Portugal: discover the wonders of this European gem

Portugal: discover the wonders of this European gem - Portugal has breathtaking landscapes, delicious cuisine, port wine, and magnificent pastries. The country enchants visitors with its tranquility, beauty, and quality of life. The destination is increasingly sought by the French, Americans, and Brazilians. But what does Portugal have that's attracting so many people? We have listed some of the country's curiosities to answer this question. Check out the gallery and discover some peculiarities about Portugal!

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One of the most ancient - Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe. It still has the same borders as originally defined in 1139. The name Portugal appeared for the first time in 868, during the Reconquista.

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Expances - Portugal's total area is 92,090 km².

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Castles - There are about 200 castles and forts in Portugal, each one more beautiful than the last.

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The city of seven hills - Lisbon is known as the City of Seven Hills. They are: Castelo, Graça, Monte, Penha de França, Sã Pedro de Alcântara, Santa Catarina, and Estrela.

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Population - Lisbon has about 550 thousand inhabitants, representing approximately 27% of Portugal's population.

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Oporto - The first dwellings in the city of Oporto appeared around 800 B.C. The city was called Cale for many years and then later, Portucale. This is where the name Portugal comes from.

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Port wine - Port wine emerged in the 17th century, when the British began importing the drink in large quantities from Portugal. In order to make the product survive the trip, the Portuguese added brandy or grape liquor to the barrels, which gave the wine a unique flavor.

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Earthquake - In 1755, an earthquake destroyed almost the entire city of Lisbon. After the earthquake dozens of fires and a 20-meter tsunami were recorded. It is estimated that 90 thousand people died on that day.

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Vasco da Gama bridge - The Vasco da Gama bridge was inaugurated in 1998 and it's the longest bridge in Europe at 17.2 km.

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Autonomous regions - Portugal has two autonomous regions: the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira.

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Brazilians - More than 100 thousand Brazilians live in Portugal.

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Portuguese women - Portuguese women have a reputation for being the most difficult to flirt with in Europe. They are determined women!

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Soccer - The Portuguese love football and the main football teams in the country are Benfica, Sporting, and Porto.

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Breakfast - Breakfast is almost a lunch as there's usually so much food to eat.

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Raparigas - In Portugal, the word "rapariga" means "young lady." But in Brazil, it would be rude to call a girl by this name.

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Cigarettes - According to a Eurobarometer survey published in Brussels, one in four Portuguese (25%) are smokers.

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Pastel de Belém (Custard tart) - The pastel of Belém is one of the most traditional sweet pastries in Portugal.

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Tiles - Portuguese tiles are well known all over the world and are spread throughout the country. In Lisbon there is a Museum of Tiles.

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Fado - Fado is Portugal's traditional music and has been added to UNESCO’s list of World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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Lello bookstore - Livraria Lello in the historic center of Porto is considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and was the inspiration for the library in the book 'Harry Potter.'

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Guimarães - The city is historically associated with the foundation of Portuguese nationality and identity. Guimarães pre-dates the birth of Portugal, and is thus known as "The Cradle of the Portuguese Nation."

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Lisbon - Lisbon is older than Rome. It's the second oldest European capital after Athens, and about four centuries older than Rome. Many historians believe that it was established by the Phoenicians around 1200 B.C.

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French - Since 2015 the number of people who have migrated from France to Portugal has grown considerably. According to the Portuguese government there are currently 25,000 French people living in Portugal.

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Solar energy - Portugal's Alentejo region has the largest solar power plant in the world.

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Fish - Portugal is the third largest consumer of fish in the world, after Japan and Iceland. The citizens of the Azores eat almost 76 kg of fish each a year.

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Religion - Portugal doesn't have an official religion, but about 84% of the population is Catholic.

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Cork - Portugal is the world's largest cork producer. lt produces 70% of all cork exported worldwide. The largest importers of Portuguese cork are Germany, England, and the United States.

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Coimbra University - Portugal has one of the oldest universities in Europe, the University of Coimbra. It was established in 1290.

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Surfing - Portugal is one of the best places in the world for surfing. The country has 800 kilometers of coast and is known for having 365 days of surfing per year.

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No traffic - It's the country with the fewest traffic jams in Europe.

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Cristo Rei - The Cristo Rei statue located on the bank of the Tagus River overlooking Lisbon is a copy of Christ the Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro and is one of Portugal's tallest buildings.

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