Portugal

Is there anything better than enjoying a tasty «bacalhau» with a nice glass of wine while completely merging in with the melancholic melodies of the Fado?
Fish and seafood play an important role in the Portuguese cuisine. Along with it vegetables, rice and potatoes are served. The national dish is considered to be the salted and dried bacalhau. There are countless recipes for the codfish and it is also a traditional Christmas dish. The popularity of this fish goes back to the Portuguese sailors who could only subsist on cured food during their long cruise so that the dried fish had become indispensable. You can buy the bacalhau in every fish store and every market in Portugal.
Many sailors also brought spices and recipes with them, which then found their way into the typical recipes of the country. These influences also mixed with the culinary influences of the Moors who dominated the country for a long time. So the Portuguese cuisine is a mixture of different local, regional and national influences, which reveal an astonishing diversity in flavours.
Wine is grown successfully for many centuries in many places. The port wine is the most famous wine and is also popular outside Portugal. This dessert wine can be combined perfectly with one of the many desserts made from egg yolk, almonds and sugar, which are very popular in the country.

The Portuguese stem from the Iberians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors. The Arabic influence can still be recognized today by the architecture of many buildings.
Portugal is known for its melancholic Fado, a mix of Portuguese sailor songs and African slave rhythms. Even after her death, Amalia Rodriguez is still considered to be the most famous Fado singer. Meanwhile many musicians made a name for themselves and bring out new variations of the Fado. The cliché of the melancholic ethnic soul of Portugal might be traced back to the sad songs of this type of music.
Literature experts will probably know the name José Sarmango who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1998. Another internationally known author is António Lobo Antunes.
On 7 July 2007, the “Seven New Wonders of the World” were announced in Portugal. At the same time the “Wonders of Portugal” were also elected. These important cultural monuments will take you on a journey into the past. To these belong castle complexes, palaces and monasteries across the whole country and some of these have been listed to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

The landscape is mostly mountains that descend to an intensive cultivated coastal plain in the South and West. In the South of the country an incredible rocky landscape stretches from Sagres until Quarteira and forms the so called Algarve. From Quarteira and Faro (the capital city of the Algarve) until Spain there are widespread sand beaches and only little rock formation. The coast is the sand Algarve. The biggest rise in the mainland is the Serra da Estrêla with its «Torre» of 1993 meters.
There are many different tree species in Portugal, such as oaks, gum trees, cork oaks, fig trees, peach trees, lemon trees, tangerine trees, poplars, olive trees, coolibah trees and many more. On the dry soil grapes grow as well and these are the grapes used for the world-famous port wine. Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons flourish well.
Apart from countless bird species, there are many different wild animals in Portugal, such as wolves, lynx, foxes, boars, wild goats, deer and hares.

The latest information you will find on the website of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (www.eda.admin.ch)

Throughout the history, the relationship between Portugal and its peninsular neighbour Spain has always been very difficult because of territorial expansions. Since 12th century, Portugal is independent.
Located on the Atlantic, the Portuguese have always had a special relation to the sea. New territories for the expansion of Europe were explored from early on. The Portuguese were the first to discover the seaway to India, Brazil, China and Japan after their heroic expeditions. Portugal became a rich country by trading with spices from India and with gold and gems from Brazil.
In 1580, Portugal lost its independency and became a Spanish province. The Spanish reigned until 1640.
In the year 1807 the Napoleonic troops occupied the country. After the French got expelled with the help of the British, the country obtained their first constitution.
It was in 1908 that the king Carlos I and the heir to the throne were killed in an assassination and in 1910 the country was proclaimed to be a republic. 1916 Portugal came into the First World War. 1926 the military revolted and stopped the first republic.
From 1960 on the colonial war began, amongst others with Angola, Mozambique and Guineau Bissau. The first oil crisis in the year 1973 caused an economic crisis, which enforced the public discontent of the population who already were suffering from the dictatorship. This led to the Carnation Revolution.
The new authorities gave the colonies – except Macau – their independence in 1974/1975.

Portugal offers a wide range of free time activities so that everyone will find something to do. People who enjoy the sunny beach side will feel more than well at the beaches of the Algarve. In addition to the light relaxation programmes, there is a lot of history, tradition and culture to discover in Portugal.
Energetic sportsmen can check out many different aquatic sports such as surfing, sailing or canoeing. The diving courses which are offered everywhere are tempting and will lead you to the fascinating underwater world. The Algarve itself is known for its fantastic golf links and the beach is also perfect for horse riding.
The more you travel south, the more flat and sparsely populated the country gets. In the centre of southern Portugal you can gaze unspoiled nature with wild flowers. Many beautiful hiking and cycling paths can be found there. In the backcountry of Portugal safari-trips with Jeeps are offered.
Wine enthusiasts definitely should stop by at winegrowers who offer wine degustation for tourists.
In the cities there are no limits to shopping fever and sightseeing marathons. People who cannot get enough even after a good dinner in one of the countless restaurants will be spoilt for choice between cinema, theatre, concert, disco and many other cultural events.
Portugal offers something for anyone and is in many ways an exciting destination that will last forever in your memory.

The country and their people

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, and is the westernmost country of mainland Europe. Portugal is bordered by Spain to the north and east and by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south. Two archipelagos in the Atlantic, Azores and Madeira, are also part of Portugal.
Portugal has a total area of 92'34 km² and a population of 10,5 million, of which 97% are Catholic.
Portugal has witnessed a constant flow of different civilizations during the past 3,100 years, including Greek, Roman, Germanic, Moorish and other, who all made an imprint on the country's culture, history, language and ethnic make-up. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal was one of the world's major economic, political, and cultural powers, with the Portuguese Empire stretching from Brazil to the Indies. With the end of the Empire in the 20th Century, Portugal turned to Europe and today is a stable democracy fully integrated in the European Union.

Flora and fauna

Trees in Portugal are manifold: oak tree, rubber plant, cork oak, fig tree, peach tree, lemon tree, tangerine tree, poplar, olive tree, eucalyptus and many more.... ..
The world famous port wine is being produced with the grapes that grow on its dry soil. Portugal has also very good climatic conditons for the growth of Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges and also agaves.
Various birds and wild animals such as the wolf, the lynx, the fox, the wild boar, the wild goat, the deer and the buck live in this country.

Climate

Portugal's climate can be classified as Mediterranean. One of the warmest European countries, Yearly temperature averages in Mainland Portugal are 15 °C (55 °F) in the north and 18 °C (64 °F) in the south. Madeira and Azores have a narrower temperature range. Spring and Summer months are sunny, Autumn and Winter are rainy and windy.

Important cities

Lisbon is not only the capital, but also the largest city with a population of 520'000 and the most important seaport of Portugal. The second largest city is Porto with a population of 265'000 and a seaport. The industrial centre Coimbra has a population of 148'000.