Country Overview

Portugal is a small country located in the southwest part of Europe. Along with Spain, Portugal shares the Iberian Peninsula. Its border with Spain lies to the North and to the East, and in the other directions lies the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal is made up of a variety of diverse provinces and include the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores.

Despite the small land area of Portugal, the country is wonderfully diverse in terms of its landscape, its cultural traditions, and the way of life. The areas close to Lisbon and the Algarve are well developed. The amenities in this region of Portugal are on par with what a traveler would expect when traveling anywhere else in Europe.

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and have a lively and international feel to it. This is a city that can offer something for every visitor. Take a ride on one of the pre-WWI wooden trams, admire the mosaic pavements, or simply grab a beer at one of the many art nouveau cafes located throughout the city. If especial interest is the medieval quarter of Lisbon referred to as the Alfama. Due to its past as a colonial power, it is easy to see the influences of its diverse former empire as you travel around Lisbon. Overall, Lisbon is considered to be one of the more beautiful cities of Europe.

If there is one region that gets the most visitors, that would have to be the Algarve. The area is well known as a resort area. Visitors have the chance to enjoy a mild climate, nice beaches, and great places to stay and eat. The coast is especially beautiful and has two distinct characteristics. To the west of Faro lies numerous small bays, coves, and beautiful rock formations. Heading east from Faro lies long sand offshore islets (ilhas) great for relaxing or playing in the sand and surf. If you want to relax in the sun, then the area of Algarve is a wonderful choice.

The northern part of Portugal offers an entirely different experience. The main city in this region is the charming city of Porto. Porto is famous the world over for the style of wine produced in this region. Any exploration of this part of Portugal begins in Porto, but this region offers much more. North of the city is a region of Portugal that is relatively undiscovered by tourism. It is a great place to visit to see the everyday life of the Portuguese. This is a region known for stunning scenery, ancient towns, old castles, and quaint historic villages.

While the coastline of Portugal tends to be relatively developed, moving inland the country becomes rather underdeveloped. Visiting this region offers the traveler the unique opportunity to visit small villages that have changed little over the past 100 years. For many, it is the chance to have this type of experience, is why they travel to Portugal.

A further interesting fact about Portugal relates to the cultural differences between the people of the north and south. The inhabitants living in the northern region can trace their ancestry to beth Germanic and Celtic peoples. In the southern region the complexion of the people are darker and the feel of the culture is more Mediterranean. This influence is as a result of both Roman and Moorish occupations. Lisbon as an example was founded by the Phoenicians, became a Roman town, and later was an important trade center under the Moors.

While the background of the people of Portugal are diverse, the country has one influence that strongly affected all people, the sea. There is a strong seafaring tradition in this country, and the people of Portugal are extremely proud of this heritage. Explores such as Vasco da Gama helped to open up the major maritime trading routes between Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia. At the height of its power, Portugal had colonies and trade interests spanning the globe.