| Portugal
Portugal is the western most country in Europe
and is situated below the United Kingdom and to the
left of Spain. The capital is Lisbon which is also
the largest city in the country. Every year millions
of visitors flock to cities all over Portugal including
Lisbon and the second largest city Porto, famous for
its great wines and ports.
Although there are many popular cities throughout
Portugal when most people talk about holidaying in
the nation, they usually think of the Algarve.
The Algarve is Portugals most popular holiday destination
and stretches more than 30 miles across the south
of the country, starting at Sagres, the furthest most
west point of all of Europe. Along the coast you can
find the most beautiful beaches, lagoons, coves, and
quaint little fishing villages. As you head further
inland you are taken upwards through vineyards, orange
and lemon groves and almond trees until you reach
the rolling hills which create a natural border to
the province of Alentejo and on the eastern frontier
the Guadiana River forms the border with Spain.
 The coastline of the Algarve is the most startling
array of vivid colours. The golden beaches set against
the turquoise sea and the sky is usually brilliant
blue. Against this backdrop you will find beautiful
town and village houses startlingly white, framed
with the stunning pinks and purples of bougainvillea.
The orange and lemon trees that adorn the town squares
send citrus smells into the air and the almond trees
with their wonderfully cream and fragrant blossoms
as far as the eye can see. Is it a wonder that the
Algarve has often been referred to as the Garden of
Eden?
The western end of the Algarve is powerful and dramatic.
It’s black cliffs jut out into the Atlantic
Ocean, creating wonderful intimate coves with the
waves of the Atlantic crashing over the rocks. It
is relatively untouched by tourism and retains its
ruggedness and natural charms with traditional arts
and crafts that have long since disappeared from the
Eastern Algarve.
As you head towards the centre of the region the
long, golden sandy beaches greet you. As the waves
lap at your feet, the cliffs rise majestically above
your head. The magnificent rolling hills act as a
backdrop to the endless orchards of almond groves.
Around the area rural farming villages emerge and
the ancient forts and castles are a reminder of times
long past.
As you head to the eastern end of the Algarve you
can feel the Spanish influences around you. From the
gentle currents of the Guadiana River at the Spanish
border to the ancient towns and streets, you are walking
in the footsteps of the Romans and the Moors. The
stunning architecture and villages steeped in history
are enough to keep you enthralled for days.
History of Portugal
Portugal has been under the rule of many different
nations throughout its history. It was part of the
Roman Empire, as Lusitania, in 138BC and then conquered
by the muslims in the early 8th century.
In 1139, Count Afonso Henriques became Afonso I of
Portugal after battling the muslims in the north of
Portugal. It wasn’t until 1147 that Lisbon was
taken using naval help from the English Crusaders.
It then took until 1179 for the Pope to recognise
Portugal as a separate kingdom.
The complete reconquest of Portugal was completed
in 1249, when Faro was finally captured and in 1256
Lisbon became the capital of the country.
He then went on to establish a seafaring school at
Sagres and his ships set sail from the port of Lagos
to explore the coastline of Africa, but he is first
drawn to Maderia and the Azores. He claimed the lands
for Portugal and the islands become a major link in
the African slave trade.
Henry’s main concern though was to try to establish
a trade route round the Cape of Good Hope to the East,
but this wasn’t to be achieved in his lifetime.
Although because of him the Portuguese did conquer
new lands including Portuguese Guinea and the Cape
Verde Islands.
About 10 years after the death of Henry, the explorer
Vasco da Gama claims Mozambique for Portugal as he
rounds the Cape of Good Hope and sets up a trade route
with India. Another significant discovery in 1500
was the coastline of Brazil, which was discovered
by accident whilst Pedro Cabral was trying to sail
to India. Then in 1510 Goa was colonised and became
the capital of Portuguese India, ruling over Sri Lanka,
Macao and the island of Bombay.
Portugal resided in relative peace until the rule
of Napoleon when Portugal was ruled by the French.
It took 14 years for the throne to return to a Portuguese
monarch. This was achieved by the English, namely
Wellington, who drove the French towards Spain.
The most longstanding tie for Portugal has been with
England. This began with the help of the naval forces
in the taking of Lisbon and became stronger when John
I formalised an alliance with the English in 1386,
known as the Treaty of Windsor. This treaty has never
been revoked and it is why Portugal is often described
as England’s oldest ally.
The dictatorship comes to an end in 1974, when a military
coup takes place and makes Portugal a democracy again.
Portugal recovers enough to join the EU in 1986, giving
it some stability and was so much improved that it
was one of the first 11 countries to convert to the
EURO. |
