76 Curiosities about Portugal

The name "Portugal" has ancient origins and derives from the Latin "Portus Cale", which referred to a Roman settlement in the region. Over time, this name evolved into "Portucale" and eventually into "Portugal". The etymology is also linked to the toponym "Cale", which refers to a geographic region of the current city of Porto. The term "Portus" means "port" in Latin, reflecting the importance of maritime activities in the area. The combination of these historical and linguistic elements resulted in the name by which we know the country today.

Since the year 1249 they have been established much the same as they are today.

Despite having a relatively short life, he died at just 36 years old. D. Pedro IV was King of Portugal, Emperor of Brazil (known in this country as D. Pedro I), and had more than 34 children by his two wives and several mistresses.

The incredible story of this priest began in 1487, when the Portuguese monarch gave him authorization to populate the land, an order transmitted by Royal Charter dated August 31 of that year.

The parish priest took the title of settler too seriously, having almost reached the round number of 300 children. For this, it was necessary to re-establish relationships with 53 women, who gave them the historic 299 children (214 female and 85 male).

As for the mothers of so many children, 29 sons and 5 daughters were generated by seven different nannies; and 21 sons and 7 daughters were of two slaves of the Presbytery. Among these 53 women, there were even family members of the parish priest.

He would have had relationships with 29 goddaughters (who gave him 97 girls and 37 boys), with 9 godmothers (who gave him 38 boys and 18 girls), and with his aunt, Ana da Cunha (from whom he had three daughters). According to legend, the parish priest impregnated his sisters and even his own mother, with whom he had two children!

Portugal has the longest bridge in Europe. It is the magnificent Vasco da Gama bridge. It measures 12,345 meters.

Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world in terms of number of native speakers. It is an official language in several countries, including Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Timor-Leste, São Tomé and Príncipe, and is also widely spoken in communities elsewhere, due to colonial history and the diaspora.

The Portuguese language has almost 300 million native speakers. This position on the list of most spoken languages is mainly influenced by the large number of native speakers in Brazil, which is the most populous country in South America and has a significant Portuguese-speaking population.

The influence of the Portuguese language in Japan dates back to the 16th century, when Portuguese navigators established contact with the country. The arrival of the Portuguese, led by explorers such as Fernão Mendes Pinto, introduced not only commercial goods, but also cultural and linguistic elements.

The most notable influence was linguistic, with the introduction of several Portuguese words into Japanese. These words, known as "Portuguese words" ("Portuguese katakana"), were incorporated into the Japanese vocabulary and are still used today. Examples include "pan" (bread), "biru" (beer), "koppu" (cup) and "tempura" (fried dish).

In addition, the introduction of the Portuguese to Japan also had an impact on art, architecture and commercial relations. The architectural style known as "nanban" incorporated Western elements, and Japanese art also began to include Portuguese influences.

The Portuguese presence and influence in Japan declined after the period known as "sakoku" (Japan isolation policy), which began in the early 17th century. However, linguistic and cultural influence has persisted over the years, reflecting the historical interaction between the two countries.

Have you ever imagined a current capital older than Rome? Well, it's Lisbon! The Portuguese capital is the second oldest in Europe, only preceded by Athens. It was founded three thousand years ago, four hundred years before Rome. It was the Phoenicians who laid its foundations, receiving the name of Ulissipo. Shortly afterwards it was conquered by the Greeks and Carthaginians. Finally it became the capital of Roman Lusitania, with the name of Olisipo.

You know that song that touches the soul? In Portugal, it is Fado that does this. This musical style is a profound expression of Portuguese culture, full of nostalgia and saudade. In 1998, the style even gained its own museum, the Museu do Fado, located in the Alfama district of Lisbon.

But Fado is not just a melody, it was also recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage of Humanity! Amazing, huh? If you really want to feel a little more of Portugal's culture in the form of music, be sure to go to one of the country's fado houses.

The best are in the capital, including Clube de Fado, Senhor Vinho and Mesa de Frades, all great options for those looking to immerse themselves in the traditional Portuguese experience. Along with a good wine, this rhythm will surely touch your heart and make your trip to the country even more memorable.

Cod is not only the most typical dish on the Portuguese table, but also an ingredient. Salted cod is undoubtedly a key food at national level and has been for the last 500 years. Already 2000 years ago, during the height of the Roman Empire that stretched across Europe and to the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal already distinguished itself in the drying of fish. By the way, at that time, Portugal was the largest supplier of canned fish for the entire empire. Salted cod only came into existence when, in 1497, the Portuguese arrived in Newfoundland, Canada. The truth is that the climate on the other side of the Atlantic did not make this preservation method viable. So the Portuguese did what they had been doing for centuries with other fish: salt it! They fished for cod, removed its entrails, cut it into pieces as it had been done until then to dry in the sun, but instead of hanging it in the air, they placed it inside wooden barrels with a large amount of rock salt. Today Portugal is the world's largest consumer of salted cod, representing 20% of global consumption, with an average of 35kg per person per year. Codfish is particularly important during family gatherings and religious celebrations such as Christmas. There are more than 1000 cod recipes!

Viriato was a Lusitanian leader who played a significant role in the resistance against the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula during the 2nd century BC. Born into a Lusitanian tribe, he stood out for his courage, tactical skills and charismatic leadership.

When the Romans invaded the Iberian Peninsula, many tribes fiercely resisted their domination. Viriathus emerged as a notable military leader, uniting several Lusitanian tribes in an alliance against the Romans. His guerrilla strategy, knowledge of the terrain, and ability to mobilize his followers proved difficult obstacles for the invaders.

For years, Viriatus led successful campaigns against the Roman legions, inflicting defeats and thwarting Roman conquest plans. His notoriety grew, but eventually internal dissensions and betrayals weakened the Lusitanian alliance. In 139 BC, Viriatus was assassinated by members of his own tribe, who sought compromise with the Romans.

Viriato's story has inspired many stories and legends over the centuries. He is often remembered as a hero who fought for his homeland's independence against an imperial power. His legacy lives on in the historical memory of Portugal, symbolizing resistance and tenacity in the face of adversity.

It was in November 2011 that Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara put Nazaré on the lips of the world after having broken the record for the biggest wave surfed, with 23.8 meters, at Praia do Norte, inscribing his name in the Guinness Book.

Since then, surfers from the four corners of the world have come to Nazaré to put their physical and mental skills to the test by facing the giant waves that form on the Nazarene coast every winter.

In 2017, Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa broke Garrett McNamara's previous Guinness record by surfing the biggest wave ever at 24.38 meters. More recently, in October 2020, German surfer Sebastian Steudtner managed to break the record for the biggest wave ever surfed (26.21 meters).

Responsible for these giant waves is the so-called Nazaré canyon, an underwater canyon of tectonic origin located off the coast of this Portuguese town.

Portugal is a member of the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world, which is still in force today. It was the institution that signed in 1373 with England.

When we talk about great dictators in the world, perhaps the first names that come to mind are Franco, Hitler, Stalin or Mussolini. But one of the most interesting facts about Portugal is that it was a Portuguese man who broke the record for the longest dictatorship in Europe. It was Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, who ruled for almost half of the 20th century.

The independence of Portugal, or more properly of the Portucalense County, took place in 1143, through the Treaty of Zamora, signed by the kingdom of Portugal and the kingdom of Castile and León. However, it was only about 35 years later that the Church, through of Pope Alexander III, would come to recognize that same independence, through the publication of the evidently proven, a bull issued in the year 1179.

However, for the ranking of the oldest countries in the world, we consider the date of 1143 to state that Portugal is the 12th oldest country, just after Ethiopia, Japan, Iran, China, Armenia, San Marino, from Serbia, France, Denmark, Austria and Hungary.

The Portuguese colonial empire existed for 600 years. It was the longest lasting of modern European empires! Furthermore, it was so extensive that it had in its favor what are now 53 different countries.

On November 1, 1755, Lisbon suffered the disastrous consequences of what went down in history as one of the 10 biggest earthquakes ever, both in terms of magnitude and in terms of victims caused. With a magnitude of 8.7 on the Richter scale, the natural disaster caused almost total destruction of the Portuguese capital and the death of between 70,000 and 90,000 people. The earthquake was felt in North Africa, France and northern Italy. It was followed by a devastating seaquake and a large number of fires spread across the city. The earthquake that occurred on the morning of All Saints' Day was an inspiration for great authors and philosophers of the Enlightenment such as Voltaire and Immanuel Kant. Furthermore, the Lisbon Earthquake had political and economic repercussions, affecting government policies and trade flows across Europe.

Portugal legalized same-sex marriage in 2010, taking a huge step forward in LGBT rights. Portugal was the sixth country to legalize same-sex marriage and currently ranks tenth out of 49 countries worldwide for its position on LGBT human rights in the ILGA-Rainbow country ranking.

Portugal is the sixth most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index. Ahead are only Iceland, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark and Austria, from a list of 163 countries.

Over its nearly 900-year history, the country's capital has changed. Thus, 5 capitals are known: Guimarães (capital of the Portucalense County, later Portugal), Coimbra, Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro and Angra do Heroísmo. The last two were capitals in complicated situations in our history: Rio de Janeiro was the capital when the court moved there, after the first French invasion. The second was the capital of the liberals during the civil war that opposed them to the absolutists.

The royal decrees of August 20, 1498 and May 8, 1500, in the reign of King Manuel I, marked the beginning of the paving of the streets of Lisbon, namely Rua Nova dos Mercadores. The objective would be that, when passing the royal procession with the white rhino Ganga, the entourage would not get mud dirty when stepping on it with its heavy paws. As his birthday was the only occasion on which the King showed himself to the population, it was decided to pave the streets for the procession.

D. Sancho II, king who ascended to the Portuguese throne in 1223 at just 14 years old, was deposed by the Pope due to complaints from the bishops and the rest of the nobility, who insisted that the king would not be in a position to govern. It is true that D. Sancho II was a conflicted king, but it was all about a coup d'état orchestrated by his brother, the future king D. Afonso III. D. Sancho II was not satisfied and sought military support in neighboring Castile, his wife's lands. But the support was of no use to him: he lost the war against D. Afonso III and had to go into exile in Toledo, where he died and was buried.

J.K. Rowling, author of the renowned Harry Potter saga, does not hide from anyone that she moved to the city of Porto in 1991. At that time, the story that would travel around the world six years later was just a manuscript. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that some details of the daily life of the British writer à la Portugal would find space in her words.

One of the most notorious parallels involves the traditional uniforms of students at the University of Coimbra, which consist of black suits and a long cape over the top. Did the description play in your mind? Well, it has everything so that it's no coincidence that Hogwarts students wear something similar, although their robes have, of course, unique details.

According to the author's biography, the charming cafes of Porto were the inspiration for “A Pedra Filosofal”, the first book in the saga. His favorite, however, was Café Majestic, from 1921, still considered one of the most beautiful on the planet.

Another of Portugal's curiosities is the reputation of being the birthplace of great sailors and explorers. As an example of this, names like Fernão de Magalhães, Basco da Fama, Bartolomeu Diaz and Álvarez Cabral, sailors who opened up a large part of the world to Europe.

Portugal was the first colonial power that dared to abolish slavery, in the year 1869. This happened half a century before the British, Spanish, French and Americans.

The Portuguese are known to be astute traders. And this desire to expand its domains with the most diverse negotiations, has been manifesting itself for centuries. Portuguese merchants and sailors were the first to arrive in Japan and exchange their products and culture in Asia. This took place in the year 1543.

And one of the positive characteristics of Portugal is that it has established itself as one of the world leaders in the production of renewable energies. So much so that it satisfies around 70% of its internal energy needs, through the production of solar, wind and hydraulic energy.

It is in Portugal that we find the westernmost point of continental Europe and, therefore, of the Iberian Peninsula. This is Cabo da Roca, a point that during the times of navigation along these coasts, was known as the Rock of Lisbon.

According to one of the most important food ranking websites in the world, Portuguese cuisine is in 4th place worldwide, and there are countless dishes that occupy places at the top of various categories. The best sweets in the world are Portuguese and are the famous Pasteis de Belém and in 2nd place... the Pasteis de Nata. Our Bulhão Pato clams are in tenth place in the world as the best starter. While Serra cheese is in 5th place as the best cheese in the world. Pão de Ló de Ovar is in 8th place as the best cake in the world. Alheira de Vinhais is in 1st place and alheira de Mirandela is in 3rd place in the sausages category. In the ranking of sandwiches we have Prego in 10th place, Bifana in 20th and the ham sandwich in 23rd place. And is rice also worth highlighting? Yes, we have the 3rd best rice in the world, Carolino das Lezírias Ribatejanas rice. In pork dishes, Alentejana pork occupies 7th place. Portuguese ham, particularly Alentejo ham, is among the 8 best in the world. And in natural products like honey, we are not left out, we have the 4th best honey in the world, honey from the Monchique mountains. The bean pastry in 19th place in the pies. In terms of coffee products, we have the Galão in 12th place, a large glass with coffee and milk foam. Portuguese roast chicken is in 11th place as a chicken dish. Cod with cream is in 20th place. Tavira salt ranks 17th for the best salt. And our much-loved olive oil, one of our Portuguese brands, is in 3rd place, the one from the trails-os-montes region and the olive oil from Ribatejo in 10th, the olive oil from Moura in 11th, the olive oil from Beira Interior in 13th, making Portugal a major global producer of high quality olive oil. In preserved fish, cod, a Portuguese reinvention and also the national dish, is in 2nd place worldwide. Portuguese chestnuts occupy 5th place in the dried fruit category. In the pastry shop we have the Berlin ball in 25th place, and very close to Fujacos in Viana do Castelo you can try the famous Berlin ball at Casa Natário. In liqueurs, Ginginha de Óbidos is in 12th place. It is all these and many more that do not appear here that make our gastronomy one of the best in the world, if not the best.

In 2011, it was recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest bookstore in the world in operation, which has kept its doors open since 1732. It is located in Lisbon and is called "Livraria Bertrand". Entering Livraria Bertrand do Chiado and walking through its seven rooms is like going through a part of Portuguese history and literature.

Bell peppers, chili peppers, potatoes and tomatoes were introduced by the Portuguese to India. The piri-piri sauce was also invented by the Portuguese.

Based on the number of Portuguese residents, with around 700 thousand, after Lisbon it is the second city in the world with the most Portuguese. But Paris is not unique in Europe: the Portuguese community in Luxembourg is the largest foreign community, representing almost 16% of the Luxembourgish population.

Inês de Castro was a notable figure in the history of Portugal. She was a Galician noblewoman, sent as a lady-in-waiting to her cousin Constanza de Castilla, the future wife of the future King D. Pedro.

But Pedro and Inês ended up falling in love. However Pedro marries Constança but she died giving birth to their first daughter. So Pedro insisted on looking for Inês and marrying her. They couldn't get married, but they still lived together and were the parents of four children.

King Afonso IV, Pedro's father, concerned about the risk that, according to him, Inês represented, ordered her execution, taking advantage of his son's absence on a trip. The death of his beloved provoked in Pedro a rage that would lead him to start a civil war.

So after the murder of Inês in 1355, at the behest of her father, King Afonso IV, Pedro took the throne and declared Inês as queen posthumously. He ordered her corpse to be exhumed, crowning it and forcing the courtiers to pay homage to the new queen who, under pain of death, should kiss her hand. The episode is known as the "Crowning of the Corpses". The story of love and tragedy between Pedro and Inês inspired many tales, poems and literary pieces, remaining as a symbol of passion and suffering throughout the centuries in Portuguese culture.

Only one person can fit in Livraria Simão, one of the smallest bookstores in the world.

Hidden at the beginning of Escadinhas de São Cristóvão, in Lisbon, this bookstore is a must-visit. The owner, Simão Carneiro, took over this former tobacco shop in 2008 and turned it into an extravagant bookstore.

With just under four square meters, the space at Livraria Simão can be tight, but it can store around 4,000 books. Simão's collection is mostly made up of second-hand books and includes some of the biggest names in Portuguese literature, such as Fernando Pessoa, Saramago, Camões and Eça de Queirós.

Although most books are in Portuguese, you can also find titles in Spanish, English, Italian and even Chinese.

If you want to see one of them up close, Simão will have to leave, but it's a ritual he's used to.

Lisbon has the largest casino in Europe, the inspiration for literary works and the setting for major cinematographic productions, the Casino do Estoril, which has 1,100 machines and 28 gaming tables. It opened on August 15, 1931. On the way to its centenary, this imposing casino is also one of the oldest in all of Europe. After the First World War and even during the Second World War, Casino Estoril became the unofficial residence of many European royal families. During the Second World War the Portuguese casino was a center of world espionage. Portugal had neutral status in the conflict and spies from all countries used Casino Estoril for their activities.

Half of the New World belonged to Portugal. The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement signed on June 7, 1494 between Portugal and Spain to divide discovered lands outside Europe. The objective was to establish a dividing line 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. Mediated by Pope Alexander VI, the treaty influenced explorations and colonizations in the Americas and other regions, although it was later adjusted due to more precise geographical knowledge. The Portuguese Empire was actually the first world empire in history and one of the most colonial powers long-lived.

It lasted nearly six centuries from the conquest of Ceuta in 1415, until Macau (now China) was handed over in 1999.

Portugal has an area of about 92,212 km2. However, according to the Portuguese Navy, it has jurisdiction over an extensive maritime area of around 1,720,560 km2, approximately 18.7 times greater than the land area of the country.

Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the third largest in the European Union, which means that 11% of the European Union's EEZ belongs to Portugal. The Portuguese EEZ is the fifth largest in Europe and the twentieth in the world.

17 places in Portugal that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Amazing monuments, historic centres, cultural and wine-growing landscapes, from North to South. Portugal has 17 sites inscribed on the list, 16 cultural and one natural, according to the selection criteria. Three are located in the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, and another is shared with Spain. The most recent entries were in 2019 and include the Royal buildings in Mafra and the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga.

And precisely the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance is not the only thing in common between the two countries. The famous tea ceremony in England came about thanks to the Portuguese Catarina de Bragança, who married King Charles II of England and took this typical habit of Portugal to the court.

Did you know that Portugal produces 50% of the world's cork, having acquired the status of the world's largest cork producer? With more than 60% of exports guaranteed, Portuguese cork is one of the greatest assets of our agriculture, promoting and increasing other parallel businesses.

The largest cork oak forest in the country is found in the Alentejo, which contributes to the richness of the national ecosystem. About 34% of the world's cork oak area is concentrated in Portugal, which corresponds to an area of 736 thousand hectares, totaling 23% of the national forest.

Yes, Portugal has won several awards internationally for its achievements in tourism. In the last 6 years, Portugal won 5 times as the best destination in Europe by the World Travel Awards, and several times as the best destination in the world!

World Travel Awards: Portugal has been consistently recognized at the World Travel Awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of the travel industry”. The country has won awards such as “World's Leading Destination”, “Europe's Leading Destination” and several other categories. It should also be noted that Porto won the prize for the best city destination, the Algarve for the best beach destination and the Azores for the best adventure tourism destination in Europe.

Best European Destinations: Lisbon, Porto and other Portuguese cities have been featured several times on the Best European Destinations list, which features Europe's top destinations based on public votes and expert reviews.

Tempura, fried and breaded pieces of vegetables and seafood, is one of the many gastronomic delights associated with Japanese cuisine. However, this was actually brought by Portuguese traders and missionaries in the 16th century. Frying was one of the main ways of cooking fish in Portugal and Spain for hundreds of years, with recipes for fried fish in egg batter appearing in Arabic Spanish cookbooks as early as the 13th century.

Legend has it that, in 1543, a Chinese ship with three Portuguese sailors on board was heading for Macau when it was diverted from its route and ended up on the Japanese island of Tanegashima. António da Mota, Francisco Zeimoto and António Peixoto, the first Europeans to set foot on Japanese soil, were considered "southern barbarians" by the locals. However, the Japanese were in the middle of a civil war and eventually began to trade with the Portuguese, mainly in armaments. This business resulted in the creation of a Portuguese trading post in Japan, starting with firearms and later advancing to other items such as soap, tobacco, wool and even recipes, including tempura.

The first Portuguese pastries were supposedly created in the 13th century by monks

Pastéis de nata are Portugal's favorite dessert and have been since the 13th century, as they were reportedly created by monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. Apparently, the monks had settled in France when they were inspired by the delicious pastries available. They needed to find a way to use the egg yolks that were left over when separating them from the whites to obtain the starch for the clothes, so what better way than to make custard tarts?

After the Liberal Revolution in 1820, the monastery was in danger of closing and, as such, the monks started selling the custard tarts to a nearby sugar refinery. In 1834, the monastery ended up closing and the recipe was sold to the aforementioned sugar refinery. Three years later, the owners of the refinery opened the Fábrica de Pastéis de Nata de Belém, which continues to operate today and is managed by the descendants of the original owners. So, if you're nearby, don't miss the opportunity to try one (or five) of the famous cinnamon-dusted pastries before you go!

Did you know that Portugal is geographically a tricontinental country? Despite being considered a European country, Portugal has territories in Europe, Africa and North America. Continental Portugal is the westernmost region of the Iberian Peninsula and continental Europe. It is in Europe that most of the Portuguese territory is located, being its administrative, cultural and population centre.

The Autonomous Region of Madeira is located entirely in insular Africa, being based on the African Plate. This is where the southernmost point of Portugal is located, on the Ilhéu de Fora, in the Selvagens Islands.

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is divided between insular Europe and insular North America. The eastern (São Miguel and Santa Maria) and central (Terceira, Graciosa, Pico, Faial and São Jorge) groups belong to Europe and the Eurasian Plate and contain the westernmost point of the continent, Ponta dos Capelinhos, in Faial. The western group (Flores and Corvo) belongs to America and the North American Plate and contains the westernmost point of Portugal, the Ilhéu de Monchique, near Flores.

Another great curiosity about Portugal. Couto Misto, as it was called, consisted of a small border area of about 27 km2, located in the north of Serra do Larouco. Its organization was independent and did not depend on either the Portuguese or Spanish crowns.

It welcomed fugitives from justice from both neighboring territories and did not supply soldiers to any of them, but it was also exempt from paying taxes, being able to trade freely and cultivate whatever it wanted. Its inhabitants were free to choose their nationality – Portuguese or Spanish.

This microstate operated in full independence between the 10th century and 1868. In 1869, the Treaty of Lisbon came into force and established that the domains corresponding to the current villages of Santiago and Rubiás passed to Spanish sovereignty and the domains of the current villages of Souteirinho da Ria, Cambedo and Lama de Arcos for the Portuguese.

The University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the world. Located in Coimbra, its imposing architecture and rich history are reflected in the Paço das Escolas, where the University Tower and the Joanina Library stand out. Known for its academic tradition, the university has played a vital role in Lusophone culture. Its enriching environment attracts students from all over the world, while events like Queima das Fitas celebrate academic life. The University of Coimbra continues to be a center of excellence, linking tradition and innovation in education and research.

Contrary to what many people believe, Port wine is not that produced in the city of Porto. The place where the drink is produced is in the Douro Demarcated Region, an area in the north of the country, just like Porto, but further inland. The region is about 100 km east of Porto and encompasses cities such as São João da Pesqueira, Lamego, Régua and Pinhão.

The place has been producing wine for over a millennium and was officially demarcated as a wine production area in 1756 at the time of the Portuguese monarchy. More recently, in 2001, part of the area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Altogether there are more than 250 thousand hectares divided into fields and mountains that produce Port wine. The unique soil conditions and the extreme climate with hot summers and harsh winters are responsible for the characteristics of the grapes and wines produced there.

Bo, a Portuguese water dog, arrived at the presidential residence at just six months old. It was a gift from former Senator Ted Kennedy to Barack Obama's daughters, Malia and Sasha, following an election pledge.

During the 2008 election campaign, the couple promised their daughters a dog and when Obama was elected (2009) he fulfilled the promise. The animal's breed - a Portuguese water dog - was chosen because it is considered a suitable breed for people with allergies, as is the case of Malia, one of the Obamas' daughters.

If you are a fan of the heat, you will be pleased to know that one of the curiosities about Portugal is that the country has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

I.e. Get ready for sunny days and a pleasant climate during your visit to Portugal, as this is one of the countries in Europe with the most hours of sunshine per year, there are more than 2,800 hours of sunshine

Portugal is known for the production of high quality olive oil, with several producing regions spread throughout the Portuguese territory.

Over there, it is valued specifically for its rich and intense flavor, the result of a unique combination of olive varieties and traditional production techniques.

In 1917, three children witnessed the apparition of Mary, mother of Jesus, in a small village called Cova da Iria, near the city of Fatima, on six occasions, always on the 13th of each month, starting on May 13, 1917. .

The story spread and on October 13, 1917 a crowd gathered to witness the apparition in an event that became known as the "Miracle of the Sun", as many people reported seeing the sun shiver, change colors and rotate in the sky. sky.

Despite the time, to this day Fatima is visited for the same reason and has become an important pilgrimage site for Catholics, being visited by about 8 million people annually – even Pope Francis visited Fatima to celebrate the centenary of the apparitions, in 2017 and returned 2023.

The pirates' code of conduct is a code of conduct followed by buccaneers, pirates in the Caribbean region, who disciplined behavior on board ships, the division of treasure and loot, and compensation for the wounded. The rules varied according to the ship, the voyage and the captain, but all members had to fulfill their oath and sign the articles of the code. The first pirate code was proposed by the Portuguese pirate Bartolomeu Português. One of the best known codes is that of Morgan and Bartholomew which was edited in 1720.

According to data from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Portugal has the third highest per capita consumption of fish in the world, behind only South Korea and Norway. Each inhabitant consumes about 61 kg per year.

The desire to build a monument to Christ the King was born in 1940 when the Portuguese bishops vowed to erect a Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus over Lisbon if Portugal were spared from the War. Portugal maintained a position of neutrality in World War II, not participating directly in war actions and this fact was decisive for a national fundraising campaign to be set in motion, so that the construction would be a reality. And, finally, in 1959, the Cristo Rei Monument was inaugurated, rising 113 meters over the cities of Almada and Lisbon, offering a 360º panoramic view over the two banks of the Tagus River and surroundings. Inside the four pillars of the Monument to Christ the King, symbol of the four cardinal points, is the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz

In this period of 16 years there were 7 parliaments, 8 presidents of the Republic, 45 governments, 40 heads of government and 20 military coups.

The First Portuguese Republic was the political system in force in Portugal after the fall of the Portuguese Monarchy, between the republican revolution of October 5, 1910 and the coup of May 28, 1926, which gave rise to the Military Dictatorship.

Casa da Música, in the city of Porto, was considered by the New York Times “one of the most important concert halls built in the last 100 years”, comparing it to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, in Los Angeles, and the auditorium of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra .

King D. Pedro IV, to show appreciation and gratitude to the city of Porto, for the sacrifices of the population at the time of the siege of Porto, a period in which the city was besieged by D. Miguel's troops for a year. So D Pedro IV left in his will the will to donate his heart to the city of Porto. It is preserved in the Church of Lapa.

With a total area of 83 hectares and approximately 10km, Parque da Cidade do Porto is the largest urban park in the country and the only one in Europe with a seafront.

The Portuguese colonial empire is considered the oldest of the European colonial empires, covering almost 6 centuries, from 1415 (when it conquered Ceuta) until 1999 (when it handed Macau over to China). It is also one of the longest.

During this period the empire spread across territories that currently correspond to 53 different countries. Interestingly, throughout its history, Portugal never called itself an empire.

The Iberian (and not just Portuguese) reconquest is considered the longest war in humanity. Started in 716 with the battle of Covadonga and ended in 1492 with the fall of Granada, this war lasted almost 800 years! The Portuguese reconquest was much shorter but still lasted a few centuries.

In 1543 the Portuguese António Mota, Francisco Zeimoto and António Peixoto arrived on the island of Tanegashima at the southern tip of the archipelago and became the first Europeans to reach Japan. different areas – medicine, mathematics, astronomy and of course navigation.

In 1587 there was a turnaround in diplomacy, with the Jesuits expelled from Japan, ending the enormous commercial relationship and cultural exchange that was being created. This even led to Japan completely shutting itself down in 1635 for almost 250 years.

Portugal was one of the pioneers in the abolition of capital punishment for civil crimes. The first step towards the abolition of the death penalty was taken in 1846, and in 1852 it was abolished for political crimes, in 1867 for civil crimes (except war treason), and in 1911 it was abolished altogether. Note that it is also one of the few EU countries that has abolished life imprisonment.

Port wine is one of the most famous Portuguese wines, but also one of the country's oldest exports. Since the times of the Treaty of Methuen in 1703, Portugal has exported port wine in large quantities. First to England, then to the rest of the world.

The area where this wine is produced has been demarcated since 1756 at the initiative of the Marquês de Pombal, and only in the beautiful terraces of the Douro valley can Port wine be produced.

During World War II, Aristides Sousa Mendes, the Portuguese consul in Bordeaux, issued thousands of visas to Jews seeking to escape Nazi persecution. Defying direct instructions from the Portuguese government not to do so, and risking his career and life, Aristides Sousa Mendes is estimated to have saved thousands of lives.

The first travel agency in the world to open a public service establishment was founded in 1840, in the city of Porto, by Bernardo Luís Vieira de Abreu. Despite the clashes of time and history, the Company remains, to this day, owned by the founder's direct descendants.

This Portuguese invention allowed sailors to determine the latitude of a vessel on the high seas. It was also possible to measure the meridian altitude of a star, provided that its declination was known. The Portuguese nautical astrolabe is an adaptation of the planispheric astrolabe. The need to adapt this instrument arose in the Age of Discoveries, when Portuguese navigators had to sail on the high seas, far from the coast.

the inhabitants of Porto are known as tripeiros because, according to tradition, they donated all the meat to the fleet that left to conquer Ceuta, in 1415, leaving only the viscera to eat, which gave rise to one of the most traditional dishes, the “ tripe à moda do Porto”.

It was in 1895 when the city of Porto was the scene of the first trip of an electric car through the streets of the city, thus becoming a pioneer in the inauguration of the first line of electric cars in the Iberian Peninsula.

Goalkeeper Vítor Baía, who played for Porto's football club, is the player with the most titles in the history of world football, with 32, ahead of Pelé and Rijkaard, with 25 each.

The 516 Arouca bridge is the longest suspended pedestrian bridge in the world. It is located in Arouca, in the Aveiro region, next to the remarkable Passadiços do Paiva, a Unesco world heritage site. It is 516 meters long and is 175 meters above the banks of the Paiva River. Crossing the bridge, you can admire the magnificent view over Garganta do Paiva and Cascata das Agueiras, both geosites in the UNESCO Arouca Geopark territory.

The Lello e Irmão bookstore has amazed visitors since 1906. Its worldwide fame began when a rumor emerged that the writer J.K. Rowling was inspired by it to imagine the stairs at Hogwarts, in “Harry Potter”, after having spent time in Porto .

Being one of the oldest Portuguese bookstores, and due to its unique historical and artistic value, Livraria Lello has been recognized as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world by several personalities and entities, cases such as the Spanish writer Enrique Vila-Matas, from the British newspaper The Guardian, and the Australian travel guide publisher Lonely Planet. Travel + Leisure magazine also placed Livraria Lello at the top of the list of the “coolest” bookstores in the world. CNN, in 2014, considered it the most beautiful bookstore in the world.

On July 24, 1999, 34,309 people gathered at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor to create a human logo for Euro 2004.

The player's leg featured in the logo was made up of 651 gymnasts with black and white capes that, when shaken, created the illusion of kicking a soccer ball. As soon as the ball was kicked, 10,000 red and green helium balloons were released. The final shot was a shout with one voice: “Portugal, we love football!”.

The promotional video filmed during this day went around the world and the victory of the Portuguese candidacy seemed increasingly likely... On October 12th of the same year, the long-awaited response came, with the then president of UEFA, the Swede Lennart Johansson, being the bearer of the good news: Portugal would host Euro 2004

The caravel was a vessel invented and used by the Portuguese during the period of Discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Portuguese caravel was a fast vessel, easy to maneuver, capable of hauling, of modest proportions and which, if necessary, could be moved with oars. Caravels were vessels with a shallow draft that could easily ascend the rivers of the African coast. It was thanks to the development of the caravel that the Portuguese were able to venture into the wildest seas using the triangular sails that characterized Portuguese caravels and which made it possible to sail safely against the wind.

In fact, it was on a Portuguese caravel that Bartolomeu Dias would round the Cape of Storms, later named Cape of Good Hope in 1488.

It first appeared in 1991 and is a simple way to pay tolls. This electronic toll system was created by the University of Aveiro to eliminate endless queues to pay on motorways. As a rule, there are two lanes reserved for Via Verde adherents and cars must be equipped with a DSRC identifier stuck to the windshield. The advantage of this system is that the driver does not have to stop the vehicle to make payment. This is automatically debited from their bank account.

The first flying machine was designed by Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century. However, the honor of being the first to build a machine capable of flying and to have a license for it, granted by D. João V in 1709, belongs to the Portuguese priest Bartolomeu de Gusmão. Thus, Portugal became a pioneer in aviation.

Did you know that the most expensive chapel in the world is in Lisbon? The Chapel of São João Batista was one of the most ambitious works of King D. João V, who ruled Portugal between 1706 and 1750. This king became known as the “Magnânimo” or the “Portuguese Sun King”, as he spent a lot of money on works of art, culture and religion, thanks to the wealth coming from Brazil's gold and diamonds. D. João V wanted to affirm Portugal's prestige on the European scene and show his devotion to Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of his military order. Therefore, he commissioned the Roman architects Luigi Vanvitelli and Nicola Salvi to create a chapel dedicated to the saint, which should be the most beautiful and luxurious in the world.

The chapel was built in Rome between 1742 and 1747, with the participation of more than 130 craftsmen. Before being sent to Lisbon, it was blessed by Pope Benedict XIV in the Church of Santo António dos Portugueses.

It was then dismantled into 174 pieces and transported on three ships to Lisbon, where it was reassembled in the Church of São Roque in 1750. It was officially inaugurated in 1752, in the presence of the king and his family. It survived the 1755 earthquake, which destroyed a large part of the city. In 1768, after the expulsion of the Society of Jesus, the chapel was handed over to the Misericórdia of Lisbon by D. José I, together with the Church of São Roque. It is covered with noble and rare materials, such as lapis lazuli, agate, ancient green, alabaster, Carrara marble, amethyst, purple porphyry, French white-black, ancient breccia, diaspore and jade. In addition, it has gilded bronze elements, wood and ivory inlays and figurative mosaics.