ortugal is a country in southern Europe. The mainland part of its territory is located at the extreme south-western tip of the Iberian Peninsula and covers an area of 91,985 square kilometres. It is bounded to the north and east by Spain and to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal also includes the Azores and Madeira archipelagos. The Madeira archipelago lies in the Atlantic Ocean about 556 miles southwest of Lisbon and is made up of the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo and the Desertas and the Selvagens Isles. The Azores archipelago is situated in mid ocean, 760 miles from Lisbon and 2,110 miles from New York. It comprises nine islands – Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo – and a few islets.

The Foundation of Portugal dates back to the year 1143. The stability of its continental borders, which have remained virtually unchanged since the thirteenth century, make Portugal one of the oldest nations in the world – a status that reflects its distinctive identity and internal unity.

In 1415 the Portuguese set sail on an epic voyage that would make them the first to discover the ocean routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan, and at the same time found settlements on the east and west coasts of Africa.

The traces of this worldwide historic presence remain as trademarks of the Portuguese genius. The Portuguese language became one of the most widely spoken in the world and the Portuguese people gained a great deal from their exposure to so many different civilizations. The nation’s vast monumental, artistic and archaeological heritage bears witness not only to 850 years of meetings with distant cultures, but also to the presence in Portugal itself of several more ancient peoples (Celts, Sueves, Visigoths, Romans and Arabs).

In the third quarter of the eighteenth century Portugal began to undergo its modernisation process. Against a background of economic interventionism and cultural enlightenment, the state organisation was reorganized and trade and industry were restructured.

During the transition to the nineteenth century, the winds of change blowing from America and France also reached Portugal. Brazil gained its independence and the end of the traditional form of royal rule in 1820 made way for a constitutional monarchy. The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by an unstable political environment which led to the establishment of the Republic in 1910. Portugal took part in World War I on the Allied side, but by the mid-twenties the country’s economic and financial situation was very serious – something that eventually led to the so-called “New State”, which was marked by corporatism, authoritarianism and the suppression of democratic liberties.

Following a military coup in April 1974, Portugal returned to a democratic regime that was firmly committed to the country’s development – a process which in turn made it possible to join the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1986.

At the end of 2001 Portugal had a population of 10.3 million inhabitants, of whom 9.8 million live on the mainland. Population density is 112 inhabitants per square kilometre.

Demographic studies indicate that there was positive growth of 4.6% between 1991 and 2001, while life expectancy stands at 75 years. Portugal has one of the youngest populations in the European Union: about 16.7% are under 15.

Lisbon is the nation’s capital and has 1.8 million inhabitants, including those in the greater metropolitan area.

The history of Lisbon goes back more than twenty centuries. As well as a modern and cosmopolitan city, a visit also reveals the typical life of the old quarters, with their distinctive medieval architecture and their narrow streets, in which centuries-old houses stand side-by-side with palaces and imposing churches. Lisbon has also been the scene of a number of international cultural festivals. In 1994 it was the European Cultural Capital, while in 1998 it hosted the last World Exposition of the 20th century – Expo’98, which was dedicated to the theme of “The Oceans: a heritage for the future”. The new millennium opened with Porto 2001. The city was chosen as the European Cultural Capital, an event that generated a dual process of revival and the modernisation of an ancient cultural tradition. An auspicious opening with long-term consequences, that will lead to a more balanced social and cultural development in Portugal.

Source: Portuguese National Institute of Statistics (INE)