1
Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe
It has the same borders defined since 1139, almost 900 years ago. The name Portugal appears for the first time in the year 868, during the Reconquest on Muslims.
2
The Luso-British Alliance is the oldest in the world
The Luso-British Alliance, between England (United Kingdom) and Portugal, is the oldest alliance in the world that is still in force. This alliance was signed in 1373 and is still in force today.
The two countries allied in different wars, the United Kingdom entered the Iberian Peninsular War (as an ally of Portugal) and Portugal entered the First World War (as an ally of England).
The two countries allied in different wars, the United Kingdom entered the Iberian Peninsular War (as an ally of Portugal) and Portugal entered the First World War (as an ally of England).
3
Portugal was the first colonial power to abolish slavery
Portugal abolished slavery in 1761, half a century before Britain, France, Spain or the United States. However, Portugal was also the first European country to open a “Slave Market” in Lagos.
4
Portuguese is the 5th most spoken language in the world
Portuguese is the fifth most spoken language in the world, with around 273 million total speakers. It is generally listed as the fifth most spoken language in the world after Mandarin, English, Spanish and Arabic. Portuguese is spoken on 5 continents and is the official language in 9 countries.
5
Portugal has the largest solar power plant in the world
Portugal has the largest solar power plant in the world, located in the Alentejo area. Portugal also has a wave power plant that started producing energy in October 2006.
6
Portugal introduced the habit of drinking tea in Britain
The world famous tea ceremony in England came about with the Portuguese Catarina de Bragança, married to King Charles II of England, who brought this fashion to the English court.
7
Portugal is the third country in the world that consumes more fish
Portugal is the third country in the world that consumes the most fish, after Japan and Iceland. The citizens of the Azores eat almost 76 kg of fish per year, which is much higher than the world average of 16 kg.
8
The longest bridge in Europe is in Portugal
The longest bridge in Europe is the Vasco da Gama bridge, 17,185 meters long.
9
It is possible to cross Portugal in just one day
Portugal is a small country both in size and in population. It is possible to cross Portugal in just one day. There are only 721 km of roads from one end to the other.
10
Portugal has its own musical genre
Fado is a type of Portuguese singing that dates back to the 1820s and can often be enjoyed in bars, cafes and restaurants. It is generally known for its expressive form, as well as for its strong melody. Usually, in fado, the interpreter sings about the harsh reality of everyday life in a balance between resignation and hope. This feeling can be described through the Portuguese word "saudade", which means "yearning" and represents a mixture of loss and melancholy.
