La posizione geografica non lascia ombra di dubbi: il piccolo Portugal è il più occidentale degli stati dell’Europa continentale. Una fetta di terra lunga e stretta (in larghezza, non supera i 200 chilometri), bagnata dall’Oceano Atlantico lungo tutto il suo versante ovest.
Un litorale di circa 800 chilometri, con tratti alti, rocciosi e tormentati, che si alternano a spiagge lunghe, ampie e sabbiose, punteggiate dai barconi colorati dei pescatori e da borghi marinari di carattere.
I confini di terra del Portugal, tutti a est, vedono invece una stretta sequela di regioni spagnole: Galizia, Castiglia y Leon, Estremadura, Andalusia. La superficie del Portugal supera di poco i 91mila chilometri quadrati, declinati da un territorio vario, affascinante, mai scontato, che dalle ondulazioni della Meseta spagnola arriva alle sponde dell’Atlantico.
Portugal, sea
A land born of the sea, which over the centuries has turned its position into a formidable strength, becoming one of the greatest colonial powers on the planet, with possessions on all continents. An empire on which the sun never set, dissolved a few decades ago, of which only the Azores islands and Madeira remain, as autonomous regions.
Over half of the internal territory of Portugal is made up of plains; the hilly belt extends for a good 25% and preludes to a mountainous area that does not exceed 20%, which has its giant in Malhão de Estrela, a mountain of 1993 meters, on the central-northern side of the country, in the Serra da Estrela.
Portugal beaches. Albufeira, formerly called “fortress of the sea,” is a town that retains the charm of the old fishing villages and is one of Portugal’s favorite destinations due to its beautiful beaches and the lively nightlife that offers fun and bustling evenings every night. We are in the Algarve region, the main tourist area of Portugal as well as the southernmost part of the country.
Portugal cities
Lisbon, capital of Portugal
The most touristic regions are definitely that of Lisbon, the capital, resting on the banks of the Tagus, a tributary of the Atlantic, which shapes a spectacular estuary in its belly.
The architectures, the prestigious monuments (from the Vasco de Gama Bridge to the 25th April Bridge; from the Monastery of Jeronimos to the Castle of Sao Jorge; from the Monument to the Discoveries to the Tower of Belém to the Christ the King); the old neighborhoods and the clatter of the characteristic trams, the eletricos, up and down the small hills that form its structure; the notes of fado; the scent of cod cooked in the thousand ways of tradition, make it the homeland of the sweet Lusitanian life.
The Algarve: the south
The Algarve, in the south, the main tourist area of Portugal. A work of art of nature, with red cliffs plunging into the cold waters of the ocean; golden beaches, coves with a lunar charm; protected oases such as the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa and seaside resorts with a chic and fashionable touch: Faro, Vilamoura and Albufeira. But other destinations are no less important, such as Coimbra, home to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe.
Porto, na região norte
E Porto (Oporto nos nossos livros escolares), capital da região do Norte, banhada não só pelo Atlântico, mas também pelo Douro, rica em monumentos e vestígios medievais e renascentistas, com o antigo bairro da Ribeira declarado Patrimônio Mundial da UNESCO e com um dos maiores portos do país, durante séculos ponto de embarque dos famosos vinhos.
What to Eat in Portugal
Unlike Italy, in Portugal there are no first or second courses, but there are “entradas,” very similar to our appetizers, soups, which are really very flavorful, and one-dish meals, including the many recipes that feature the delicious Cod as the centerpiece of the dish. The typical Portuguese cuisine, perhaps somewhat underestimated, offers unique dishes and flavors in its kind. It is said that there is even a recipe for cod for every day of the year. Fish, and especially cod, are the main courses of this beautiful territory.
The Portugal Fact Sheet
- Country: Portugal
- Area: 92,391 km²
- Capital: Lisbon
- Population: 11 million inhabitants
- Language: Portuguese
- Religion: the majority is Catholic
- Form of Government: republic
- Major cities: Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Beja, Portalegre, Coimbra, Aveiro, Amadora, Funchal
Useful information about Portugal
- Currency: Euro
- International code: +351
- International license plate: P
- Driving side: right
- Entry documents: ID Card or Passport
- Vaccination required: No
- Electric current: 230/440 volt 50 hertz
- Measurement units: metric decimal system
- Time zones: – 1 hour from time in Italy
- Fixed date holidays: January 1st: New Year’s Day; April 25th: Freedom Day; March 17th; March-April: Easter Monday; March-April: Easter; May 1st: Labour Day; June 10th: Portugal Day; August 15th: Assumption; October 5th: Republic Day; November 1st: All Saints’ Day; December 1st: Restoration of Independence; December 8th: Immaculate Conception; December 25th: Christmas
- Climate: In Portugal, the climate varies significantly from one region to another, influenced by altitude, latitude, and proximity to the sea, which ensures mild winters. In the Porto and Norte de Portugal areas and in Centro de Portugal, especially in areas closest to Spain, winters are colder, although temperatures remain moderate compared to the rest of Europe. Summers are hot and dry, particularly in inland regions, while along the coast the heat is moderated by the presence of the sea.
- Average temperatures: around 10°C in winter and around 29°C in summer
- Transport: national airlines TAP-Air Portugal, Portugalia, Sata, Ata, and Hi Fly; all airlines have direct flights to Portugal: Alitalia, Air Europa, EasyJet, Iberia, Myair.com, Ryanair, and many others. Portuguese Railways (Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses); from all destinations: Artesia-Trains from Paris, also Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn.
- Airports: Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira-Funchal, Azores-Ponta Delgada
