Cheap Portugese holidays
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Holidays in Portugal
Portugal Main Guide | Places to visit | Things to do
Portugal lies on the western coast of Europe, washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Once a great power and the source of many voyages of exploration, today Portugal is a prosperous and modern country which is part of the EC.
The different regions of Portugal have different characteristics. In the north, the Porto region is temperate and sometimes rainy. It is famous for Port, which is made from the grapes of the Douro valley. In the south, the Algarve is very popular with sun-seekers. It has excellent beaches and a hot, Mediterranean climate. Portugal also owns the Azores and the Madeira islands, which are popular holiday destinations in their own right.
The capital, Lisbon, lies on the coast (Costa de Lisboa) and attracts large numbers of visitors every year. Close by are the resorts of Estoril and Sintra. Lisbon is a very attractive city with many public gardens and parks even in the more modern parts of the city. The city is over 2000 years old. Its narrow streets retain much of their ancient character, with historic buildings throughout the city.
Lisbon has many excellent museums. The most famous is the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, which contains many art treasures as well as ancient and more recent European artefacts. Other museums cover a range of subjects including art, costume, ethnology and military.
Accommodation in Portugal ranges from the usual hotels to turismo de habitação; privately-owned facilities. Some are farmhouses or fairly ordinary guest houses, while others are grand stately homes offering bed & breakfast in luxury.
Portugal Facts At A Glance
Area: 92,391 square km.
Climate: Temperate. Cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain: Plains in the south, mountainous in the north.
Population: 10.6 Million
Languages: Portuguese
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: GMT
International Dialling Code: +351
Food and Drink
Portugal is famous for two wines in particular – Port and Madeira. Port is made in the north and Madeira originates in the Madeira Islands. There are other wines made in Portugal of course; the climate in the valleys is well suited to wine grapes.
The long Atlantic coastline provides Portugal with plentiful seafood and fish. Grilled freshly caught fish is a firm favourite, as is Bacalhau; dried and salted cod. For dessert, try the pastéis de nata. These custard tarts are a traditional Portuguese delicacy.
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