Portugal

Small guidebook of Portugal

In the southwestern tip of Europe is a land that is often forgotten and ignored by the crowds as a holiday destination: Portugal!
And this is a great advantage because here you will find almost everything that other popular destinations offer, but it is less crowded, less commercial, and generally less expensive!
Since the movement of modern and picturesque capital city where old and new blend harmoniously, to the mountains and plains, through vineyards and meadows, on endless beaches and stunning coastline to the tranquil and unspoiled islands, Portugal offers this and much , more.
Portugal emerged from its status as a ‘poor cousin’ and now invests in tourism in a mature and careful, giving a warm welcome to travelers to this friendly society, open and hospitable. Here the sea is always close to what you do with that enthusiasm with the Portuguese seafood is almost a national obsession. No visit would be complete without this treat. Try also our wines and cheeses and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Unlike many other modern cities, Lisbon with its colorful history, the electric yellow and lifestyle Latin, retained much of its energy and charm. Saunter through the old center, rebuilt in the eighteenth century and then take the tram to Belém, where you will find the famous ‘cream puffs’.
Famous for its beaches so the Algarve coastline from the south. Most visitors arrive and depart here by Faro airport which is fairly central with good access to the charming destinations along this beautiful coast.
The Harbour in an attractive location at the mouth of the Douro River on the banks of which grow the grapes to make the famous Port Wine that has the name of which is the second largest city of Portugal. Once the stage of a great Napoleonic battle, charming alleys down the slope to the river that defines this region. To better see the sights make a boat trip upriver.
Coimbra is the academic center of Portugal and was for a short period, the first capital of the country. It houses one of the oldest universities in Europe and contains some wonderful architecture. Relax and listen to the particular style of Coimbra fado, traditional Portuguese music.
The main wine-producing region is Alentejo, also known for cheeses and hams, where medieval villages and prehistoric monuments characterize this timeless land. Visit Évora, a city complete with Roman monuments dating back over two millennia.
The landscape of Portugal is perhaps the most dazzling and diverse is that found in the subtropical island of Madeira. The picturesque coastline and steep cliffs soon give way to the foothills. Through banana plantations, vineyards, green valleys and the oldest forest in Europe, every bend in the road offers unbeatable panoramic opportunities. From the sunny and sophisticated capital, Funchal, to the wild north coast, this is a destination well established that for sure will impress you!
There are so many interesting places to visit in Portugal that mere words can never do justice to him, the best option is, of course, come see for yourself!
What you should know about the Portuguese
The Portuguese are known worldwide, such as browsers, footballers and poets.
Despite having been formed by several elements, the Portuguese population is one of the most homogeneous in Europe and the majority (about 95%) are Catholic. Less than 1% of the population is Protestant. The Jewish population has always remained very low, which caused the Jews to convert or emigrate.
The dance and song are a strong way of life so typical of this people. Each region has its own style of dance and songs and is often used instruments like the accordion, mandolin, bass drum, ukulele, tambourine, flute, bagpipe, fiddle, accordion (popular dances) and the Portuguese guitar (the fate). The bride, known throughout the world, mirrors the longing, one side of the most romantic and melancholic character of the inhabitants of Portugal.
Humble, friendly and welcoming, the Portuguese cultivate the art of hospitality, not only in many structures for tourism, but also in their own homes, whether or not the song say: "In a house looks good Portuguese bread and wine on the table and if someone knocks at the door cheerfully, sitting at the table with us! "
Time of Meal
To eat in restaurants in Portugal, the time varies somewhat. The Portuguese usually have lunch between 12h30 and 15h. The usual dinner is served between 19h30 and 23h. However, there are many restaurants that allow you to enjoy your meal until 1am or 2am.
Hours of Trade
Portugal is an excellent place for a complete shopping experience. Since traditional shops and the typical trade, the shops of international brands and luxury, Portugal has it all.
The stores in major shopping areas are open Monday to Friday from 9h to 19h, closed for lunch from 13h to 14h30.
On Saturdays the stores are only open from 9h to 13h except in tourist areas like the Chiado in Lisbon and the Algarve in the high season in which the same close to 19h.
In shopping centers throughout the country stores open every day (except on January 1 and December 25) from 10h to 23h.
Mains
The local current is 230 volts to ground and is done by a plug with two pins.
Driving
Before you rent a car in Portugal, there are some things you should know:
The Portuguese drive on the right lane of the road;
The use of seat belts is compulsory;
"If you drink, do not drive" is one of the slogans used in Portugal. The level of alcohol is allowed to 0.5 g / l and almost reached to the use of a beer;
Generally, vehicles approaching from the right have priority, except when there is signage that says otherwise.
Disabled Facilities
There is a telephone service bus for the disabled in Lisbon (217,585,676) and Porto (226 006 353), and a taxi service, which is intended for people with disabilities, Braga (253 684 081) and Coimbra (239,484,522).
Emergency
National emergency number: 112
(For fire, police and ambulance)
Access code for Portugal: 00,351
Ambulance: 808 201 068
Pharmacy: 800 20 21 34/35/36/13
FOOD AND WINE
Portugal is famous for its gastronomy and its wines. Since the typical taverns to upscale restaurants cooking more refined, there are plenty of options for you to enjoy a delicious dining experience. The latest or cutting-edge restaurants offer vegetarian dishes.
Cod:
Although the salt cod is one of the most famous ingredients of Portuguese cuisine, this fish is imported from Canada and Norway, since the cold waters of their Atlantic coasts allow there to be many large schools. There are thousands of recipes for preparing cod!
Meat:
The meat dishes are very diverse across the country, however there are two regions that are famous for their specialties: the Alentejo, with regard to pig, and Tras-os-Montes, with excellent sausages.
Bread and Cheese:
Each region of Portugal has your typical bread and cheese. The country’s most famous cheese is Serra cheese produced at Serra da Estrela. The Azeitão cheese produced near Lisbon, is also delicious. In all restaurants served bread to accompany meals – and when it is homemade, and will arrive fresh from a bakery nearby.
Sweets:
The Portuguese sweets is varied and goes back over 10 centuries. In weight of the Ruler can indulge in the sweets of the Rule and, in Lisbon, to go through Belém, be sure to taste the famous pastel de Belém
Wines:
Portugal is especially famous for its fortified wines: Port wine and Madeira wine, excellent both as aperitifs or digestives. However, the traditional culture and wine are all over the country. The Douro region is now one of the world famous thanks to its DOC wines. As with the Châteaux de France, today there are many wines called from their farms of origin in the Douro. The Alentejo and Dao also produce great red wines, white and rosé. A tour through Portugal can be a fascinating journey of wine tasting!
Beers:
Although it is also consumed with meals, beer is particularly popular in the late afternoon drink on a terrace on hot days.
Climate
The climate, through its effect on vegetation, divides Portugal. As in Spain, involved three types of influences: the Atlantic, Continental and Mediterranean. The Atlantic is prevalent, which makes much of the country falls within the wetland in the Iberian Peninsula. This is especially evidenced in the northwest, where the climate is temperate and rainy. Portugal finds himself influenced by the beneficial action of the sea winds, especially along its long coastline of 700 km long.
The humidity declines as we go away from the coast, predominantly within the continental climate of feature, with the exception of the valley north of the Tagus, where the weather remains wet and soft.
The northern region benefits from the Atlantic cyclones while the South and East are dominated by the subtropical anticyclone that allows temperatures rising up to 40 º C in summer The climate varies with altitude and higher temperatures there are usually in the lower regions of the south.
In short, Portugal is a country with a climate that does not have temperatures exorbitantly high nor too low. Everything depends on the area and time of year you choose to make your visit.
Language
Portuguese is a romantic language. As with all languages ​​of the same group, Portuguese is a direct descendant of latin soldiers and Roman settlers and not the classical latin of the educated citizens of Rome. It was developed in ancient Gallaeci (now Galicia, northwest Spain) and northern Portugal, to Portuguese today. It holds its importance (as a second language romantic, then the Spanish, in terms of number of speakers) largely due to its position as the language of Brazil, where more than 200 million people speak this language. In Portugal there are about 10 million speakers. It is estimated that also are about 4.6 million people speak Portuguese in Africa (some speaking Creole) and about 500,000 in the United States.
There are five main Portuguese dialect groups, all mutually intelligible: (1) North (2) Central, or Beira, (3) the South (including Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve), (4) the Insular (which includes the dialects of the Azores and Madeira) and (5) Brazilian.
Typical of the phonetic system is the use of Portuguese nasal vowels, represented in orthography by m or following the vowel (eg yes, right) or the tilde (~) over the vowel (eg hand, nation).
Source: Portugal live

Facts about Portugal
Geographical coordinates: 39 30 N 00 8 W
Area: 92 000 km ² including the Azores and Madeira
Coastline: 1793 km
Population: 10708000
Life expectancy at birth:
                                    men: 75 years
                                    women: 82 years
Religions:
       Catholics 84.5%,
       other Christian 2.2%,
       other 0.3%
       unknown 9%
       none 3.9%
Language: Portuguese (official)
                  Mirandese (official – used locally)
Type of Government: Democratic Republic of parliamentary
Capital: Lisbon
Currency: € Euro
Time zone: GMT

 

 
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