarve Beaches.

Which are the languages spoken in Portugal?

Portuguese is the official language but English is spoken by many citizens especially in tourist resorts.

Does Portugal have Tourist Security?

Yes, Portugal can be viewed among the most secure places a tourist can visit, as the crime rate is not too high, and people are friendly.

Which are the cultural festivals to visit in Portugal?

One of the major manifestations that one can enjoy in Portugal is the Lisbon Festival, Festa de Sao Joao and the Porto Carnival.