If you are reading this, it could mean two things; that you are an inquisitive traveler and want to stay informed, or that you are planning to visit Portugal soon. Have we got that right? Either way, for these two reasons, or any other, we are very grateful to you for being here and for giving us your time. Portugal is one of the oldest nations in Europe, having been “born” in 1139. Its first king, Alfonso I Henriques, came to power shortly after the nation’s birth, around 1143. In 1910, Portugal became a republic.
Did you know that Portugal was one of the greatest world powers? Civilizations such as the Celts, Romans, Greeks, Muslims and Jews coexisted in this country. In addition, in the past, the Portuguese Empire came to dominate almost half of the world. Surely you have already visited our Portuguese neighbors, but this does not mean that you know all their secrets, do you want to discover them? Today we will tell you 6 interesting facts about Portugal that you probably did not know. The journey begins!
Portuguese
You already know that Portugal has come to dominate almost half of the world, but did you know that Portuguese is spoken in 9 different countries? Over 236 million people worldwide speak Portuguese as their native language.
Earthquake of 1755
In November 1755, coinciding with the All Saints' Day celebration, an earthquake struck the Portuguese capital, nearly destroying the city. Not only that, but a tsunami followed about 40 minutes after the earthquake. Thousands of people are estimated to have died and nearly 90% buildings were destroyed.
The oldest bookstore in the world
The oldest bookstore in the world is located here. If you decide to visit Lisbon, this is a must-see stop on your trip. It was founded in 1732 by Pedro Fore on Rua Diereito do Loreto. However, in 1775, the strong earthquake we mentioned earlier destroyed the place. The founder, unable to run the business again, sold his bookstore to the Bertrand brothers. Currently, the Bertrand brand is the largest chain of bookstores in Portugal. And the smallest in Europe is Livraria Simao in the Baixa district of Lisbon.
The longest dictatorship in Europe
The country had the longest dictatorship in Europe. The authoritarian regime remained in power from 1926 to 1974, led by Antonio de Oliviera Salazar. The so-called Carnation Revolution toppled the regime in 1974.
The longest bridge in Europe
Once again winning as a country in Europe. At the same time, the Vasco da Gama Bridge is the longest bridge in Europe, stretching over 12 kilometers.
A pioneer in renewable energy
As a final curiosity, a fact that particularly excites us: Portugal is a pioneering country in the field of renewable energy. Almost 70% of its energy resources are produced by hydro, wind and solar energy.
There are many more interesting facts about this wonderful country. For example, the Portuguese government has a list of 80 pages of names that you can’t give your children, it has a wide gastronomy with more than 1000 different recipes, we advise you to try the traditional Pastéis de Belem or port wine. Portugal has had great explorers such as Magellan, the first to circumnavigate the globe, and Vasco da Gama, who discovered the route to India. Nazaré is a small coastal town famous worldwide in the surfing world, as it has the highest waves in the world.
Оставить Комментарий