Written By John Bradley
And the award for oldest nation-state in Europe goes to… Portugal. In 1139, Portugal appointed King Afonso Henriques as its king. Lisbon is said to be four centuries older than Rome. Due to its excellent trading location, the Phoenicians settled in Lisbon around 1200 BC.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Japan in the 16th century. They left their linguistic mark on this Asian nation. Words such as pan (from the Portuguese pão meaning bread) and sabato (from the Portuguese sabado meaning Saturday) are all good examples.
Book lovers will delight in a visit to Bertrand Bookstore in Lisbon’s Chiado district. The book store was established in 1732. Its exterior façade is a spectacular display of mosaic tiles, worth admiring in their own right.
Portugal holds the record for the shortest and longest-reigning monarchs. Henrique of Portugal was the king of Portugal for more than 73 years. Luis Filipe, on the other hand, was king for only 20 minutes.
Crispy, creamy and sweet – there’s nothing like the original Pastéis de Nata (custard tart) from its home in Lisbon’s Belém district. Among the most fun facts about Portugal is that the family has kept the original recipe a secret since the 19th century. So, make a point of visiting this well-known bakery in Belém.
The Portuguese won’t let a little thing like work keep them from enjoying a coffee break or two during their day. Their preference is a quick espresso-sized bica served in a tiny cup.
Portuguese academics established the University of Coimbra in 1290, making it one of the oldest universities in the world. The University achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2013. Today, it is open to tourists who can visit its Royal Palace and the Joanine Library.
One of the interesting facts about Portugal is that the country is investing heavily in renewable energy. So much so, that in 2016 the entire country ran for almost five consecutive days entirely on renewable energy powered by wind, sun and water.
A Portuguese explorer was the first to complete a full journey around the Earth. Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, is said to have led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe.
