Situated at a latitude of 38º 47´ North and a longitude of 9º 30´ West, the headland of Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point on the European mainland. You can have the most amazing clifftop sea views on the blue waters of the Atlantic that stretch endlessly into the horizon.
About 250 million people world-wide are native Portuguese speakers. Portuguese is the official language of Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Principe, Sao Tome, and Equatorial Guinea. Portuguese is also spoken in Goa (India), Macao, and East Timor.
The Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon is 7.6 miles / 12.3 kilometres long, making it the longest in Europe.
Portugal produces 70% of the world’s cork exports. Main importers of Portuguese cork are: Germany, U.K., and the U.S.
Port wine, also known as Vinho do Porto, is a Portuguese fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern region of Portugal. It is made by adding grape spirit, or brandy, to the wine before it has finished fermenting, which boosts the alcohol content and leaves residual sugar in the wine and the natural sweetness of the grape.
2011 at Praia de Norte (Nazaré) by the Hawaiian Garret McNamara breaking records by surfing the biggest waver ever caught, which was an astonishing 78 ft./24m high.
The Bertrand Chiado was recognized in 2011 by the Guinness Book as the oldest bookstore in the world still in operation. Having opened its doors in 1732, more than 284 years ago.
Lisbon is in deed older than Rome, actually around four centuries older, and is the second oldest European capital after Athens. At the end of the 9th century County of Portugal was named after the region’s major port city— Portus Cale’ or modern Porto. The region became known as Portucale. Portugal was then founded in 1139 by the first king, Dom Afonso Henriques and remained a kingdom until 1910. The country maintains the same defined borders since 1249, almost 800 years ago. It became the first global maritime power during the 15th & 16th centuries. Pioneering Portuguese explorers such as Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama and Álvares Cabral founded new lands and colonies making Portugal a major economic, political and military power, ultimately dividing the world with Spain.
The University of Coimbra was established in 1290, making it one of the oldest universities on the European continent.
The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance was signed in 1373 and is in force until this day.
