Hi everyone. In the previous post we left you on what would be the next destination to explore. Today it’s time to reveal it, we’re headed to… Portugal. Obviously before to start, we dedicate this moment to the knowledge of the place where we are about to begin our adventure. Ready? Let’s start.
Portugal is located in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with its kilometer coasts (from south to west) and bordering only with Spain. Portugal consists of eighteen districts and two autonomous regions, Madeira and Azores. If there is one thing that unites Spain and Portugal is the territory of Olivenza, both countries still contend for it today, for an unresolved issue since the nineteenth century.
The official language is (of course) Portuguese (did you know that it is the fifth most spoken language in the world?) but today the Miranda is spoken as a language and it is spoken in the Miranda do Douro area by a very low percentage and sometimes taught in schools, and plus is spoken the Portuguese sign language as well (how nice is that?!).
As regards the faith there is no official religion, in Portugal there is the religious freedom and the principle of secularism. So everyone is free to believe in what it wants or not to believe at all, offering full freedom of worship. Right!
We come to a point that has always been crucial when it comes to being out for a long or little time, the climate. We can consider ourselves lucky, the climate of Portugal is not so bad at all.The climate is Atlantic, mild to the north. In the south it is Mediterranean and therefore drier (as influenced by the air coming from Africa). The inland lands, those bordering with Spain, have a more continental climate. Think that the climatic of Portugal would favor the development of oak, beech and chestnut tree. Wow!
To keep you updated also on the economic aspect we can say that Portugal started its modernization a little later than the standards (if there is a standard ) but this did not prevent to have great satisfactions on this front. In fact Portugal has developed an economy that is increasingly based on services, so much that it has been one of the twelve founding nations of the euro. Even its health side is at fairly high levels, so as to be considered one of the best in the world.
Now let’s talk about Portuguese traditions and curiosities. Characteristics of some coastal regions are the wooden houses of the fishermen painted in colored stripes or the houses painted in bright colors and tiles with different decorations. Another type of characteristic construction are the mills (some of them work and others not) that Portugal owns in large numbers. As for its architecture, while regarding the traditional festivals the best known is the bullfight, in Portuguese the “tourada” which in some aspects is different from the Spanish bullfight; among the songs the most popular one is the “fado” which is sung with typical Portuguese instruments. The sport is also part of the culture of Portugal, in particular hockey, football, athletics and motocross.
How not to have a little taste of which are the typical dishes of Portuguese cuisine. Among them what stands out most is the cod and precisely Baccalà alla Bras… We will discover the rest along the way.
For today we would say that this is enough, the salient points to make a first acquaintance there are all, then slowly in the various destinations that we will cover we will reveal all the rest.
Welcome to Portugal!
A kiss to everyone.
I am looking forward to going to Portugal within the next few years. This year, I have been to Germany, France, and Switzerland and will be heading to Spain in November.
Meanwhile you can start to explore Portugal reading our guides 😉
For your next travel in Spain we have all the material you need, just visit our spanish section!
Portugal is one of the last countries in Europe I still haven’t visited and this article provides some great basic information for my visit (hopefully soon).
Thanks Daniel, it a pleasure that you’ve liked our article! Keep following us to discover this country in its fullness.
Look forward to reading more of your posts on Portugal. Especially the ones on Portuguese traditions and curiosities. Would love some pictures of authentic Portuguese food. Hope you have a great trip there.
Like always it is a pleasure for us to share all the info with you guys 🙂
The trip is long so there will be much to satisfy your desires!
I’ve just been to the Algarve in Portugal and it was just amazing. The people are so friendly and helpful there and the food is amazing. You’ve also listed some great information here. Thanks for sharing!
Your comment is the demonstration that the things we have heard/read about the portugueses are true, which is great 😀
I visited Portugal 3 times. First time in autumn, second time in spring and last time in summer. My favorite city is Albufeira. What about you?
Hi Andrew! We can’t answer to your question because it’s the first time for us and we have now begun the travel haha
Il Portogallo è un luogo che mi attrae e mi affascina moltissimo, spero di visitarlo prima o poi!
Attraverso varie letture e confronti con altre persone abbiamo constatato che in molti vogliono visitarlo o lo hanno già fatto.
Come nazione mi affascina molto, mi piacerebbe visitarla in futuro.
Ciao Sara, nella vita mai dire mai! Ci sarà sicuramente l’opportunità 🙂
Soo stata in Portogallo ma solo per visitare Porto e Braga, e devo dire che mi sono piaciute tantissimo, infatti ho già messo in programma di visitare Lisbona. Sono sicura che farete anche voi un bellissimo viaggio! Quali tappe toccherete?
Cercheremo come sempre di visitare quantomeno le città più importanti ma anche le meno conosciute. Sarà un bel giro e non vediamo l’ora di informarvi!!
Io ho visitato il Portogallo qualche anno fa e mi era piaciuto un sacco!
Ero stata a Lisbona, Fatima e tutta la zona dell’Algarve.
Sicuramente adesso è molto più turistico e conosciuto, sarei curiosa di vedere i cambiamenti che ci sono stati.
E sono curiosa di leggere i vostri prossimi articoli sul tuo viaggio in Portogallo!
Ciao Sara! Quello che dici sull’affluenza di turisti in Portogallo è vero, negli ultimi anni è stato preso d’assalto. Tutti ne parlano bene e questo ci fa rassicura.
Ti terremo aggiornata, come sempre 😉
Sono stata in Portogallo l’anno scorso con i miei genitori. E’ una terra bellissima e piena i sorprese. Io ci tornerò sicuramente. Buon viaggio
Il tuo commento è la conferma di quello che abbiamo letto ed ascoltato: il Portogallo è una delle nazioni che riscontra un parere positivo tra chi lo ha visitato!
Il Portogallo mi ispira tantissimo, tutte le persone che conosco che sono andate lì sia per vacanza che per studio/lavoro se ne sono innamorate. Non sapevo ci fosse libertà di culto, trovo sia una cosa molto intelligente.
Cara Stefania quasi sicuramente ti confermeremo quanto già ti hanno raccontato su questa terra ahahah
Resta aggiornata per avere una conoscenza più approfondita riguardo ciò che le varie città possono offrire 😀
Sono curiosa, aspetto di leggere il vostro articolo sul viaggio. Non ci sono mai stata ma mi attira parecchio… Ora sono impaziente!
Ciao Manuela, per tua fortuna il prossimo articolo e prima recensione su una città portoghese (non seveliamo il nome) è in fase avanzata di produzione 😉
Ho fatto tutta la costa portoghese affittando l’auto dopo aver fatto qualche giorno a Lisbona. Terra da sogno!
Dalle tue parole si comprende tutto! Ci piace il tuo spirito di avventura e l’itinerario ahah
Non vedo l’ora di seguire il vostro percorso in Portogallo. È una terra davvero affascinante!
Mettiti comoda Silvia perchè il viaggio è appena iniziato e le tappe saranno varie e corpose di cose da scoprire 🙂
Complimenti avete scritto una bella “introduzione” al viaggio. Tutte informazioni utilissimi se non si conosce il posto. Grazie delle info =)
Grazie a te Francesca per la lettura e soprattutto per l’apprezzamento 😀 😀
Il Portogallo è una meta che voglio visitare alla scoperta dei templari chissà se ci riuscirò.
Nella vita tutto è possibile Sheila e poi un viaggio inaspettato è una bella sorpresa hahaha
Il Portogallo non è mai stato una delle mie mete più ambite, anche se sono sicuro che i suoi paesaggi oceanici sono meravigliosi.
Alle volte ci sono luoghi che ci sorprendono e che superano di gran lunga le nostre aspettative 😉
Ho visitato la zona di Porto e ovviamente Porto. Un’atmosfera bellissima, luci e suoni indimenticabili per me. Sono curiosissima di seguire i vostri itinerari.
Dalle tue parole si capisce perfettamente che ti sia piaciuta la città! Ci hai trasmesso la giusta energia!!
What great introduction to Portugal! It’s so important to have a concise overview of a destination since it is shaped, texturized and enriched by its geography, history, culture and people. You’ve done a marvelous job at it, leaving me full of anticipation to embark upon your journey of discovery through Portugal.
I was fortunate to spend 3 weeks in Portugal during which time I traveled along the Agarve, as well as visited Lisbon, Sintra and Évora. It all left my wanderlust hungry for more, so I eagerly look forward to your next post(s).
As river cruisetour specialist, I hope you will visit some of the destinations highlighted on a Douro River Cruisetour itinerary: Guimarães, the first capital of Portugal; Lisbon, its current colorful capital; enchanting Sintra, an Unesco World Heritage site that looks like something right out of a fairy tale; edgy-yet-opulent Porto; Coimbra, host to Portugal’s greatest university for the past 500 years; Braga, famous for its elegant plazas and splendid array of baroque churches; and the Douro Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage Site long devoted to terraced vineyards and the production of port wine.
Best wishes and happy travels!
Hi dear, we are very happy that you have appreciated our work!
For us it will be a pleasure to have you on board to explore the country. We are going to write about the cities you’ve mentioned and others.
Reading your comment we can understand that you know a lot about Portugal, amazing. Thanks for the tips 😀 😀
Complimenti bell’articolo e bella descrizione della nazione che a me affascina molto, mi piacerebbe visitarla in futuro.
Grazie Sara per il commento e per il tempo didicatoci 🙂 🙂
I sort of have a plan of what to do for most European countries, but surprisingly nothing for Portugal. Look forward to reading more of your posts on Portugal – hopefully I will get an idea for when I finally do my euro trip! 😀
One of the greatest things about reading is that you always learn something new!
A trip around Europe is something we approve, it’s an experience that you will surely love 🙂 Have fun!!
Love it – Portugal is definitely on my list of countries to visit. Thanks for your insight!
You’re welcome and thank you for the positive feedback!
I’ve made a few trips to Portugal in recent years, to Porto and Braga for one, and around some of the Alentejo region for the other. I loved both experiences, Portuguese culture, welcome, history and fantastic food are all great reasons to visit.
Everyone talks well about Portugal which means that the voices are real: this country is one of the best in the world (considering various aspects).
Portugal already sounds so interesting. I look forward to learning more.
We are ready to let you explore the country with our travel guides 😀