When you picture Portugal, images of sunny beaches, delicious pastéis de nata, and historic cities like Lisbon and Porto might come to mind. While these are all wonderful reasons to visit, Portugal’s true identity is woven from a much richer and more surprising tapestry. This small nation on the Iberian Peninsula has punched far above its weight throughout history, pioneering global exploration, setting world records, and enacting groundbreaking social policies. From the era of vast empires to the shelves of the world’s oldest bookstore, Portugal is a country of profound firsts and lasting legacies. Let’s explore ten incredible facts that define this remarkable country.
1. Portugal Was Once an Extremely Powerful Global Empire
Portugal was the first European global colonial empire and one of the most powerful. It began in the 15th century under the guidance of Prince Henry the Navigator, who financed expeditions to find trade routes. Through superior navigational skills, Portugal created the largest commercial and maritime empire the world had ever seen by the 16th century, stretching from South America to the Far East, and along the coastlines of Africa and India. The 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas gave Portugal the eastern half of the “New World,” including Brazil, Asia, and Africa. Key colonies included Brazil (by far its largest), Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. The empire lasted for more than six centuries, surviving until 1999 with the handover of Macau. From 1815 to 1822, Portugal even formed a single state called the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves, with its capital in Rio de Janeiro.
2. The Oldest Operating Bookstore in the World is in Lisbon
The Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon’s Chiado district holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest bookstore still in operation. It was founded in 1732 by Peter Faure as a small shop. The store was a hotspot for Portuguese intellectuals across generations and was damaged in the 1755 earthquake, relocating before returning to its present location in 1773. Although it has changed hands, names, and locations, and is now part of the Porto Editora group with over 50 branches, the original Lisbon store remains a historical landmark. It underwent a renovation around 2014-15 and once had its own printing press, frequented by notable authors like Aquilino Gomes Ribeiro, a Nobel Prize nominee.
3. Portugal is Home to the World’s Largest Cork Forest
Portugal is the world’s biggest cork producer, supplying over 50% of the world’s cork and 60% of its exports. It is home to the world’s largest cork oak forests, known as montado, which constitute 34% of the world’s cork forest area—about 736 thousand hectares or 23% of Portugal’s national forest. These ecosystems exist only in the Mediterranean basin and are legally protected. The cork industry is an economic pillar, generating over €1 billion annually and providing over 100,000 jobs. The trees are not cut down for cork; the bark is harvested, allowing them to live for over 200 years.
4. Portugal is Known as the “Country of Tiles”
Portugal is famed for its azulejos (decorative tiles). The word comes from the Arabic al-zuleique, meaning “small polished stone.” Introduced by the Moors, tiles became a major architectural feature from the 15th century onward, originally used to insulate walls. In the 18th century, they “invaded” churches, palaces, homes, and fountains. A 2013 law in Lisbon even forbids the demolition of buildings with tile-covered façades. These tiles, often 15x15 cm, feature geometric patterns or depict stories and can be seen nationwide in train stations (like the Lisbon Metro), restaurants, and monuments. The style gained international acclaim, appearing in metro stations in Brussels, Paris, Budapest, Moscow, and Sydney.
5. Portugal Was Among the First Countries to Abolish Slavery
Portugal played a leading role in the Atlantic slave trade, which began in 1444 when the first large number of African slaves were brought to Europe. The first public sale was in Lagos, Portugal, that same year. However, Portugal was also a pioneer in abolition. By the law of 1761, King D. José I declared free all slaves brought from Asia, Africa, and America who disembarked in Portugal. A 1773 law, the Law of the Free Womb, freed children born to slave mothers. While this banned slavery in European Portugal, it continued in colonies like Brazil until 1888. The trans-Atlantic slave trade involved an estimated 11 million people trafficked by Portugal between 1450 and 1900. Slavery in Portuguese colonies was officially abolished in 1869.
6. Around 8 Million Pilgrims Travel to Fátima Every Year
The Sanctuary of Fátima is one of the world’s major Catholic pilgrimage sites, attracting around 8 million visitors annually (with 9.4 million in its centenary year in 2017). This stems from the 1917 apparitions of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Fátima) to three shepherd children: Lucia dos Santos (10), Jacinta Marto (7), and Francisco Marto (8). She appeared on the 13th of each month for six months. The culmination was the “Miracle of the Sun” on October 13, 1917, witnessed by over 70,000 people, where the sun appeared to dance, spin, and change colors. The Virgin Mary requested a chapel be built, predicting the end of World War I.
7. Portugal’s Oldest Ally Is England
The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, established by the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 (with an earlier treaty in 1373), is the oldest alliance between modern nations still in force. The friendship began in 1147 when English crusaders helped King Alfonso I capture Lisbon from the Muslims. The alliance stipulates mutual military support. It has been invoked throughout history: England helped Portugal against Spain in 1386; Portugal joined Britain in the War of the Spanish Succession (1704); Britain sent troops against a French invasion in 1808; Portugal declared war on Germany in World War I; and in World War II, Portugal allowed Britain to use bases in the Azores, repeated during the 1982 Falklands War. The two nations have never waged war against each other as independent states.
8. Portugal Is Home to a Whole Lot of Birds
Portugal is a premier European destination for birdwatching, hosting around 600 species of birds. Due to its location on migration routes from Africa to Europe, it attracts a wide variety. There are 36 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) across the mainland, Azores, and Madeira. Popular events include the ObservArribas festival in the Douro valley in May/June and the Birdwatching Festival of Sagres in October. The country sees a spectacular migration of millions of birds, including species like black-tailed godwits, pied avocets, vultures, and flamingos.
9. Portugal Decriminalized All Drugs in 2001
On July 1, 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize the possession and consumption of all illicit drugs for personal use, including meth and heroin. Drug trafficking remains a criminal offense. This policy was a response to a severe heroin epidemic in the 1990s and high HIV rates. Instead of arrest, individuals caught with a personal supply may face a warning, a small fine, or be referred to a local commission (a doctor, lawyer, and social worker) for treatment advice. The results have been significant: drug-induced deaths fell to five times lower than the EU average, HIV infection rates dropped from 104.2 new cases per million in 2000 to 4.2 in 2015, and drug use among 15- to 24-year-olds declined.
10. The Shortest and Longest Reigning Monarchs
Portugal holds the records for both the shortest and longest-reigning monarchs. The longest-reigning was King Henrique (Henry) of Portugal, who ruled for more than 73 years. The shortest reign belongs to King LuÃs Filipe, who was king for only 20 minutes on February 1, 1908. He was injured in the same assassination attack that killed his father, King Carlos I, and died shortly after, passing the throne to his brother, Manuel II, the last King of Portugal.
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