Portugal is a country in southwestern Europe, occupying the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula and bordered by Spain to the north and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south. It is known for its Age of Discovery, when Portuguese explorers charted much of the world's coastlines in the 15th and 16th centuries. The country is also celebrated for its distinctive fado music, richly tiled buildings, and world-renowned wines.
- Capital
- Lisbon
- Continent
- Europe
- Region
- Southern Europe
- Area
- 92,090 km²
- Coordinates
- 39.5° N, 8° W
Country facts
- Portuguese is the official language and is spoken by around 250 million people worldwide, making it one of the most widely spoken languages on Earth.
- Portugal is one of the oldest nation-states in Europe, with borders that have remained largely unchanged since 1139.
- The country is home to the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for producing port wine.
- Portugal experiences one of the highest average sunshine hours in Europe, thanks to its southern Atlantic and Mediterranean climate.
- The rooster of Barcelos, a ceramic cockerel, is a beloved national symbol rooted in a medieval legend about justice and faith.
Capital facts
- Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, with a history of settlement stretching back over 3,000 years.
- The city is famously built across seven hills, which give it a dramatic, hilly landscape of winding streets and panoramic viewpoints called miradouros.
- The Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built in the early 16th century and served as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon's harbour.
- Lisbon was largely rebuilt after a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami devastated the city on 1 November 1755.
- The Alfama district is Lisbon's oldest neighbourhood and is considered the spiritual home of fado music.