Portugal Travel

The concept of crusade and the believe that all peninsular kings descent from an ancient visigotic monarchy justified all the Southern process of conquest in the al-Andaluz. The support of the church was unquestionable - the crusaders (conquest of Lisbon and Silves) and the religious and military orders gave a big help to the birth of several kingdoms by their endless effort of conquest and settlement. The 25. of April of 1974 brought to the Portuguese people the freedom of thought and speech and the peace along with the independence of all the colonies. This photo is a symbol to Portuguese people: the innocence of a child and a flower are (or must be) stronger than a machine

Portugal has a big historic past that goes back to the time of the naval adventure of the discoveries and colonization. Some of the past is still present and can be seen in the numerous monuments and traditions of the country. Some of the attractions are surely natural like the climate.

Over its more than 800 years of history, Portugal has lived through wars and invasions, but this small country has succeeded in keeping its identity thanks to its rich cultural inheritance.

Most Portuguese towns and cities has a long and interesting history. Portugal is well known for the cultural richness, but it is also perfect for a holiday of excursions, sun, sea, and sports.
 
 
Once upon a time, Portugal was the most powerful and the wealthiest country in the world. Two thirds of the world was discovered by the explorers and sailors of Portugal, and the Portuguese founded the first modern empire. For later generations, it was the poor cousin of Europe.

Despite its turbulent past Portugal is a stable country. The monarchy ended in 1910 and the republic was founded. In 1926 Salazar established his almost 40 years of dictatorship. Portugal became a modern democracy after a peaceful military coup April 25, 1974 that began the rebirth of the country. With the oldest national boundaries in Europe, this country is both ancient and newborn.

The population of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira islands, is approximative 11 million.

More than 94% of the population is Roman Catholic although freedom of religion is permitted.

On the 25th of April of 1975 took place the first free election (in 50 years), the aim was to elect a representative convention that later wrote a new Constitution published on the 2nd of April 1976. This Constitution set new basics to a new democratic government and to the performance of the institutions, as well as to the participation of the citizens in the political, social and economic life and the autonomy of the local power. The new challenge that Portugal get in to through deals with the formation of the EC, of which is a member since 1986. Today there are eight countries which official language is the Portuguese. It is the 5th language that is spoken all over the world.


The political maturity brought Portugal a new conception off identity. Portugal and his Portuguese spoken fellows created CPLP (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa), a Community of Countries with Portuguese as their official language. This community, among other things, pretends to bee the cultural and linguistic link between those countries (from America, Africa or Asia). For them, Portugal is the doorway into Europe and a window to the world. To Portugal they are the link to world... The new world again.

The international community has already recognised the CPLP importance. In 1st November off 1999 CPLP assumed a new role as an international observator in the UN.