Portugal Information Guide & Facts

Portugal is a republic in extreme southwest of Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, and the Atlantic Ocean (the islands of Azores, Madeira and Savage). Portugal claims Olivença, administrated by Spain, as part of its national territory. It shares land borders with Spain in the north and east, shares a marine border with Morocco in the south. A Portuguese citizen is usually identified as Portuguese but also as Luso (or Lusitano)1.

Following its heyday as a world 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 in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. 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 entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.

Portugal traces its national origin by the Battle of São Mamede in 23 June 1128; the first Portuguese King, Afonso I, proclaims himself as Prince of Portugal. By the conference of Zamora in 1143, with the assistance of a representant of the Holy See, Portugal is recognized as independent and the prince as Dux Portucalensis. Only in 1179, Afonso I is declared, by the pope, as King. Before the Phoenicians (since 1104 BC), Carthaginians (since 258 BC), Lusitanians (native insurrection from 194 BC), Romans (since 218 BC), Suevi (since 409), Visigoths (since 416), Arabs (since 711), Asturians and Leonese (since 739) had strong rule on the territory during the ages of time. Portugal became firstly independent (as Kingdom of Galicia and Portugal) in 1065 under the rule of Garcia. Because Garcia was a tyrant, Portuguese and Galician nobles rebelled and the country rejoined Leon and Castile. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal eclipsed most other nations in terms of economic, political, and cultural influence and it had an extensive empire throughout the World. The country became a republic in 1910.

Unlike most European nations, Portugal is the same nation that became independent in the 12th century. Sometimes, Portugal changed the official name, but it was always known as Portugal.

Kingdom of Portugal (Reino de Portugal);
Kingdom of Portugal and Algarve (Reino de Portugal e Algarve);
Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves (Reino de Portugal e Algarves);
United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves (Reino Unido de Portugal, Brasil e Algarves);
Today: Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa).
 

Territory :

Total: 92,391 sq km
Land: 91,951 sq km
Water: 440 sq km
Note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Districts and regions

Main article: Political divisions of Portugal
Map of Portugal. The Azores and Madeira are not shown in their true location. Map includes the area of Olivença, disputed with and currently administered by Spain.
Note: Portuguese Districts will be extinct as the country creates the new Metropolitan Areas and Urban Communities.

Mainland Portugal consists of 18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito): Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon (Port. Lisboa), Portalegre, Oporto (Port. Porto), Santarém, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real and Viseu

Beyond these there are two autonomous regions (regiões autónomas): the Azores (Açores) and Madeira. Each district and region is further subdivided into the Municipalities of Portugal.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Portugal
Continental Portugal is split in two by its main river, the Tagus (Tejo). To the north the landscape is mountainous, though Portugal's highest point is Mount Pico in the Azores at 2,351 m. The south down to the Algarve features mostly rolling plains and the climate here is somewhat warmer and drier than the cooler and rainier north. Other major rivers include the Douro, the Minho and the Guadiana, similar to the Tagus in that all originate in Spain.