The background of this page is a typical portuguese walk, made of the so-called "portuguese stone". Very typical in almost all cities in Portugal but specially in the south.

Portugal is located in the Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain (the only bordering country).

With a maximum height of aproximately 800 Km and a maximum width of more or less 200 Km, it has 1214 Km of borders with Spain and a coastline of 1793 Km.

Our climate is maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south.

The portuguese territory is mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

The country, which had 9 918 040 inhabitants in 1998 (this population is slightly decreasing through the years but it is almost stable) The portuguese population belongs to a homogenous ethnic group: mediterranean stock and there are some important communities like: black african who immigrate from the ex-colonies, people from India (from the old portuguese possessions in Goa, Damao and Dio), brazillians and some minorities as gipsies, english community (specially in Oporto because of the Port wine), east timorees, etc

97% of the population is roman catholic (1% of protestants and other religions 2%)

Almost 40 % of the population is concentrated in the first two major cities (Lisbon and its suburbs: 2 400 000 inhabitants, Porto and its suburbs: 1 200 000) and more than 70% is located along the coastline.

Did you know that?

Portugal is one of the worlds' oldest countries. It became an independent nation in 1143, and has maintained its independence and national boundaries from the 13th century to this day, save for a brief period under Spanish domination between 1580 and 1640. Portugal became a republic on October 5, 1910 and today is a strong democracy.

Nearly half of the 10 million population is economically active. Population density is highest in the Lisbon area, in the northern city of Porto and other coastal cities. Portugal's territory is twice the size of Switzerland and about the same as the State of Indiana in the United States.

Portuguese is spoken by more than 200 million people (making it one of the biggest languages in the world) specially in: Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Brazil, Portugal, Cape Vert, St Tome and Prince, East Timor, Macau and in some parts of India (Goa).

Some useful links about Portugal

To travel! To lose countries!
Be someone else constantly
Because the soul hasn't roots
Of living, of seying only!

Fernando Pessoa, 20-09-1933

Basic Vocabulary