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Area: 92.1 thousand square meters. km
Population: 10.6 million.
Capital: Lisbon
Major cities: Porto
Highest point: Estrela (1993 m)
Official language: Portuguese
The dominant religion: Christianity
Currency: Escudo
Government type: constitutional republic
Telephone code: 351
Code TLD (domain):. Pt
Portugal - a fascinating country, which many call a quiet European
province. More recently, the country has been totally unknown to
tourists, and now rest in Portugal attracts many tourists from around
the world.
Climate in Portugal
Portugal belongs to the
subtropical climate zone. The weather is influenced by the Atlantic
Ocean, which keeps the temperature in the country is lower than at the
same latitudes in the Mediterranean. Cooling influence and cold Canary
Current. To a large extent determined by the weather relief.
In the country can isolate several climatic regions: the north-west with
abundant rainfall, mild winters and short summers, the northeast with a
long, cold, snowy winters and hot summers, and the southern-deficient
rainfall, long hot, dry summers and mild winter. Annually in all regions
of Portugal snow may fall, but steady snow cover is formed.
The coldest month is January. Its average temperature ranges from 3 in
the north-east to 11.9 in the South. The characteristic temperature for
the night and day are 0.5 and 8 for the North and 8 and 16 for the most
southern.
The average monthly temperature is the hottest months of July and
August, varies from north to south, from 19 to 23.4. In these months,
daytime temperatures in all regions exceeds 24 degrees, reaching 28.8 in
the south. At night the temperature drops to 10 in the north to 16 .. 18
in the south.
The bulk of the precipitation falls in winter. In the mountains in the
north almost universally falls over 1,000 mm of rain a year. Their
greatest number marked on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela, whose peak
in November and May, covered with snow. On the plains of central and
southern Portugal, the annual precipitation is 400-800 mm, and along the
southern coast in places reduced to 300 mm. Driest months - July and
August.
Best time to visit:
The best time for a beach holiday on the mainland of Portugal is the
period from July to September, when the water temperature reaches 19 ...
21. The climate of Portugal is very favorable, and it can be visited at
any time. It is interesting to visit the country in February, when is
Carnival.
Traditions of Portugal
Portugal - the country,
once the mighty kingdom, and the owner of huge overseas colonies, and
now has become a great place for leisure tourism, with an abundance of
cultural and artistic centers. The Portuguese have a unique national
character and special Mediterranean tradition.
For residents of Portugal typical slow pace in business. For this
reason, many of the events schedule in the country is very flexible.
During the "siesta" from 12.00 to 15.00 closed most of the institutions,
and even the office phones are silent. Portuguese dinner quite early, so
many restaurants have already finished their work at 21.30-22.00.
Portuguese peculiar calm, composure and a certain dreamy, clearly
distinguishing them from the neighbors - emotional Spaniards. It is
characteristic that the vast majority of people in the choice between
active and passive recreation, contemplative prefers the second, and
during the holidays are often left at home.
Portuguese jealously proud to belong to the historical greatness of
their country and its heroic past. They see themselves as a special
nation, and can not stand when they try to compare with the same
Spanish.
Also mean the Portuguese inherent qualities such as natural courtesy and
great restraint behavior, especially in dealing with strangers. Such
tact combined with genuinely welcoming attitude towards foreigners and
readiness to help in difficult situations.
Residents are quite conservative, they have serious attitude to the
social hierarchy, respect for authority in religious as well as in
family and business together. But they are full of life, love and know
how to party, wild celebrations, parades and festivities are not
uncommon.
Sense of honor and dignity are of great importance for the Portuguese.
They are struggling to not to "lose face" in any situation. With this
feature is closely related to its own attention appearance. "Meet on
clothes" - this saying is very relevant for the Portuguese mentality.
Attractions in Portugal
Albufeira
Albufeira - the most
visited place in the Algarve. Her charm in the tiny fishing port, in
blue, red, yellow, green, boats, campers in the sand after the unequal
struggle with the winds and tides. Port, rock, white houses - the
idyllic image that attracts many tourists. Albufeira is an amusement
park with the oceanarium, and representations with dolphins and seals.
You can take a walk on the balloon, hang glider, paraglider, scuba
diving, going down the river. Beaches: Praia dos Barcos (boat) and Praia
dos Pescadores (Fisherman), typical of Albufeira. Here you can still see
the fishermen, dismantle their networks. On the beach there are several
eateries. 10 km east of the town are two sparsely populated beach -
Balaia and Olhos d'Agua.
Madeira
Madeira - beautiful
volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean, 1,000 km from Portugal. As the
resort has more than 200 years of tradition with a high level of service
and comfort. The temperature in the season 22-30 degrees. Water - 20-24
gradusa.Na Madeira has everything to charm you: subtropical climate,
magnificent nature, abundance of exotic flowers and fruits, grapes, once
imported from Cyprus and Crete, and of course the hotels that put
Madeira in some of the best resorts in the world . an island located in
the Atlantic Ocean 700 km from Casablanca and 900 km from Lisbon, was
opened in 1420 the Portuguese navigator João Gonçalves Zarco. Since
then, the island has always ran through caravels road on their way to
search for new lands in the East. The capital of Madeira - Funchal -
favorite place of many celebrities.
Cintra
Cintra - the pearl of
Portugal, an old Moorish town, who in medieval residence of the
Portuguese kings. The city declared a World Heritage by Unesco.
Enchanted by the beauty of Sintra, Lord Byron praised the green edge in
his poems. Against the background of romantic landscapes, exotic parks,
ancient forests on hilltops frozen castles, palaces, monasteries,
affecting any thing Temptation imagination. A little further north, in
the mountains, among shady eucalyptus, cedar and palm trees is the
former summer residence of the Portuguese kings. Half a tile ornaments,
conical chimneys and painted wooden ceilings, unique ceramic floor gives
a unique charm of the palace. Dream Castle Palacio da Pena, surrounded
by a fantastic park, crowned one of the highest hills of Sintra.
Cities in
Portugal
Albufeira
Resort
city of Albufeira is located on the southern Portuguese province of
Algarve, about 29 km north-east of the regional capital, the city of
Faro. According to many different sources, constantly exploring tourist
flows and a popular holiday destination, Albufeira can be considered the
best Portuguese resort. This place has everything to meet the diverse
interests of tourists. Gorgeous warm climate, vast beaches, beautiful
surrounding scenery, exciting nightlife, excellent level of service and
the availability of a very wide range of different hotels, along with a
variety of vneplyazhnymi leisure activities (such as golf or sailing)
makes certain standard resort of Albufeira, just a place to which must
be equal.
Albufeira beauty impossible to put into words, this place should be
seen. Located on a natural terrace low white houses, an amphitheater
around a beautiful azure bay, and even, as if drawn by artists of "Walt
Disney" sandy beach, in the minds of many, if not all, are associated
with an ideal resting place.
It is quite natural that this blessed shore was inhabited long before
our era. Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and later the Arabs
have left their mark on the development of the economy and culture of
the coast. Arabs (Moors), in addition, gave him and the modern name:
According to historians the name Albufeira comes from the Arabic Al-Buhera,
meaning "sea castle." Apparently, that was the name on one of the
strengthening of coastal cliffs guarding the bottom of the lagoon.
Christians began the conquest of the Algarve region in the late 12th
century, but only in 1249 the fortress Albufeira lost their onslaught
and became part of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarve. Status of
this little town was granted August 20, 1504 and since then, this date
is one of the main municipal holidays.
Grand earthquake in 1755, when the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, was
literally washed away the colossal 15-meter surge caused severe damage
in Albufeira. The city suffered more than any other place south of
Portugal, most of the buildings were destroyed. Recovery was very slow
and it took more than a decade.
Start active development as a resort of Albufeira is the 60-ies of the
20th century, this tourist boom continues to this day. The city is
growing, absorbing all the new surrounding villages (Montechoro, Oura,
Gale, Salgados) - the total area of Albufeira the suburbs exceeded 140
square kilometers, and its permanent population is estimated at 35-36
thousand people.
Drive to Albufeira easiest two ways. In the first case, use of the
region's largest airport, Faro, and then by taxi, rental car or regular
shuttle (bus plying the route airport-city) on a paid highway EN 125 or
toll-free access to the A22 proper Albufeira. In the second, you need to
get down from the north on the highway A2 or IO1, which will lead you
straight to this resort city - the central tourist destination in the
region.
Lisbon
Lisbon
- the capital of Portugal, which is also the main port of the country,
situated on the right bank of the river Tagus flows into the Atlantic
Ocean. Like Rome or Moscow, it is built on seven hills. Patron of the
city (as well as our capital) is George.
The historic center are the most beautiful and interesting neighborhoods
of Lisbon - Rossio, Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, Alfama and Lapa. They
are located in the southern part of the city, next to the River Tagus.
Lissabontsev called Tagus straw sea - into the sunset river really pours
gold.
The city was founded by the Phoenicians, it was called Alice Ubbo. The
first Phoenician settlements appeared 3,000 years ago. Then here came
the Lusitania, which was named the province of Lusitania. Those who came
to this land the Romans renamed Alice Ubbo in Ulysses. In the 5th
century the Visigoths came here. And in the years 713-718 Lusitania
captured by the Arabs.
In 1147, Lisbon was conquered by the first Portuguese king Alfonso Henry
and 100 years later became the capital of the country.
During the reign of King Manuel I (1495-1521 gg.) Into the bay every
year went Tagus 2000 ships loaded with precious goods from Africa, India
and South America. Lisbon became the richest city in Europe.
In 1755, there was an accident that shook the whole of Europe: the
unprecedented power of an earthquake destroyed much of Lisbon and killed
more than 40,000 lives. From the former capital of luxury and power was
gone. Fortunately, in Portugal, there was a man of unique abilities and
energy - the Marquis de Pombal. It was he who led the work on the
construction of the new city actually. In this map of Lisbon has
undergone almost no changes ...
Regular destruction of the city has brought the Napoleonic occupation
and the expulsion of the religious orders, resulting in 65 monasteries
have been adapted into barracks or just brought desolation.
From the middle of XIX century Lisbon began to expand and decorate
according to the new concepts of urban architecture. The first step in
this direction was the construction of highways pompous Avenida da
Liberdade. Much attention is paid urban development in the 30th and 40th
years of the last century and the Salazar regime: there are new public
buildings, area, and the whole block Alvalade. The most remarkable work
of the dictatorship was a suspension bridge over the Tagus, built in
1966.
Between the coastal east and west of the city is renewed that unique
Lisbon, which is easily recognized by Tiles facades, balconies forged
grating, an observation deck, and the treasures of the museums.
The real heart of Lisbon - St George's Castle, located on a high hill.
Architecture of Arab, Jewish and Roman buildings, mixed with the
buildings of the Middle Ages, will tell you about the long history of
the castle.
And at the foot of the hill sheltered the oldest part of the city - the
medieval Alfama quarter, the streets and staircases that resemble the
Arabs who lived here before the expulsion. Silent witnesses truly golden
age in the history of the country - the Bethlehem Tower and the
Monastery of Jerónimos, recognized part of world culture.
Art lovers will be indifferent to visit one of the many museums. The
collection of the famous Gulbenkian Museum, Armenian businessman and
philanthropist, includes works by Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Corot,
French Impressionists. Interest and the National Museum of Ancient Art,
and the Museum of Ceramics, which describes the development of
characteristic Portuguese tiled art - azulezhush, and many other
museums.
Porto
Porto
- the second largest (after Lisbon) city in Portugal, business capital
and a major port of the country. The city is located on the right bank
of the river Douro, one of the largest rivers in Europe. Dora spanned
across many bridges linking the port to the satellite city of Vila Nova
de Gaia. Some of them are unique for its time technology solutions. For
example, a railroad bridge Dona Maria Pia, built in the years 1876-1877
on the project by Gustave Eiffel, was one of the first prekte, brought
its author international fame.
Later the same technological solutions were used in the construction of
Eiffel Statue of Liberty (1884-1886) and the Eiffel Tower (1889).
Another unique for its time was the construction of two-level metal
bridge Don Luis I, was built in 1881-1886 under the project of a student
and a companion Eiffel Theophilus Seyrig
Port full of beautiful zdaniy.Vpechatlyayut Sé Cathedral, built in the
XII century, many old churches. Interesting to visit the castle, the
birthplace of the first king of Portugal, Don Afonso Enrikesh.Rayon
along the coast, known as the Ribeira, full of narrow, winding streets
with quaint houses and colorful facades.
Port, as well as Lisbon, Fado music center here like folk guitar music
and nostalgic lyrical songs of love and longing for the homeland.
That's how we ordered precious time in port - visited modern art museum
in the morning, briefly (in the literal sense) to explore the historical
center of the city, and then had lunch in a small restaurant, and a
little later - a boat trip along the waterfront - and all! Time to go on
the way back!
A chance to see the night porter, breathe scents parks, dive into the
religious atmosphere of the ancient temples - all that remained of our
plans for the future! |
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