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Sitting pretty at the western brink of the European mainland, Portugal retains the rural charms that its other continental brethren have relinquished. It is a land of flavorsome cuisine and fine port wine, romantic beaches, and medieval villages sitting atop scenic hills. The pretty ports along the Tajo and the sheer cliffs of the Serra de Estrela, coupled with the Moorish quarters and high rises of Lisbon, make for an altogether delightful traveling experience.

You will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of the Portuguese experience – variety in food, in music, in landscape – and in the way of life itself.

Vasco da Gama Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge, is located just outside Lisbon . The bridge is 17km long 10km of which pass over water, making it the longest bridge in Europe.

Do you know? Portuguese is an official language of 9 countries? Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Portugal, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Príncipe and Macau.

You have to be careful while dining in Portuguese restaurants- they will serve you appetizers you haven’t asked for and later present you the bill for them! So make sure you act in a firm manner if you don't want to order any appetizers.

When in Portugal, make sure you have enough change - no one breaks a twenty Euro bill easily here!

Historically Speaking

Believed to have been inhabited by the Lusitanos in its early history, Portugal has been the home of some of the most adventurous and famous explorers in time, who unlocked the mysteries of the sea and showed the way to the mystic east. This seafaring nation that produced Vasco da Gama who sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and found a new route to India, was a maritime force to reckon with from the 13th to the 15th century. The land has been successively ruled by the Romans, Celts, Moors and the Goths and this legacy is still apparent in Portugal’s diverse population.

It was in the 12th Century that Portugal first became recognised as an independent entity under the rule of King Afonso Henriques. Later the Portuguese embarked on a policy of colonialism which enveloped parts of Africa, Latin America, India and the Far East. A name that stands out at this time is Prince Henry the Navigator who acquired the Azores and Madeira. Spain invaded a weak Portuguese regime in the 16th century and the Spanish rule lasted over 60 years. By the time Portugal regained its independence, they had lost a major share of their empire.

Portugal supported the Allied Powers during World War I despite strong pro-German sentiments in the armed forces. For most of the past century, Portugal was run by an absolutist right-wing regime under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. The country however did manage to stay neutral during World War II. Finally, in 1974, a coup broke the dictatorial sway of the regime and initiated the country into democracy and modernization. In 1999, Portugal's last overseas territory, Macau was handed over to the Chinese.

Presently, Portugal is an active a member of the European Union and therefore promises to achieve a drastic reduction of poverty among member countries by 2015.

Habitat

Portugal’s mountainous insides are bounded on all sides by rivers and more mountains.

There are coastal plains in the west and south, emerging from the declining mountains and these are crucial for agriculture. The three major rivers traversing the Portuguese landscape are the Tejo (the largest and deepest), the Guadiana and the Douro – all arising in Spain and draining into the Atlantic.

Cork, olive, poplar and oak trees abound in the landscape. Grapevines producing the famous port wine flourish in the arid surroundings.