35 Amazing Thought Provoking Facts about Portugal To Learn

(Last Updated On: October 12, 2021)

There are many amazing facts about Portugal. According to historians, the Celtic King of Lusitania was the Roman Empire’s worst nightmare and one of the most dangerous adversaries Rome had ever encountered, causing them to lose the equivalent of nine legions in their conflicts with the Lusitans. This article will feature many more amazing facts about Portugal like this.

The Bertrand Bookstore in Lisbon, first established in 1732, is the world’s oldest bookstore. This odd little store has been around for 283 years. This piece of history may be found in Lisbon’s Chiado, where it still remains. The bookshop has about 50 locations around Portugal, amazing facts about Portugal. If you’re in the area, have a look at the colorful mosaic-tiled exterior!

Porto residents are known as ‘Tripeiros,’ which means ‘tripe eaters.’ This is due to the assistance they offered to their country’s navy in the 15th century. The city provided almost all of the meat for the fleet, leaving just tripe for the inhabitants of Porto to consume, amazing facts about Portugal. The navy triumphed in Ceuta, North Africa, and the ‘Tripeiros’ have proudly carried their moniker since.

The University of Coimbra was founded in 1920, making it one of the continent’s oldest universities. It is the oldest and most prestigious city in Portugal. The institution, which is located in the ancient city of Coimbra, has over 21,000 students, 10% of whom are foreign students, making it one of Portugal’s most international universities and giving the city a global air.

One fact that may surprise you is that the Portuguese language is spoken by approximately 236 million people globally, with 210 million of them being native speakers. Not only is Portugal the oldest country in the world, but it also possesses Europe’s longest bridge, amazing facts about Portugal. The six-lane, cable-stayed Vasco da Gama bridge, which spans the Tagus River north of Lisbon, was completed in 1998 and measures 10.7 miles (almost 18 kilometers).

Porto provided all the meat they had – save the stomachs – to assist out the troops in the 15th century. After that, they grew more creative with their cooking, and it became one of the city’s most famous culinary specialties throughout time, amazing facts about Portugal. Furthermore, the ‘tripeiros,’ a moniker for Porto residents, was born.

By signing the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, Portugal and Spain split the world in half, giving Portugal the eastern half of the “New World,” which included Brazil, Africa, and Asia, amazing facts about Portugal. In fact, the Portuguese Empire was the world’s first worldwide empire! It was also one of the longest-lived colonial empires, spanning over six centuries from the seizure of Ceuta in 1415 until the handover of Macau to China in 1999.

The Douro Valley in Portugal produces the famed Port wine, a sweet fortified wine. Only the steeply terraced slopes of the Douro Valley near Porto, one of the world’s oldest known wine-producing regions, are used to produce port wine grapes, amazing facts about Portugal. It has, however, been copied in a number of nations, including Australia, South Africa, India, and the United States.

Fatalism is an important feature in Portuguese culture. This ideology is based on the notion that fate or destiny controls all events and acts. Fatalism is expressed through fado music. This musical genre has been recognized in Portugal since the early 1800s, amazing facts about Portugal. It’s distinguished by somber melodies and lyrics that allude to fate and resignation. In 2011, UNESCO designated Fado music as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Amazing facts about Portugal

1. Greetings, bookworms! Bertrand Books, the world’s oldest bookstore, is located in Lisbon. The charming bookshop was constructed in 1732. In 2016, it was named the world’s oldest functioning bookstore by the Guinness Book of World Records.

2. In Southern Europe, Portugal is a popular tourist destination.

3. In the north, the environment is primarily hilly, but in the south, there are magnificent rolling plains.

4. Portugal’s population accounts for 0.13 percent of the world’s total population.

5. Some of Portugal’s most popular sweets were created with the help of monks. Fatias do Bispo and Pasteis de Nata were both produced in convents. Pasteis was invented as a way of repurposing leftover egg yolks from the egg whites needed to starch monks’ and nuns’ robes.

6. The Portuguese, not the Japanese, were the ones who first invented tempura. The Japanese were taught the method of deep-frying food in flour and egg by Portuguese traders. So we may credit Portugal for the delectable shrimp tempura.

7. Portugal is one of Europe’s oldest countries, having been founded in 1143!

8. On November 1, 1755, one of the most devastating earthquakes in European history devastated Lisbon. The tremor was followed by a tsunami and flames, which completely destroyed the city.

9. Portugal gave birth to some of the world’s first explorers, including Ferdinand Magellan, who circumnavigated the globe, Vasco de Gama, who discovered the sea passage to India, and Bartholomew Diaz, who was the first to sail around Africa’s southern point.

10. Portugal and England have the world’s oldest diplomatic relationship.

11. The legendary Toboggan Ride is available in Madeira. It’s a throwback to the region’s major mode of transportation in the past. Riding on a wicker toboggan is an exciting experience.

12. Cobblers are always in demand in Portugal, due to the country’s extensive network of cobblestone roadways. These streets are lovely, but they are notorious for ruining shoes. High-heeled shoes, in particular.

13. Portugal was the first country to make fingerprints a requirement for identification cards. This rule went into effect in 2008.

14. Fado is a type of Portuguese music that originated in the city of Lisbon about 1820.

15. In Portugal, coffee is consumed at all times. The country is noted for its several coffee breaks throughout the day, as well as the fast espresso-sized bica delivered in a little cup. On warmer days, don’t anticipate a frappuccino-style iced coffee because pouring a bica over ice is the recommended way.

16. Peri-Peri chile sauce is a popular and tasty condiment that originated in Portugal. The African bird’s-eye chile has been around since the 15th century when Portuguese immigrants in Africa found it.

17. Lisbon, the capital, has a population of 504,718 people and spans an area of 32.7 square miles (84.8 square kilometers) (2016).

18. To the north and east, it is exclusively surrounded by Spain. It also has a shoreline that runs south to the Gulf of Cadiz and west to the Atlantic Ocean.

19. Portugal’s coordinates are 38.7000° N, 9.8133° W.

20. Portugal, believe it or not, was founded as a country in the 12th century, making it one of Europe’s oldest nations. It had one of the world’s oldest running empires, extending over six centuries inside the country’s unchanging borders from 1139.

21. Portugal was one of NATO’s founding members.

22. The majority of Portuguese people are Roman Catholics, with 84 percent (9 million people) having been baptized.

23. The Algarve, in southern Portugal, is home to Europe’s biggest man-made reef. The Ocean Revival Underwater Park is built on the foundations of four naval ships and is open to divers for free exploration.

24. Portugal has a lengthy and fascinating history that includes globe travel, colonialism, and historical landmarks. It may be a small nation, but it has a long list of achievements and experience.

25. The University of Coimbra was founded in 1290 by Portuguese scholars, making it one of the world’s oldest institutions.

26. Fado is a sorrowful and heartfelt folk music form that is usually sung by ordinary people and passed down through generations.

27. Portuguese shoes travel the globe and parade on some of the world’s most prestigious stages. Rihanna’s River Island collection’s shoe range was made in Portugal. Pippa Middleton, the royal sister, and her mother, both wore Portuguese-made shoes at the royal wedding.

28. Portugal is known as a surfer’s paradise, with 364 days of the surf each year!

29. The University of Coimbra is one of the world’s oldest institutions. It was founded in 1290 and in 2013 it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

30. “There is a tribe in Iberia that neither governs nor allows itself to be controlled.” This is a well-known Roman phrase that refers to Portugal’s conquest of Europe.

31. The 6.46-ton omelet was made using 145 000 eggs. Yes, it was developed in 2012 during a local event in Portugal. It has to have been a massive shell explosion.

32. South Africa supplies virtually all of Portugal’s brandy. Despite the fact that South Africa tries to imitate port wine rather than importing it entirely from Portugal.

33. The sea runs through the veins of the Portuguese people. They consume more fish per capita than any other nation. You can guarantee that Bacalhau is responsible for a significant portion of it.

34. Portugal and England have a long history together — the longest, in fact. The two countries share the world’s oldest diplomatic partnership, which dates back to 1373. They’ve both fought wars in order to protect each other. Is there any better way to show your friend you care than this?

35. Portugal used to own half of the “New World.”