After the so-called “Carnation Revolution” of 1974 in Portugal the hopes for renewal were strong: following the fall of the very long Salazar dictatorship, the new socialist government advocated a radical transformation of Portuguese productive structures, largely inadequate to the needs of a modern country (increase mechanization of the agricultural sector and related rationalization of land management, acceleration of the industrialization process, incentives for investments, strengthening of infrastructures, especially road…
Read MoreSintra Cultural Landscape (World Heritage)
The former Moorish city west of Lisbon has been the summer residence of the Portuguese kings and nobility since the Middle Ages. Located on the northern slope of the Sintragebirge, the city nestles in a unique cultural landscape with palaces, castles, villas and country estates as well as numerous parks. The main attraction is the Palácio da Pena above the city. Sintra Cultural Landscape: Facts Official title: Sintra cultural landscape…
Read MoreWorld Heritage Sites in Portugal
Old Town of Guimarães (World Heritage) The city in the north of Portugal is considered to be the cradle of the nation. The birthplace of the first Portuguese king, Alfonso I, became the country’s first capital in 1140. The picturesque old town has numerous churches and palaces from the 12th to 16th centuries. The Romanesque castle from the 10th century sits enthroned above the city, the Gothic palace of the…
Read MorePortugal Overview
Portugal is located on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula, and was formerly a leading colonial power and seafaring nation. The pleasant climate, the many sandy beaches and the contrasts between city and countryside, have made Portugal a popular destination where tourism is today one of the country’s most important sources of income. Capital: Lisbon Biggest city: Lisbon State: republic within the EU Language: Portuguese Religion: catholicism Surface: 92…
Read MorePortugal Population and Language
The Portuguese say they are descended from the so-called Lusitans, but the residents usually have a relatively mixed ethnic background. Geographically, the population is concentrated in coastal cities. The country’s population is steadily declining as more Portuguese die than are born and more emigrants than immigrants. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the population shrank as poverty and unemployment forced many to emigrate. After the fall of the dictatorship in…
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