Portugal is a rocky mountainous country in southwestern Europe that was once a part of the Hispania Lusitana.
The mainland Portugal or Iberian portion of the country (containing the Iberian peninsula) is surrounded to the south and western part by the Atlantic ocean, Spain in east and north. Spain is the only country to share a land border with Portugal.
Lisbon, the country’s capital city, possesses a unique ancient story about its foundation. It is said that the great medieval Greek warrior Odysseus founded the town after saying goodbye to his homeland and wandering off to the world, who came across the city and developed a liking for it.
It is said that Odysseus stayed in what is today called Lisbon and had a relationship with a beautiful nymph named Calypso. Still, eventually, he broke her heart and ended the relationship.
Heartbroken and sad, the fairy turned herself into a snake, and her coils are now what became the seven hills of Lisbon.
The Portuguese empire colonized many countries in South America like Brazil, Uruguay, Guanare, Venezuela, and others. During World War I and II, Portugal remained neutral and was an escape route for Europe.
Just like this story, Portugal and its cities, towns and countryside hold rich and unique ancient myths and stories that enhance the place even more. The explorations and political activities scretching over different timelines shaped the European continent's powerful aspects and its varying and diverse cultural dynamics.
The Anglo Portuguese alliance was between the Kingdom of England and King of Portugal and is one of the oldest ones which you can read all about in history books.
Portugal, officially known as the Portuguese Republic, was founded in 868. The official and national language is Portuguese.
It is one of the oldest countries in Europe. Initially, it was occupied by Celtic people, and later the Romans conquered the country. But the advent of the Greeks and Germanic people was also predominant.
Portugal soon after its establishment became the world’s first military, political and economic force of power. The main reason for its efficient rise was the invasion of various empires that imbibed their rich history, traditions, politics, and religions to the country, giving us lots to read about.
Did you know that Portugal holds the world record for the largest omelet ever made!
Come then, without any delay, let us look at some of the interesting facts about Portugal! After you have read these fun facts about Portugal, also check facts about Spain and fun facts about Brazil.
Fun Facts About Portugal
Are you interested in some fun facts about Portugal? Well, you will not be disappointed as this European powerhouse has some really interesting experiences for you to enjoy. Check out fun facts about Portugal and life here as mentioned below.
Portuguese history dates back 400,000 years. Yes, you heard it right. That’s how old Portugal is. During this time, it was occupied by a species called homo heidelbergensis. Numerous fossils are acting as proof of not to their existence.
Only after the neanderthals, homo sapiens arrive in the country some 35000 years ago. But soon after, the occupation of humans in the country led to the establishment of pre-Celtic tribes. Some of these tribes are: Turduli, Lusitanians, and Obe.
And soon after the third century, Portugal witnessed a Roman invasion. Romans did a fantastic job of developing and enhancing the civilizing of young Portugal.
They built several Roman sites, temples, roads, theatres, and baths and introduced coins to the country. Like this, Portugal witnessed an Islamic invasion, but it is last.
Portugal during the time had already grown into a nation of extreme power and resources. In the year 1071, Gracia the second was declared the king of Portugal. He was the first king of Portugal.
And soon after numerous conquests and battles, an ampere was established, and in the year 1255, Lisbon was made Portugal’s capital. Cape Verde, located in the Atlantic Ocean near Africa, was a Portuguese colony.
However, Portugal remained a colonial power like the British until the mid 70s, and a revolution with peaceful intentions transformed the country’s ruthless dictatorship into a democratic republic. Over the years, Portugal has witnessed a drastic improvisation in its political and industrial atmosphere.
However, the modernization of Portugal took place in the last decades of the 20th century. Due to the unique historical timeline mentioned above, the country of Portugal possessed an excellent reputation of being one of the world’s centers for great food, sports, music, dance and more.
Now let us look at some interesting facts about Portugal’sy, food, and culture, what say!
Did you know? The capital of Portugal, Lisbon, is so ancient that it is older than Rome. In fact, Theremerous archaeological reports suggest that Lisbon has been extensively and continuously inhabited for more than 3000 years by numerous diverse global empires!
Portugal is the westernmost country of the European continent and part of the European Union too,
The colonial occupation of Portugal spanned for more than 600 years, making it the longest of all the European empires!
Portugal has lived through two contradictory timelines. It was the first country to be involved in the Transatlantic slave trade. But many years later, it is one of the first countries to abolish the practice of slavery!
Vasco de Gama, one of the famous Portuguese explorers, discovered the sea route to India. Portugal during the 16th century was a vanguard of European exploration!
During the time of the British monarch, that is, around 1662, Portugal was introduced to tea. Since then, it has become a habit of the Portuguese to drink their tea in the afternoon routinely. The largest tea plantation is located on the Portuguese island of Gorreana. In a way, we can call Portugal an island nation too.
The Anglo-Portuguese alliance was the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world. Yes, that’s right, the treaty took place in 1373!
The followers of the Roman Catholic church comprise a total of 81 % country’s population. This report was according to the 2011 census!
Portuguese food is a unique blend of all the cultures and traditions inspired by many empires established over different timelines thanks to Portuguese trader travels and exploration. Technically there is no such thing as Portuguese food.
Portuguese cuisine is a mix of Mediterranean, Greek, Italian, Croatian, Norwegian, Indian, Arabian, Roman, and South American. The spices and cuisines hailing from these different country’s make the food in Portuguese one of the best!
Nutritional Facts Portugal
If you are planning a trip to Portugal to taste some delicious food, then you will not be disappointed. It does not matter if you do not speak the official language, food is a universal language in itself. Here are some fun facts about Portugal and its food that you will surely enjoy.
Portugal has officially issued dietary guidelines to its citizens. It is known as A roda dos Alimentos in Portuguese. In English, it means food wheel guide.
The food wheel guide was first published in 1977 but was later revised in 2003 and was again republished.
Some contributors to this particular Portugal dietary guidelines are the faculty of food sciences and nutrition, the Portuguese consumer institute, and the national council for food and nutrition.
Of course, this food wheel guide published by the Portuguese food authorities recommends only involving the general health of Portuguese people depending on their age and sex. There are also certain limits to which children, teens, men, women, and older adults are subjected.
Since the Portuguese culture of good food has been imbibed in the country, this guideline is divided into seven food groups regarding the consumption of dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, and fruits.
Water is the center of the food wheel’s guidelines to integrate and highlight the importance of hydration balance.
Portugal is also one of the largest consumers of fish in the world. A variety of fishes like sardines and horse mackerel are collected in thousands each year.
Portuguese believe in having a variety of foods in one’s meals to get the most nutrition out of each item. And one of their trendy dishes is dobrada, a traditional stew made with white beans and carrots.
Did you know that the art of making pastries in Portugal has its roots in the numerous ancient catholic monasteries which had spread extensively across the country!
One of the typical fast foods of Portugal includes the Francesinha made from grilled pork and grilled beef!
Portugal has an unusual obsession with codfish. In Portuguese, it is called Bacalhau. There are over 365 ways to make this famous dish!
Did you know that the food in Portugal comes in colossal and massive portions!
Portugal is especially popular for its wines. The red and white wines are one of the amazing of the lot and a must-try whenever you find yourself amid the country!
The country of Portugal has a lot of canned fish. I mean a lot. They believe that the best fish should always be saved and released for future consumption!
Only in the last ten years has craft beer popularity exploded in Portugal. Craft beers are sold at local supermarkets!
Portuguese custard tarts are one of the most famous desserts in the country. The people of Portugal do possess an extensive sweet tooth!
Portugal’s food reflects its unique history of world exploration and geographical location!
Just like other European countries, Portugal produces the world’s best-cured meats and cheeses, mind you, not just any cheese, but high-quality cheeses made from cows, sheep, and goats!
Cuisine in Portugal is primarily influenced by ingredients brought in from worldwide. For example, the famous peri-peri sauce, used in almost every Portuguese food, has its origins in Africa!
Harmful Facts About Portugal’s Culture
Well when you are planning to go somewhere, you must be aware of some harmful facts regarding the culture of the country. Here are some harmful facts about Portugal that you must note before embarking on a trip to this amazing country.
Most reports suggest that Portugal has a unique sense of melancholy. According to the UN’s latest world happiness report, the country comes under the 93rd position of the 157 countries examined.
Language barriers, however, have been reported as being poor things about living in this country of Europe. Especially during an emergency, the language barrier might be a real fix.
Bureaucracy also, in a way, can be insensitive. Most remote areas can be complicated to get access to without a cab; this can be a problem when you need to go to the hospitals.
The country of Portugal is also known to have involved crimes against physical integrity and personality, as stated by the most Portuguese crime authority. In the report recorded in 2020, Portuguese cops registered 152,704 property crimes and 77,243 personal crimes.
Although if you are just visiting Portugal, you are relatively safe, it is advised that you remain vigilant throughout your time as there is an increase in petty thefts and other opportunity crimes prevalent in the tourism industry. Crimes like vehicle break-ins and pick-pocketing in significant cities occur occasionally.
So pickpockets are one of the biggest reasons you will need to be aware of your concern.
It is illegal to pee in the oceans in the country. So urinating into the sea is considered one of the punishable offenses!
According to a specific estimate, Portuguese women are much stronger than men. They live around six years more than men. The average life expectancy is 81 years!
Portugal is a country of notable explorers. Most of the explorers discovered America, Africa, and Asia!
The treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, enabled the Portuguese to own half of the new world countries like Brazil, Asia, and Africa!
The University of Coimbra, located in Portugal, is one of the oldest universities in the world. It was made UNESCO world heritage in the year 2013!
Portugal became the sixth European country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010!
Portugal is home to 15 UNESCO world heritage sites. This is one of the reasons why tourism is so prevalent in the country!
Did you know, Livraria Lello, a world-famous bookstore in Porto, is famous for its neo-gothic architectural styles. It even inspired the author of the Harry Potter series JK Rowling!
The national flag of Portugal has a special symbolic meaning behind its colors. Green represents hope, red acts as a reminder of the blood that flowed mercilessly during battles!
Ferdinand Magellan, a well-known Portuguese explorer, is recorded to have guided the first-ever expedition attempt to circumnavigate the globe!
Did you know the country of Portugal has had the same defined borders since 1297!
Portugal also holds a world record of having an enormous dining table. The table is about 3 mi (4.8 km) long!
Boom festival hosted by Portugal is the world’s most notable and renowned music festival!
If you ever come across an ATM in Portugal, you will be surprised to learn that it can carry out activities in addition to spitting out cash. You can donate to charities and buy tickets for concerts!
Did you know? That the country is made out of 95% of water. So most of the time, it is also compared to a jellyfish because of its striking similarities!
Facts About Portugal Soccer Team
Well, without a doubt, soccer is one of the most popular sports in Portugal. So, if you are also a fan of Christiano Ronaldo, then these facts about the Portugal soccer team will surely intrigue you.
The Portugal national football team has played in the international men’s football competition since 1921. The team’s current manager is Fernando Santos, and the team is officially under the supervision of the Portuguese football federation.
Estadio Nacional is Portugal's home stadium. The team made its first debut participation in the world cup held in 1966. During that time, it also qualified for the finals. The national football team also reached the semi-finals in the 2006 FIFA world cup.
Christiano Rolando is the current captain of the team. He is also one of the world’s most renowned football players having quite some goals on his record. Brazil is one of Portugal's most fiery rivals. There are also specific cultural ties shared.
At the 2006 FIFA world cup, they finished the first set qualifying for the finals. Although they lost against Germany, Portugal won the 'most entertaining team' award for their unique sense of play in the world cup. On 9 March 2018, Portugal’s national football team bidding for the nations league finals was confirmed by UEFA.
Reflecting on the Portuguese flag, the official jersey kit of the Portuguese football team is mainly red with a hint of green trim. However, the shades of red have changed from burgundy to scarlet.
The top scorer of the Portuguese national football team is Cristiano Ronaldo! Goncalo Guedes was the one defender who scored the goal that led to their victory against the Netherlands in the 2019 UEFA nations league final!
The team's headquarters is located outside of Lisbon and is regarded as one of the stunning architectural marvels of Portugal!
Andre Silva is yet another young football player who became the youngest Portuguese player to score a hat-trick!
In July 2016, Portugal national football team won the European championship! Did you know? The football federation of Portugal was founded in 1914!
Their official name was União Portuguesa de futebol. Their significant objective was to promote national tournaments!
In 1984, the team won its first European championship against the Soviet Union! Portugal has participated a total number of seven times in the world cup!
Portugal in modern times is regarded as one of the best football teams in the world. Their journey to join the world’s elite took them decades, but it was utterly worth taking their sweet time!
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 251 facts about Portugal that will make you visit the country then why not take a look at Argentina facts, or Northern Ireland facts?
