Portugal Culture

History of Portugal

Portugal is the oldest nation state in Europe. It was founded in 1143. It has had its current borders since the 13th century. In this respect, Portugal is one of the oldest states in the world.
From 1415 onwards, Portugal pursued an expansionist policy. It established the world's first global maritime and commercial empire. It became one of the world's leading economic, political and military powers. In this period called the "Age of Discovery", Portugal monopolized the commercial routes. Thus, it spread its language and culture to 5 continents. It annexed the Azores and Madeira Archipelago and established colonies in Brazil, Africa, India, East Timor and Macau.


In the 18th century, Portugal collapsed after the great Lisbon earthquake, the Napoleonic Wars and the independence of Brazil in 1822. Under the leadership of Marquês de Pombal, restructuring was initiated and the infrastructures of a centralized education system were established. A network of public primary schools was established throughout the country.
In the 19th century liberalism began to spread in Portugal. A civil war broke out between pro-liberals and conservatives from 1828 to 1834. In 1910, the royal regime was replaced by the First Republic. However, political tensions and the economic crisis resulting from World War I destabilized the country. In 1926, the military seized power and a dictatorship emerged. The new regime appointed António de Oliveira Salazar as finance minister in 1928. In 1932 he became prime minister. A year later, the New State (Estado Novo) was established and the fascist dictatorial regime ruled until 1974.


In the 60s, the regime began to lose its power due to independence movements and colonial wars in Africa. Anti-regime movements started to build up rapidly. In the international arena, Portugal was isolated and faced pressure to stop this crisis.
On April 25, 1974, a military coup led by young officers called the "Carnation Revolution" overthrew the New State and laid the foundations for democratic rule. Since then, independence has been restored to all Portuguese colonies.
A parliament and constitutional government were established in 1976. Rights and freedoms were restored to its citizens in a modern democratic nation state. The Azores and Madeira Archipelago were declared autonomous regions and military power was subordinated to political power.


On January 1, 1986, Portugal joined the European Economic Community, which would later become the European Union. In 1999, it was among the first countries to adopt the Euro currency.
Portugal has established a partnership to strengthen cultural and economic relations between Portuguese-speaking countries. Countries such as Japan, Georgia and Australia have joined this partnership as followers.


In 2011, a fiscal, economic and political crisis led to a compromise between the Portuguese Government, the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF. This was followed by cuts in salaries and reductions in public services within the country. At the end of this program, a new government was elected. Successful investments were made and Portugal achieved the growing economic and political stability it enjoys today.

Portugal Politics

Portugal is a republic. It is a republic with a semi-presidential system. The head of state has some executive powers. However, the Portuguese President is independent of the legislature. The executive power belongs to the government, which is subject to the confidence of the parliament. But Portugal is a constitutional republic. This means that state administration is based entirely on the constitution. State power is limited because the legislature, executive and judiciary are based on the constitution. Individual rights are constitutionally guaranteed in Portugal.

Human Rights

Portugal is a member state of the European Union. Portuguese citizens are therefore protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Portugal is also a member of the United Nations and has signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1884, it was the first country in the world to abolish life imprisonment. It is not possible to be imprisoned for more than 25 years in Portugal. Portugal is the only country in the world that considers life imprisonment a violation of human rights.
Portugal is an LGBT-friendly country. LGBT people can openly serve in the Portuguese Army. It is the 8th country in the world to allow same-sex marriage since 2010. It is the most liberal country in the world in this area, allowing transgender people to change their name in legal documents. It also allows LGBT couples to adopt children. Portugal has also led the world in measures against drug use.

Portugal Geography

Portugal is a country in the westernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to the Portuguese mainland, there are volcanic archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean. The Portuguese mainland borders Spain to the north and east. Rivers originating in Spain flow into the ocean in Portugal. The Alentejo Region of Portugal has the largest reservoir in Europe. The northern part of Portugal is mountainous. The highest hill is Serra da Estrela. The southern part of Portugal is mostly flat. With 1794 kilometers of coast, Portugal is famous for its beaches. International surfing is practiced on many of Portugal's coasts. In the city of Nazaré, on the North Beach, there is a world-wide surfing organization.

Portugal Climate

Portugal has a Mediterranean temperate climate and is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. In the north, the climate is cool and rainy, while in the south it is hot and sunny. The southernmost part, the Algarve region, has a dry and sunny micro-climate. Inland, on the border with Spain, the climate is continental. The central-northern parts of Portugal are mountainous. It does not snow except in the hilly areas. The highest peak, Serra da Estrela, offers some skiing in winter.

Portuguese Economy

Since 2015, the Portuguese economy has entered a period of stability. Unemployment rates have started to fall and the gross national product has been increasing by 1.5%. After the economic crisis in 2011, the economy started to revive rapidly with the policies pursued by PS Socialist Party leader Antonio Costa after he became prime minister. Portugal's main industries include the machinery, electrical and electronics, automotive and shipbuilding, plastic injection molding, ceramics, textiles, footwear and leather, oil refineries, petrochemical and cement industries, beverage and food, pulp and paper, wood and wood cork industries.

Portuguese Language

Portuguese is spoken in Portugal. The homeland of Portuguese is Portugal, but Portuguese is spoken in different countries around the world and is even the official language of other countries. Portuguese is a Latin-based language from the Indo-European language family. It has a common grammatical background with Spanish, French and Italian. 250 million people in the world speak Portuguese by birth. In addition, 24 million people speak Portuguese as a second language.

Religion

The most common religion in Portugal is the Catholic sect of Christianity. However, there is no official religion in Portugal. In addition to Christianity, Judaism and Islam are also common in Portugal. Portugal's religious culture is tolerant of different religions.

Portuguese Cuisine

Portuguese cuisine is very varied and rich. Fish, octopus, shrimp, squid, shellfish, red meat, pork, poultry and game are widely consumed. Olive oil is used abundantly. Olives, fresh, dry or creamy mountain cheese and corn bread called 'broa' are eaten as a starter at lunch and dinner. The most common dish is 'bacalhau' or cod. It is salted, dried and preserved dry. It is made in many different ways. Another traditional fish is sardines. They are grilled with ocean salt and served with potatoes boiled with plenty of olive oil. Also popular are sea bass, sea bream, red mullet, sole, eel and salmon. There are many types and huge shrimps. Grilled squid and octopus are very popular. Rice made with mixed seafood is a special dish. Shellfish are cooked in different sauces and are very varied.

Tourism

Portugal is a tourism paradise. Portugal attracts millions of tourists every year from the south to the northernmost point of the country thanks to its beaches, UNESCO-protected historical sites, museums, protected natural parks, cultural richness, architecture, golf and surf tourism, gastronomy and pre-tourism. The most popular destinations for tourists are Lisbon, the Algarve, Porto and Northern Portugal, Central Portugal, the Archipelago and the Alentejo Region. Most tourists come from Spain, the UK, France, Germany, Brazil, Brazil, the USA, Italy and the Netherlands.
Portugal stands out for its climate, safety, affordable prices and must-see sights. In 2021, Portugal was the most popular country in Europe in the car travel category. Despite its relatively small surface area, Portugal offers sights to see on every inch. Portugal is one of the countries that has preserved much of its local character. This attracts tourists.

Museums in Portugal

Nationale Azulejo Museum

Located in Lisbon, this museum showcases the history and development of Portuguese faience art. Famous for its rich collection, it shows the country's contribution to this unique art form.

Lello bookstore

This bookstore in Porto is not only a bookstore but also an artistic masterpiece. It is also known as the place where J.K. Rowling inspired the Harry Potter series. It is famous for its historic structure and impressive interior.

National Museum of Ancient Art

This museum in Lisbon houses works of art spanning a wide period of time, from the 12th century to the 19th century. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics and other works of art are on display here.

Gulbenkian Museum

This museum houses a large collection of modern and ancient artworks. It offers ancient Egyptian artifacts, Western art, Eastern art and many other categories.

Maritime Museum

The museum exhibits Portugal's maritime history and the period of discoveries. The museum's collection includes naval vessels, maps and other maritime objects.