The capital of Portugal, Lisbon: geographical location, history and attractions. Portugal

Portuguese Republic

Portugal is located in the extreme southwest of Europe in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. It also owns the Azores and Madeira Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal borders Spain to the north and east and is washed by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west.

The name of the country comes from the city of Porto (Latin Portus Cale - “warm port”).

Capital

Lisbon.

Square

Population

10066 thousand people

Administrative division

Portugal is divided into 22 districts, including 18 on the continent, and 2 autonomous regions - the Azores and the Madeira archipelago.

Form of government

Republic.

Head of State

President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislative body

Assembly of the Republic (unicameral parliament), term of office - 4 years.

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

Porto, Coimbra, Braga, Evora.

Official language

Portuguese.

Religion

97% are Catholics.

Ethnic composition

99% are Portuguese.

Currency

Euro = 100 cents.

Climate

The climate in Portugal is entirely dependent on the influence of the Atlantic and varies from north to south and from east to west. The proximity of the ocean keeps temperatures lower than at the same latitudes in the Mediterranean. The cooling effect is exerted by the cold Canary Current, which runs from north to south along the western coast of the country. Here the weather is more capricious and there is more precipitation. Most of them occur in the cold season. In the south, up to 400 mm of precipitation falls per year, in the north - 800 mm, in the mountains - 1200-2500 mm.
The climate of the islands is subtropical and mild. The average annual temperature on the coast is + 20 °C.

Flora

In the past, Portugal's forests were thoughtlessly cut down, but in recent decades, as a result of planting, their area has increased significantly and currently accounts for 36% of the country's territory. About half of the forests are coastal pine, as well as large numbers of eucalyptus trees. The vegetation of Portugal is characterized by wild bush thickets on lowlands, hills and rocky slopes.
Huge spaces are densely covered with evergreen maquis shrubs that reach a height of up to two meters. The most typical species for maquis are noble laurel, myrtle, strawberry and pistachio trees, tree heather, oleander, and cistus. There are plantations of olive trees, and in the south there are even almond orchards.

Fauna

The fauna is represented by a mixture of Central European and North African species. The predominant species are fox, wild rabbit, and Iberian hare. The mountains are mainly inhabited by wild goats, wild boars and deer; in the south, the North African genet and the Algerian hedgehog are found. Birds are very diverse. Endemic species (characteristic only for a given area) include the blue magpie, owl, and red partridge. Vultures, kestrels, and eagles nest on the rocks. Storks (protected by special legislation), snipe, and quail are found along the entire coast. In coastal waters there is a large amount of fish: sardine, anchovy, cod, tuna.

Rivers and lakes

Rivers - Douro (Duero), Tagus (Tajo), Guadiana.

Attractions

In Lisbon - national museums of ethnography, religious art, ancient art, modern art, the Carriage Museum, the Jeronimos Monastery, the Church of Santa Maria, the Queluz Palace; in Porto - the Church of San Pedro; in Evora - the Temple of Diana, etc. Almost every city has museums. In the south there are ruins of Roman temples and aqueducts.

Useful information for tourists

Bullfighting is a favorite spectacle of the Portuguese, although it differs significantly in rules from the more “bloodthirsty” Spanish one. During fights, bulls are never killed, because Portuguese bullfighting is a beautiful sporting competition of agility and strength between a man and a bull.
On holidays, bullfights are held in many cities in Portugal.
A typical feature of the Portuguese is leisurely and calm, they never fuss. The Portuguese, unlike their Spanish neighbors, are not noisy and understand other languages well. They are friendly and not arrogant, not loud and not aggressive. Their speech is leisurely. The manner of communication is calm and quiet. The Portuguese are very fond of holidays, the reason for which can be pilgrimage, commemoration of saints, fairs, etc.

Portugal is a small European country, but its nature is very picturesque. Travelers will need only 3 days to travel around it. If you want to get to know the country’s natural landscapes better and get in touch with its culture, you need more time.

Portugal on the world map is the westernmost state on the Eurasian continent. The state is inhabited by the Portuguese, among whom black immigrants from Africa predominate.

Portugal on the physical and political map of the world and Europe in Russian

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You can view the location of the country in the world in large detail, as well as a detailed map of the country with cities, using online maps.

Where is it located and who does it border with?

Portugal is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, The Portuguese Republic borders on the east and north, and the western and southern parts of the state are washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

Portugal includes archipelagos located in the Atlantic Ocean.

Madeira Island, part of Portugal, is considered one of the most popular among travelers, it is located approximately 580 km from North Africa. Also an autonomous region of Portugal are the Azores.

How to get there?

There are 20 air terminals in the Portuguese Republic, of which international only:

Portela(capital of Portugal, Lisbon);
Ponta Delgada(Azores);
Porto named after Francisco Sa Carneiro(near Porto in the northern part of the country);
Faro(Algarve province, 6.5 km from Faro);
Funchal Madeira now Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo (16 km from Funchal).

In you can find out which airlines operate flights to Portugal from Russia and how long the flight takes.

From Russia they can arrive in Portugal by three air routes: via Lisbon, Porto and Funchal Madeira. Other airports are not open to Russians.

You can purchase a plane ticket using this search form. Enter information about cities of departure and arrival, date And number of passengers.

Country information

When planning to visit Portugal, plan a route for yourself, what historical sights and interesting places you would like to visit.

Story

In the 12th century Portugal has become independent state, until this time its history was inseparable from the history of the entire Iberian Peninsula.

The life of the country is inextricably linked with the sea, the ruling monarchs supported research and development of technology, as a result, the greatest geographical discoveries were made, and Portuguese expansion began.

In 1500 the discoverer Pedro Alvares Cabral proclaimed himself its ruler. Military operations have unfolded on Portuguese territory more than once. At different times it was controlled by the Romans, Moors, Spaniards, and French.

Total information

The total area of the country is 89 thousand km². The population exceeds 10 million 273 thousand people. Mostly Portuguese people speak Portuguese. A small part of the population uses the Miranda language. The currency of Portugal is the euro, and there are paper bills and coins in circulation.

Climate and weather

The territory of Portugal lies in subtropical climate zone. Weather conditions are influenced by topography and the cold Canary Current.

Stands out several climate zones:

For northwest characterized by heavy rains, mild winters and short summers;
on northeast countries have cold, longer winters with snowfalls, and hot summers;
V southern part Portugal has mild winters and dry summers with little precipitation.

Coldest month– this is, the average temperature ranges from +3 degrees in the northeastern part to +11.9 in the south.

Hottest months are July and August, the average temperature is +19-23.4 degrees. There are 3,000 sundials in Portugal every year.

Resorts are concentrated in the south, where water temperature warms up to +21 degrees.

Tourism

The tourism industry plays an important role in the Portuguese economy. There are 15 objects in the country included in UNESCO World Heritage.

Resorts - photos

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Attractions

In Nazaré 2 main ones: Chapel of Memory and Church of Our Lady. According to legend, the chapel was erected on the spot where the sacred relic, the Black Madonna, was found. The square structure was built in the 12th century. The Church of Our Lady appeared later in 1377, it was built because there was not enough space in the Chapel of Remembrance for everyone who wanted to pray to the Black Madonna.

The Church of Our Lady was rebuilt several times; today it is a Baroque structure.

Aguas-Libres Aqueduct– a kind of visiting card of the capital city. The structure is presented in the form of a string of stone arches rising to a great height. The technical structure was erected in the 18th century.

Lisbon has Belem Tower, included by UNESCO on the World Heritage List. It is located at the mouth of the Tagus River. This building is made in the exotic Manueline style.

Tourists holidaying in Lisbon have the opportunity to visit Palace of Queluz, where the kings of Portugal once lived. The luxurious complex was built in the 18th century and was used by members of the royal family as a summer residence.

The exact location of Portugal on the world map is in this video:

In Portugal, it's easy to feel like you're at the end of the world, because you're on the westernmost cape of Europe. Then there is only the ocean and somewhere beyond it unexplored lands. The name "Portugal" comes from the name of the Roman settlement of Portus Calais, which was once located at the mouth of the Douro River.

The country has a rich history. Portugal became an independent state in the 12th century. In the distant past, brave sailors set off from these shores on voyages during which the New World was discovered. In those days, little Portugal owned almost half the world. And ahead of her were disappointments associated with the collapse of the colonial system and a long-term totalitarian regime. Despite the sad past, this country has managed to use its advantages and become today one of the most sophisticated European resorts.

Portugal has only two neighbors - Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to 90,000 m 2 on the Iberian Peninsula, it owns the Azores Islands and the Madeira Archipelago lying in the Atlantic. The capital of the country is Lisbon, other large cities are Porto, Setubal, Coimbra.

The administrative division of Portugal is made up of 22 districts (18 of them are located on the mainland, three more in the Azores and one in Madeira).

Capital	Lisbon
Population	10,707,924 people

Population density	114 people/km 2
	Portuguese
Religion	Catholicism
Form of government	parliamentary republic

Timezone	UTC+0, summer UTC+1
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

Portugal has a warm, sunny climate with mild winters. But please note that in winter in the north it is still damp and cold, with snowfalls in the mountains.

And in summer there is much more rainfall there than in the rest of the territory. In general, there is little rain, with an average of 500-700 mm of precipitation per year.

The average annual air temperature north of the Douro River is +10 °C, in the region between the Douro and Tagus rivers - +16 °C, and in the Guadiana Valley - +18 °C. In January, the average temperature in the northeast of the country is +7 °C, and in the south - +16 °C. In August, the average temperature is almost the same throughout the country - about +25...+27 °C.

Nature

Along the shore Atlantic Ocean pass the southern and western borders of Portugal. The landscape here is represented by a vast coastal valley. If you go towards the border with Spain, you can see how the lowlands give way to foothills and mountains that occupy most of the country. This is basically the edge of the plateau Meseta(height 1000-1200 m). In the east, the Portuguese Lowland is framed by a plateau with separate mountain ranges (height 600-1000 m). The highest point in the country is Mt. Estrela(1993 m).

Major rivers of Portugal - Tagus, Dora And Guadiana- originate in Spain, flow through Portugal and then flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

The country's vegetation is varied. In the south you can find olive trees and cork oaks, in the north you can stroll through dense mixed forests, and in the central regions you can relax in eucalyptus groves. The mountains alternate between coniferous-deciduous forests, low-growing shrubs and alpine meadows.

Attractions

People go to Portugal to see some of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world and well-preserved impregnable fortresses of the Moors and Crusaders. Visit ancient cities and travel back in time while admiring architectural monuments.

Lisbon- a city of steep climbs, bridges, one-car trams, beautiful squares and famous museums.

Braga- the main religious center of the country. Henry of Burgundy, father of the first king of Portugal, is buried in the local cathedral. The other cathedral is located outside the city, but it’s definitely worth a trip there. There is a never-ending queue of pilgrims to the Bon Jesus de Monti temple. The city also preserves the heritage of the Romans: the ruins of temples, an aqueduct and an amphitheater.

Porto- one of the most ancient cities in the country. It was made famous by Prince Enrique, who was born here, who launched the Age of Discovery; the altar of the Church of San Francisco, which took about 350 kg of gold; and, of course, port wine!

IN Evore is the Roman Temple of Diana. You cannot pass by the Franciscan church with a chapel, the inside of which is lined with human bones.

Nutrition

Portuguese cuisine is often described as "voluptuous". Why? One of its characteristic differences is the abundance of hot and spicy seasonings, which appeared here earlier than in the rest of Europe. What else is characteristic of Portuguese cuisine?

First, the four main ingredients are rice, cabbage, cod and potatoes.
Secondly, the Portuguese have a special love for soups.
Thirdly, of course, a wide range of fish and seafood dishes.
Fourthly, a variety of pork recipes. And finally, this is an addiction to very sweet desserts.

At the same time, each region of the country carefully preserves its traditions.

Most often served as a snack seafood- boiled, in a light sauce or as a salad. Soups are eaten both morning and evening. Thick puree soups are most characteristic of Portuguese cuisine. Try " asorda"is a stew with bread, seasoned with coriander and olive oil, which is eaten, for example, with fish.

A variety of seafood is boiled or fried on a grill and served with or without a side dish, as well as in the form of mixtures - mainly with rice.

When choosing a pork dish, do not miss " Carne de Porcu a Alentyzhana" Alentejoan pork consists of slices of meat in wine vinegar and red pepper, served with potatoes. Real jam!

And, of course, you can’t ignore the national product itself - salted dried cod, in Portuguese " bacalhau" There are more than 300 recipes for its preparation.

Portugal is famous for its wines and exquisite ports. “Every wine would like to be port if it could,” as the English say. Be sure to visit the Port Wine Museum in Lisbon to develop an even greater love for this drink.

Accommodation

The hotel network in Portugal is well developed and includes hotels, apartments, motels, guest houses, and hostels. There are hotels in historical buildings - castles, palaces, monasteries. Prices vary depending on the season: January-March - low season; April, May and September - average; July, August - high.

The average housing price is 60 € for a double room.

In Portugal, it is quite common to rent out a room, apartment or house to tourists. As a rule, such accommodation is very comfortable. This way you can find a cheap room with a private bathroom.

Camping, as usual, is the cheapest option. True, many of them are closed out of season.

Entertainment and relaxation

Favorite sport - football— local residents are ready to discuss for hours. The three most popular clubs in Portugal are FC Porto, Sporting and Benfica.

Another favorite spectacle of the Portuguese is bullfight. Tourada is different from Spanish bullfighting. Here the bull is not killed in the arena; the cavaleira (analogous to the Spanish matodora) must be excellent riders, because the tourada is only mounted. The cavalier's task is to insert 3-6 banderillas - small copies of different lengths - into the bull's scruff.

Immerse yourself in Portuguese culture and attend a concert fado. What it is? Fado is a solo lyrical vocal work performed to the accompaniment of a Portuguese guitar.

Don't miss the chance to indulge in delicious beaches located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Just 15 kilometers west of Lisbon are luxurious Cascais And Estoril. And yet the most popular resort area of Portugal is Algarve- a region located in the south of the country. Here, high cliffs and sand dunes frame wild, almost deserted beaches.

Each town in the province has its own characteristics:

Faro attracts visitors with its old town surrounded by Roman walls and one of the largest motorcycling conventions in Europe, which takes place in mid-July.
Olhão is famous for its fishermen's quarter with Moorish-style houses.
Vilamoura Creteira is the largest yacht harbor in the province.
Albufeira is famous for its huge number of bars, clubs and restaurants and is considered the most fun place in the Algarve.
Portimão is a city of gorgeous beaches and skyscrapers. At the beginning of May, the Formula 1 Scooter World Cup takes place here, and at the beginning of August, don't miss the sardine festival.
Lagos is the starting point of the first overseas expeditions.

Purchases

In Portugal, small shops, luxury boutiques and huge shopping centers coexist everywhere. Shopping here will be very exciting.

Appreciate traditional crafts and bring home a small piece of this beautiful country. Many souvenirs use “love scarves” motifs. Previously, a girl used embroidery to reflect her feelings and give such a scarf to her lover. The ornament is clear to everyone - a heart, red carnations, lilies, roses. Why not a gift for your loved one?

A very original purchase is a piece made of cork leather. They make a lot of things out of it - bags, umbrellas, hats and even pens. The most popular souvenir in the country is the Barcelos red clay cockerel. You will be very pleased with the variety of ceramics.

Portugal is also famous for its filigree gold and silver work.

While walking through shopping centers and shops, do not pass by colorful and lively markets where you can buy almost everything. You can wander here for hours. Visit the Coimbra market (daily), Barcelos market (Thursdays) and Carcavelos market in the outskirts of Lisbon.

Shops are open from 8:00 to 19:00, on Saturdays - until 13:00. Shopping centers are open from 10:00 and wait for customers until late in the evening every day. Lunch in Portugal is from 12:00 to 14:30.

Transport

There are 66 airports in Portugal. International airports are open in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, the Azores and Madeira. Tap Air Portugal is the national carrier.

Network length railways is 2,800 km, and for automobiles - 68,700 km. There are three types of trains: intercidade (IC), interregional (IR) and regional (R). Tickets for regional trains are half the price of others.

Bus network provides connections between most Portuguese cities. As with trains, there is a division by class: expressos - fast and comfortable, they carry out transportation between major cities; rapidas - fast regional buses; carreiras stop at every intersection.

Basic sea ports: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira), Horta (Azores), Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Setúbal, Viana do Castel.

It is advisable to use urban public transport only in Porto and Lisbon. These cities have metro. Be sure to take a trip to tram or funicular in Lisbon, Braga and Nazaré. At the stops there are information boards with information about traffic, indicating the route and the exact time of arrival and departure.

Find Taxi very easy, even in the smallest towns. The cars are painted beige.

In Portugal, the speed limits are 120 km/h on autobahns, 90 km/h on highways and 60 km/h within urban areas. The fine for excess is paid on the spot. 0.5 ppm is the maximum permissible level of alcohol in the driver’s blood. Please note that Portuguese drivers may overtake in the most dangerous places, such as on a sharp bend.

Connection

The cheapest way to make a call is from a telephone booth. Cards in denominations of 5 and 10 € are sold at newsstands and at post offices.

The mobile network covers the entire country. It is very rare to find a lack of signal anywhere. Three main mobile operators: Optimus, TMN, Vodafone. The cost of a SIM card is about 10 €. You can buy it at official sales centers.

Free WiFi can be found easily in Portugal. Many hotels provide this service, and also look for it at airports and shopping centers. In Lisbon there is even a program “ digital gardens» — 21 free access points in gardens and parks.

Safety

In Portugal, as in any other country in the world, it is necessary to monitor the safety of documents and personal belongings. Just in case, make a photocopy of your passport.

Leave cars only in guarded parking lots. Do not forget expensive things in the salon that may attract intruders.

It is better to use ATMs that are located indoors rather than outdoors.

You can drink tap water, but drinking bottled water is sold everywhere.

Smoking is allowed only in special rooms. Smoking is prohibited in public transport, educational institutions, hospitals, museums, indoor entertainment and sports centers, hotels, theaters, shops, and indoor parking lots. Fine - from 50 to 70 €.

Portugal is suffering from forest fires. The fines for lighting a fire in a place that is not specially equipped for this are quite high.

Portugal is located in an active seismic zone, with earthquakes of magnitude 8 or more occurring on average every two years.

Business climate

Portugal hosts a large number of international exhibitions in a variety of areas. Large exhibition complexes are located in Lisbon (Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, Cordoaria Nacional, Feira Internacional de Lisboa Exhibition Fairground), Porto (Exponor - Oporto International Fair, Centro de Congressos da Alfandega do Porto) and Braga (PEB - Empresa Parque de Exposições de Braga).

The main sectors of the Portuguese economy are: woodworking, clothing and footwear production, metalworking, paper and cork production, oil refining and chemicals, fish processing, tourism, wine and port wine production.

In the south the main industrial area is Lisbon-Setubal, and in the north - Porto Braga Aveiro.

The following types of taxes are levied in Portugal: Imposto MunicipalsobreTransmissões - IMT (property transfer tax - up to 6%), Municipal sobre os Imóveis - IMI (real estate tax - for rural areas - 0.8%, within the city - from 0.2 % up to 0.5%, Imposto de selo (press tax - a fixed amount or a certain percentage, depending on the importance of the document), Imposto Sobre o Valor Acrescentado (VAT - 21%, 12%, 5%) and others.

Real estate

Investing in real estate is profitable - it will always pay for itself. So why not do it in Portugal? The most attractive places to buy are the cities of Lisbon (average price per 1m2 - 2100 €) and the adjacent Riviera (average price per 1m2 - 1500-3000 €), Cascais, Porto (average price per 1m2 - 800-1000 €) and the Algarve region (average price for 1m2 - 1800-3500 €).

After selecting a suitable property for purchase, it must be registered as the property. The process consists of two parts. The first is signing a contract. The buyer must pay between 10 and 25% of the total price of the property. The seller, in turn, is obliged to remove the object from auction. The notary carries out a real estate inspection - this process can take from 3 to 6 months. During this time you can cancel the purchase, but the paid amount will not be refunded. If the seller refuses, he will have to refund the original amount in double amount.

The second part is the actual signing of the final agreement with payment of the remaining amount. Before this, the buyer must pay a property transfer tax - the rate depends on the value of the property.

Many people in Portugal speak Spanish, English, French or German, but they will be very pleased if you pronounce basic politeness formulas in their native language. Learn a few phrases in Portuguese: "Ola" - hello, "Ate Logo" - goodbye, "Obrigado (husband)", "Obrigada (wives)" - thank you, "pur favor" - please, "sim" - yes, "neu" - no.
In restaurants, bread, snacks and water are usually served at the table, but most often they are not free. They will certainly be included in your bill.
In many places in Portugal, cigarettes are sold in vending machines that are locked; in order to still make a purchase, you need to ask a store employee or cafe waiter to unlock them.
Leave your high heels at home—most of the sidewalks here are paved with cobblestones.
You can find the toilet using clear pictures or signs with the letters H (Homem) - this is a men's toilet, S (Senhora) - a women's toilet.

Visa information

Portugal is a member of the Schengen Agreement. A visa must be obtained from the embassy of that country.

PORTUGAL
Portuguese Republic, a state in the west of the Iberian Peninsula. The capital is the city of Lisbon. The area including the islands is 92.3 thousand square meters. km. The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the south and west, and borders on Spain in the north and east. In addition, Portugal includes the Azores Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 1,450 km west of Lisbon, and the Madeira Archipelago, 970 km southwest of Lisbon.

Portugal. The capital is Lisbon. Population - 10.6 million people (1997). Population density - 115 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 30%, rural - 70%. Area - 92.3 thousand square meters. km. The highest point is Mount Estrela (1993 m). The official language is Portuguese. The main religion is Catholicism. Administrative division: 18 districts and 2 autonomous regions. Currency: escudo = 100 centavos. Public holiday: Portugal Day - June 10. National anthem: "A Portuguesa".

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The name of the country comes from the name of the Roman settlement Portus Cale at the mouth of the river. Douro. In 1139 Portugal became a kingdom independent from Spain. At that time it occupied only the northern third of its modern territory. In 1249 the last Muslim ruler in the south of the country was expelled, and since then its borders have changed little. In the 15th century Portugal was the leading maritime power of Europe, and in the next century the first European country to create a huge empire with overseas possessions in South America, Africa, India and the East Indies. In 1910, the monarchy was overthrown in Portugal, and in 1974, a democratically minded military junta put an end to the dictatorial regime that had existed since 1926. The constitution adopted in 1976 proclaimed Portugal a parliamentary republic with direct elections and universal suffrage for adults. In addition to modern administrative divisions, districts, the division into 11 historical provinces is often used in Portugal.
NATURE
Surface structure. On the territory of Portugal, the valleys of the Douro (Duero) and Tagus (Tajo) rivers are clearly distinguished. In the upper reaches they are narrow and deeply incised, downstream they widen and near the shore of the Atlantic Ocean they turn into flat lowlands. These rivers are the natural boundaries of five of the six geographical regions of the country. At the same time, the border between Portugal and Spain is almost never associated with natural boundaries.
The topography of the provinces of Minho in the west and Traz-os-Montes and Alto Douro in the east, located north of the Douro River, is rugged and mountainous. The province of Beira, stretching from the Douro River to the upper section of the Tagus River, with the exception of the coastal plain, is also occupied by mountains. In its central part is the highest point of Portugal - Mount Estrela (1993 m above sea level). The fertile plains in the lower reaches of the Tagus River (Ribatejo province) and in the coastal area north and south of the capital Lisbon belong to the province of Estremadura. To the east and south of it lies the province of Alentejo, with a soft hilly topography, and the entire southern part of Portugal is occupied by the plains of the Algarve province, whose natural conditions are similar to the Mediterranean zone of North Africa.
The soils of Portugal are mainly sandy, acidic, formed mainly on volcanic rocks. The exception is the fertile loamy soils of the alluvial plain in the lower reaches of the Tagus River. There are several seismically active zones in Portugal, the largest of which are located in the Algarve, Minho and near Lisbon.
Climate. Influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal has a temperate Mediterranean climate. Several climatic regions can be distinguished: northwestern with heavy rains, mild winters and short summers; the northeast with longer, cold, snowy winters and hot summers, and the south with deficient precipitation, long, hot, dry summers and mild winters. In Lisbon, humidity is low and average temperatures range from 10°C in January to 23°C in August. The average annual precipitation here is 700 mm.
Flora and fauna. The natural vegetation of Portugal, although greatly modified by man, reflects the listed climatic features. Where oceanic influence predominates, pine grows in abundance. On the northern and central coast it forms significant forests, in the tree layer of which Portuguese oak (Quercus lusitanica) is also found, and in the shrub layer - broom. In areas with long, hot and dry summers, cork and holm oaks are common.
Forests cover 1/5 of Portugal's territory; almost half of them are coniferous, mainly pine. Approximately 607 thousand hectares are occupied by cork oak plantations. Portugal supplies half of the world's cork production. The area of eucalyptus plantations, characterized by rapid growth, is rapidly expanding; it is the most important source of raw materials for the pulp and paper industry. Forests are important to Portugal's economy and foreign trade.
Among the animals in the country there are species typical of Central Europe (lynx, wild forest cat, wolf, fox, wild boar, bear, various rodents), as well as representatives of the North African fauna (genetta, chameleon, etc.). Portugal is located on one of the main migration routes for migratory birds, so many species of birds can be found here. The coastal waters are home to more than 200 species of fish, including commercial ones, including sardines, anchovies and tuna.
POPULATION
Origin and features. The country's population is mononational, 99% are Portuguese. Many peoples have long settled on the Iberian Peninsula. The most ancient inhabitants - the Iberians - were short and dark-skinned. Over the centuries, the appearance of the Portuguese was shaped by the influence of the Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, as well as Germanic tribes, in particular the Visigoths and Alemanni.
Demography. Over the course of a century and a half, the population of Portugal tripled - from 3.4 million people in 1841 to 10.6 million people in 1997. In the first half of the 1980s, the birth rate per 1000 inhabitants was approx. 18, and the mortality rate is 9-10. By the end of the 1980s, the birth rate had dropped to almost 12. Natural population growth was partly offset by emigration. Throughout the 20th century. the largest number of emigrants headed to America. However, in the 1960s, many Portuguese left in search of work in France, Germany and other Western European countries. From 1960 to 1972 almost 1.5 million Portuguese emigrated. In the late 1970s, emigration fell sharply, and after the Portuguese colonies in Africa gained independence, several hundred thousand Portuguese returned to their homeland.
Cities. The largest and most important city in Portugal is Lisbon (2.1 million inhabitants and suburbs, 1996). It is the capital and main port of the country, an industrial center, a junction of roads, railways, and air communications. The growth of the suburbs was so rapid that by the 1990s, almost 2.3 million people lived in the Lisbon metropolitan area, i.e. almost a quarter of the country's population. Petrochemical plants, shipyards and many other industries form a powerful industrial complex covering suburbs such as Amadora (140 thousand people in 1991), Barreiro (59.5 thousand) and Almada (22.6 thousand). Porto is the main city of the North - the second most populous in the country (302.5 thousand in 1991; in the entire agglomeration about 1.2 million people). Porto, located on the right bank of the Douro River, the former capital of Portugal and the country's major port, is famous for its port wine. On the opposite bank of the Douro River is the city of Vila Nova di Gaia (31.5 thousand inhabitants in 1991), where many warehouses of wine companies are concentrated. To the north of Porto there is its suburb, Matosinhos (29.8 thousand), the center of sardine fishing and canning.
The main city of central Portugal, Coimbra (118.9 thousand) is famous for its university, founded in 1290. It is also a trade and transport center. Braga (102.7 thousand) is the residence of the Roman Catholic primate of Portugal; there are small factories and handicraft workshops here. Setubal (85.3 thousand) is the center of the fish processing industry, fruit processing and car assembly.
Language. Portugal is a monolingual country. The official language is Portuguese. Portuguese is spoken approx. 184 million people on three continents. This language has similarities with Spanish, both of which are derived from the Latin language. However, Portuguese differs significantly from Spanish in pronunciation and grammar. The vocabulary of the Portuguese language was enriched by Arabic and German words, as well as the vocabulary of the languages of Asian peoples with whom Portuguese pioneer travelers and traders came into contact. The most significant work of medieval Portuguese literature is the epic poem Lusiad (1572), created by Luis de Camões. It tells the story of Portuguese geographical discoveries and glorifies Portugal and its people.
Religion. Portugal, by its history and traditions, is a Roman Catholic country; Almost 94% of its residents profess Catholicism. However, the church is separated from the state and does not receive direct financial support from it. Less than 1% of residents are Protestants. There are Jewish communities (200 thousand people) in Lisbon and Porto. About 5% of the country's residents consider themselves atheists.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
From 1926 to 1974, Portugal had a conservative dictatorship, the so-called. "new state". In fact, the country was ruled for 36 years by Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, who served as Prime Minister. He banned all political organizations except the National Union, which he founded, and sought to keep the entire population under control through a network of youth organizations, veterans' associations, and other institutions officially supported by the state. Salazar made extensive use of propaganda and censorship, and suppressed dissent with the help of the secret police.
During the dictatorship of Salazar and the six-year rule of his successor Marcelo Caetano, the ever-increasing costs of maintaining power in the recalcitrant African colonies led to the impoverishment of the majority of workers and peasants in Portugal itself. At the same time, the profits from the colonies went to a small commercial, industrial and landowning oligarchy. By many measures, Portugal was the poorest country in Western Europe. On April 25, 1974, a group of young officers who made up the Armed Forces Movement (MAM) and opposed the endless wars in Africa and the repressive policies at home, overthrew the Caetano regime and formed a provisional government. The officers demanded negotiations with representatives of the liberation movements, an end to the police state and censorship, the formation of political parties, and holding elections to the Constituent Assembly within a year after the transition to civilian government.
The initial two-year transition period was marked by political instability. During this time, six provisional governments were replaced, attempts were made to carry out two coups d'etat (one was inspired by right-wing forces, the other by left-wing forces); the country was swept by strikes and demonstrations. However, on the first anniversary of the Rose Revolution, the Portuguese elected a Constituent Assembly, which drafted a constitution that came into force on April 2, 1976.
State structure. In contrast to Salazar's corporate regime, the political system provided for by the 1976 constitution was based on democratic principles with elements of socialism.
The legislative body is a unicameral parliament (Assembly of the Republic), consisting of 250 deputies elected in general elections for a four-year term. The Assembly passes laws and approves the budget. Executive power is divided between the president and the government headed by the prime minister. The President is elected by general election for a term of five years and cannot be re-elected for a third term. The president's powers include the appointment and removal of the prime minister and other ministers, and he can veto bills passed by parliament. The government determines the country's policies, forms the budget and oversees public administration.
From 1976 to 1982, there was a State Council under the President, which was subsequently replaced by three new bodies: the Constitutional Court, the Advisory Council of State, headed by the President and staffed by political and public figures, and the Supreme Council of National Defense.
In 1989, a number of amendments to the 1976 constitution were adopted: the goal was proclaimed to be the building of a “free and fair society that cares for others,” instead of the previous formulation of “building a classless society.” A clause was introduced allowing the sale of previously nationalized companies, and a new course for agricultural reform was determined. Some articles of the constitution were revised in 1992.
Portugal has a centralized management system. The continental part of the country is divided into 18 administrative districts. Smaller administrative units are municipalities and parishes.
Local control. The representative organizations of the parish are the assembly and the parish junta. The Assembly is elected by all citizens of the parish. The Junta is the executive body of the parish and is elected by secret ballot of the assemblies from among its members. The chairman of the junta is the citizen who heads the list of candidates and received the largest number of votes in the elections to the assembly.
Municipalities are governed by municipal assemblies and chambers. Municipal assemblies are composed of the chairmen of the zhunts (executive bodies) of the parishes and at least the same number of elected deputies. The Municipal Chamber is the executive body of government and is headed by the candidate from the leading party that receives the majority of votes. Municipalities can create associations and federations to resolve economic, social, cultural and other issues.
The representative bodies of administrative districts are the assembly and the district council. The Assembly consists of members elected by direct universal suffrage and members chosen by an electoral college composed of members of the municipal assemblies. The executive collegial body, the juta, is elected by secret ballot by the district assembly from among its members. There is a government representative at the district council.
The Azores and Madeira enjoy self-government and have the status of autonomous regions. They are also divided into municipalities and parishes. Regional assemblies are elected by direct general and secret elections in accordance with the principle of proportional representation.
Political parties. With the establishment of the Salazar dictatorship in the early 1930s and until the April Revolution of 1974, political parties were banned. Nevertheless, the communist and socialist parties, as well as small political groups of the left, operated underground. After 1974, a number of new parties emerged. The largest of them - the People's Democratic Party (later renamed the Social Democratic Party, SDP) and the Social Democratic Center (SDC) - were formed by politicians who played an active role under the previous regime. Most major parties have received significant financial assistance from foreign political partners.
During the first few months after the revolution, approx. 80 political groups. By the time the first ballots were distributed, the political spectrum had narrowed to 12 parties. In the elections, the following parties received the largest number of votes: Socialist (SP, 35%), PSD (24%), SDC (16%) and Portuguese Communist Party (PCP, 14%).
The more conservative North of Portugal favored the PSD or PP, while the SP and PCP had support in the south. In recent years, the PCP's influence has begun to wane, with its constituency formerly consisting of industrial workers in the Lisbon region and poor agricultural workers in the South (Alentejo). About a million returnees from Angola and Mozambique are hostile to the left-wing politicians who granted independence to these African colonies.
Political instability rocked Portugal in the first decade after the revolution. From 1974 to 1976 there were six provisional governments. General António Ramalho Eanis, a moderate member of the Armed Forces Movement (MAF), provided some stability to society during his presidency from 1976 to 1986. The Prime Minister during these years was Mario Soares. He led the first SP minority government and then led an unstable government coalition. In 1979, the president was forced to hold special elections.
From 1979 to 1983, most parties grouped into three coalitions that represented the center right, center left, and extreme left; while the SDP dominated. This situation changed in 1983, when a centrist coalition led by the socialists, who received a majority of votes, and the social democrats came to power. This coalition government collapsed in 1985, after the weakening of the SDP's position.
Although the socialist candidate Soares was elected president in 1986 (the first civilian head of state in 60 years) with the support of the revolutionary
Democratic party DVS Eanish and the Communist-led United People's Union, Social Democrats continued to lead parliament in the mid-1980s. In 1987, after censorship was abolished and new elections were held, the SDP won a majority of seats in parliament for the first time in 13 years. The socialists won the municipal elections of 1989, and Soares was elected president in the elections on January 13, 1991, receiving 70.4% of the vote. Nevertheless, the SDP again received an absolute majority of votes in the parliamentary elections on October 6, 1991.
In 1995, the Socialists managed to win the presidential elections and gain a majority of seats in parliament. The government was headed by SP leader Antonio Gutteres. In January 1996, Jorge Sampaio, the former Socialist mayor of Lisbon, won the presidential election. The Socialists also won the 1997 municipal elections.
Legal system. Under Salazar's regime, freedom of the press and the right to associate, assemble, protest or strike were severely restricted. In the 1976 constitution these restrictions were lifted. The provision of personal immunity was introduced into both civil and military laws. The criminal law system is organized at the national level under the direction of the Ministry of Justice in 217 judicial districts. For a number of cases, the prosecution or defense has the right to demand a jury trial.
In Portugal, the courts are independent and subject only to the law. The Constitutional Court exists completely independently. The highest body in the hierarchy of courts is the Supreme Court. In addition, the court system includes courts of general jurisdiction of the first and second instances, the Supreme Administrative Court and other administrative and fiscal courts, the Accounts Chamber, military tribunals, maritime courts, and arbitration courts.
Armed forces. The Salazar-Caetano regime constantly increased the military power of Portugal. Under Caetano, almost 2/5 of the total government spending was allocated to the armed forces. After the revolution of 1974, due to the liquidation of the colonial system, there was no longer a need for a large army. In 1990, 44 thousand people served in the army, 16 thousand people served in the navy. The air force numbered approx. 15 thousand personnel.
Foreign policy. Portugal has long had particularly close relations with England. This tradition dates back to a trade treaty signed in 1373. In 1386, the two countries signed a treaty of mutual cooperation at Windsor, and close economic ties were cemented by the Treaty of Methuen in 1703. British support helped Portugal assert its independence after 1640 and retain much of its overseas empire . However, this ancient alliance did not influence the Portuguese policy of neutrality in World War II, although Britain and the United States were given bases in the Azores. Subsequently, the American air base in Lajes came under the control of NATO, which Portugal joined in 1949.
Due to the USSR's veto in the UN Security Council, Portugal was not accepted into this organization until 1955. From 1960 to 1986, Portugal was a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
The Portuguese colonies in 1970 occupied an area of over 2 million square meters. km. The largest of these were Angola and Mozambique in Africa. In Asia, Portugal owned the colonies of Macau in southeast China and East Timor in the Malay Archipelago. In 1974-1975 all African colonies became independent.
After the liquidation of the Portuguese colonial system in Africa, relations with the USSR, the countries of Eastern Europe and many countries in Africa and Asia were restored.
Relations with Indonesia became strained after it occupied East Timor in 1975 and facts of brutal treatment of residents of this former Portuguese colony became known. In 1999, Indonesia, under public pressure, withdrew its troops from East Timor.
According to the 1987 agreement, control of the Portuguese colony of Macao was to pass to China in December 1999.
In the late 1970s, Portugal's ties with NATO strengthened. On January 1, 1986, Portugal joined the European Community (EC). Portugal is part of the union of Portuguese-speaking countries, which also includes Brazil and the former Portuguese colonies - Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde.
See below
PORTUGAL. ECONOMY
PORTUGAL. STORY
PORTUGAL. HISTORY SINCE THE 18TH CENTURY
LITERATURE

Spain and Portugal. M., 1947 Biro P. Portugal. M., 1952 Kolomiets G.N. Essays on the modern history of Portugal. M., 1965 Kritsky L.G. Portugal. M., 1981 Stroganov A.O. Economy of Portugal. M., 1985 Pisarets I.G. Portugal is looking for a new path. M., 1986 Varyash O.I., Chernykh A.P. Portugal: roads of history. M., 1990 Kaplanov R.M. Portugal after World War II, 1945-1974. M., 1992

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

Useful information for tourists about Portugal, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Portugal, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in Portugal.

Geography of Portugal

The Portuguese Republic is the westernmost state in Europe. Located in the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. It borders with Spain and is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

The northern part of the country is occupied by the low mountains of the Serra da Estrela (height up to 1991 m), the southern and central parts are occupied by the Portuguese lowland, hills and lowlands.

State

State structure

Parliamentary republic with a presidential form of government. The head of government is the prime minister. Parliament is a unicameral Assembly (Council) of the Republic.

Language

Official language: Portuguese

Spanish and English are used.

Religion

Catholics (97%) and Protestants (1%).

Currency

International name: EUR

A euro is equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

The most convenient way to exchange money is at Lisbon airport (favorable rate, lower commission fee), in banks and hotels the rate is lower, and the fee is higher (in banks the commission is 0.5%). Exchange rates in different banks may differ significantly from each other. Some commercial banks do not charge commissions for transactions under 30 euros. In some private shops and markets you can pay in US dollars.

Traveler's checks are accepted everywhere and have a better rate than cash, but the fees are quite high (up to 13%), with the exception of American Express checks, which can be exchanged without a fee at Amex. Euro checks with a check guarantee card are exchanged in many banks. MasterCard, American Express and Visa credit cards are accepted everywhere. ATMs ("multibancos") are located in all tourist centers.

History of Portugal

Until the Middle Ages, the history of Portugal was inseparable from the history of Spain. In the 2nd century BC. The territory of modern Portugal became part of the Roman province of Lusitania.

In the 5th century AD control of the region passed to the Visigoths, and in the 8th century to the Moors. In 997, the territory between the Douro and Minho rivers (northern Portugal) was conquered from the Moors by King Bermudo II of León. In 1064, King Ferdinand 1 of Castile and Leon captured the territory up to modern Coimbra. The territories conquered from the Moors were divided into several feudal fiefs. In 1093, in gratitude for his help in the war with the Moors, King Alfonso 1 granted Henry of Burgundy the title of Count of Portugal.

After Alfonso's death, Henry refused to recognize the authority of the Kingdom of Castile and started a war. In 1143, Henry's son Alfonso Henriques was proclaimed King of Portugal Alfonso 1 by the Portuguese knights. In 1179, the Pope recognized the independence of Portugal.

Over the next two centuries, the Portuguese kings waged wars with the Moors, eventually ending in the expulsion of the latter from the country. At the beginning of the 15th century, the first large voyages of Portuguese sailors began. In 1418 and 1427, Portuguese sailors discovered Madeira and the Azores and annexed them to Portugal.

In the 17th century, King João IV expelled the Dutch from Brazil and established complete Portuguese dominance in the region. At the beginning of the 19th century, fleeing Napoleon's army, the royal family fled to Brazil and ruled Portugal from Brazil from 1807 to 1820.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the republican movement gained strength in Portugal and in 1910, after the revolution, Portugal was proclaimed a republic. One of the darkest pages in the history of Portugal is the reign of dictator Salazar, who came to power in 1932 and created the authoritarian regime of the so-called Estado Novo (new government).

In April 1974, a group of young officers carried out a coup d'état, also called the April Revolution. As a result, democratic reforms began in the country. Portugal is a member of the UN, GATT, IMF, WHO, NATO, EU, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Until the Middle Ages, the history of Portugal was inseparable from the history of Spain. In the 2nd century BC. the territory of modern Portugal became part of the Roman province of Lusitania....

Popular attractions

Tourism in Portugal

Where to stay

Today, Portugal provides many accommodation opportunities. Here you can find both fashionable hotels and inexpensive campsites, rural houses for rent. Since the hotel business is strictly controlled by the state, the owners try to provide services at the highest level. After all, the slightest discrepancy with the hotel’s “star” rank threatens the deprivation of such a profitable business. Hotels in Portugal are graded from five stars and below.

Hotels in Portugal usually offer half board. The cost of living depends on the location of the hotel, but most resort areas have a uniform pricing policy. Those who prefer the comfort and amenities available only in hotels choose apart-hotels from 2 to 5 stars.

For all lovers of home comfort and a relaxed luxurious life, accommodation is offered in expensive elite estates, which are located in the picturesque countryside. Moreover, the level of service offered is truly high, because such estates correspond to the 5-star category.

Among those who prefer an economical holiday, guesthouses are also very popular - a kind of analogue of a European Bed & Breakfast in the Portuguese style. Guesthouses also have their own categories, namely three, and the highest is usually intended for foreign tourists.

Inns are popular accommodation in Portugal. The peculiarity of such courtyards is their location in ancient buildings, the warm family welcome provided by the owners, as well as a high level of comfort.

No less colorful are the peasant farms, which involve complete immersion in the life typical of Portuguese rural residents. In addition to accommodation in comfortable pousadas or village houses, you will be offered horse riding, excursions to vineyards, and even participation in agricultural work.

Most campsites are located in resort areas, they have a classification from 1 to 4 stars. This can be either a state campsite for everyone, or closed private campsites, where only club members are allowed to stay.

Motels in Portugal cannot be called the safest or most comfortable for living. They are usually located near busy highways and are intended for short rest while traveling.

Tips

If you are satisfied with the service, leave the waiter about 10% tip. It is also customary for taxi drivers to leave a 10% tip.

Visa

Office hours

Banks are open on weekdays from 8.30 to 15.00, some bank branches in Lisbon and tourist areas close at 18.00, and in large shopping centers in the Algarve they are open daily from 9.00 to 21.00. ATMs of the national MULTIBANCO system operate around the clock.

Stores are open on weekdays - from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m. On Saturdays, most stores close at 1 p.m.

Purchases

VAT (IVA) is 8% on services and about 10% on goods. The prices must indicate whether VAT is included in the price of the product or service ("IVA incluido") or not ("mas 8% IVA"). Many stores offer tax refunds when purchasing goods over a certain amount (each store varies, but usually no less than 50 euros). You must receive a tax refund check, present your passport, fill out a special form, and the refund must be sent by bank transfer. You can also get a tax refund at customs when leaving the country at Lisbon Airport (international departures hall), Lisbon Seaport, Porto (before passport control) and Funchal airports.

Souvenirs

In Portugal you can buy high-quality and fashionable shoes and clothes, gold items, ceramics, original white or red port wine, and the world famous Portuguese Madeira wine.