Blog · 2024-03-27

Portugal: everything you need to know about the country

Portugal is a country of rich history, magnificent landscapes and a mild climate. Its capital is Lisbon, and it covers an area of 92,300 square kilometres. To the south and west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, while to the north and east it borders Spain. So what is life in Portugal actually like?

Population

The population is around 11 million. Roughly 30 percent live in cities and 70 percent in rural areas, and ethnic Portuguese make up 99 percent of the total. Despite this national homogeneity, there are clear differences between the people of the north and the south, evident in both dialect and in certain customs and traditions.

Language

The official language is Portuguese.

Religion

The dominant religion is Catholicism, practised by almost 95 percent of the population.

Currency

The official currency is the euro.

Climate

Portugal is strongly shaped by the Atlantic Ocean, giving it a temperate Mediterranean climate - one of the country's greatest draws. Several climatic zones can be distinguished:

• North-west: plenty of rain, short summers and mild winters.
• North-east: hot summers and snowy winters.
• South: low rainfall, dry summer heat and mild winters.

Nature

Forests cover a fifth of the country. Pine dominates closer to the Atlantic coast, and woodland plays a significant role in the national economy. In spring, central and northern Portugal offer the stunning sight of almond groves in bloom. The Tagus Valley is known for the lush water meadows of its lowlands, while the Alentejo is dotted with cork oak plantations and olive groves. Vineyards can be found in vast numbers across the entire country.

Wildlife

The country is home to lynx, wild forest cats, foxes, wolves, bears, wild boar and rodents, along with an enormous number of migratory birds. Its coastal waters teem with tuna, anchovies and sardines.

Main cities

• Lisbon - the capital of Portugal since the 12th century.
• Porto - the second-largest city, whose Latin name, Portus Cale, gave the country its own.
• Guimarães - the cradle of the Portuguese nation.
• Aveiro - the "Portuguese Venice".
• Coimbra - home to the oldest university in the country.
• Ponta Delgada - the administrative capital of the Azores.
• Cascais - a popular resort near Lisbon and a favourite leisure spot for the capital's residents.
• Braga - a major cultural centre and Portugal's "religious capital".

Cuisine

Portuguese cooking is built on simple, hearty dishes. Seafood and cheeses are essential ingredients, and the Portuguese love a generous variety of spices, along with bread and olives. Salted dried cod, or bacalhau, is hugely popular and prepared in countless ways - with beans, with sausages, or as a filling for pastries. The country's puréed soups are also well worth trying. The most famous drink is port wine, and true connoisseurs go to source it from the wine cellars of Porto. Nor should one forget the white Vinho Verde or ginjinha, a cherry liqueur.

Standard of living

In recent years Portugal's economy has grown slowly but steadily, though its figures still lag behind those of other Western European countries. GDP per capita stands at 22,000 dollars and unemployment at 12 percent. Finding work remains a pressing concern for young Portuguese, and the average salary is around 800 dollars a month.

Culture

Over the centuries the country has accumulated a wealth of historical experience that has shaped its culture and traditions. The Portuguese are a conservative people, marked by a certain punctiliousness and a respect for established norms and order.

Portugal is famous for its festivals. The Agitágueda art festival, for example, runs for 23 days: artists display their work throughout the town's streets, accompanied by concerts and theatrical performances.

Although bullfighting became widespread in Spain, the tradition actually originates in Portugal. Locals turn out with their whole families to watch the bulls, all set to fine musical accompaniment.

Interesting facts

• The words "fetish", "zebra", "banana", "cobra", "albino" and many others are of Portuguese origin.
• Lisbon is still home to the oldest bookshop in the world, opened in 1732.
• Ferdinand Magellan, the first person to circumnavigate the globe, was Portuguese.
• Portugal was the first country in Europe to begin the slave trade.
• Portugal remained neutral during the Second World War.

Portugal is a place where modernity blends with tradition, and where the warm climate and welcoming people make every day feel special. It is a beautiful country, but like any other it has its particular quirks - well worth keeping in mind when planning a trip or a move.

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