Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
Tourism Information...
www.visitportugal.com/en
The Best of Portugal...
Portugal's Most Popular Sights...
Here is a list of some of the most interesting and visited places. Cities or areas listed will always have more than just one thing see and do. With the popular cities or areas we list some of the best known, which should go on everyone’s, must see list when they visit.
Alcobaça
Alcobaça Monastery
The Algarve
Faro
Lagos
Portimão
Ria Formosa
Silves
Aveiro
The Azores
Braga
Cascais
Coimbra
Douro River Valley
Évora
Roman Temple ruins
Fatima
Guimarães
Lisbon
Alfama District
Belém Tower
Jerónimos Monastery
Monument to the Discoveries
Praça do Comércio
Rossio Square
Sao Jorge Castle
Tram 28
25 da Abril Bridge
Madeira
Obidos
Porto
Cais da Riberia
Palácio da Bolsa
Sintra
Castle of the Moors
Pena Palace
Districts of Portugal
Aveiro
Azores
Beja
Braga
Bragança
Castelo Branco
Coimbra
Évora
Faro
Guarda
Leiria
Lisbon
Madeira
Portalegre
Porto
Santarém
Setúbal
Viana do Castelo
Vila Real
Viseu
Country Information...
Capital
Lisbon
Largest City
Lisbon
Government
Unitary semi-presidential republic[
Currency
Euro (€)
Area
total:92,212 km2 ranked (111th)
Population
10,833,816 (July 2016 est.) Ranked (83rd)
Language
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)
Ethnic Groups
homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Religion
Roman Catholic 81%, other Christian 3.3%, other (includes Jewish, Muslim, other) 0.6%, none 6.8%, unspecified 8.3%
Districts of Portugal
