Holidays and national customs in Portugal
Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date but are based on the time of Easter. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Lent, which lasts for 46 days, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. Corpus Christi is celebrated on the second Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the first Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
February | Shrove Tuesday |
April 25 | Revolution Day 1974 |
1st of May | Labor Day |
May June | Corpus Christi |
June 10 | National holiday |
15th of August | Assumption Day |
5th October | day of the Republic |
November 1 | All Saints Day |
December 1 | Liberation Day |
December 8 | Mary Conception |
25 December | Christmas |
Source: Countryaah – Portugal Holidays
Cultural events
March/April Solemn celebrations of Holy Week, especially in Braga
Mai Queima das Fitas (annual student festival) in Coimbra
June Santos Populares (solstice) in Lisbon on 12./13. June, in Porto on 23/24. June
July Festa do Colete Encarnado (festival with bull races) in Vila Franca da Xira
August Nossa Senhora da Agonia (procession with traditional costumes and folk art market) in Viana do Castelo
September Romaria de Nossa Senhora do Remedio (folk festival around the Marian pilgrimage) in Lamego Feiras Novas (Fair) in Ponte di Lima
October Feira de Outubro (bullfighting week) in Vila Franca de Xira
November Feira de Sao Martinho (horse show) in Golega
Sports
In Portugal there is a word that cannot be translated into any language: “Saudade”. An attempt is made to translate it with wanderlust, the enjoyment of sadness or a deep melancholy, even the German word “Weltschmerz” does not exactly define the term. This feeling went deep into Portuguese folklore.
It seems like the Saudade has also found its way into Portuguese football. The world’s best footballers, like Luis Figo or the “black pearl” Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, came from Portugal again and again. But the national team never achieved any notable success. But it always failed spectacularly. The “golden generations” around Figo and Rui Costa won the FIFA = 20 World Cup in 1991, but at the EM 2000 they lost to France just 1: 2 in extra time. Four years later, this continued with the 0: 1 in the lost final against Greece. At the World Cup in Germany, the Mitfaforit should finally be able to celebrate.
National customs
The Fado (translated: Fate) is the typical Portuguese song that describes the melancholy side of life, loss, unfulfilled desires, painful love. It is accompanied by the twelve-page guitara and has been sung since the middle of the 19th century.
Tiles (azulejos) The
azulejos, which are omnipresent not only in Lisbon, but in the whole of Portugal, are colorfully painted, artistically crafted tiles that tell a lot about the history of Portugal. They are not only housed in museums and churches, but also in pubs, bars, restaurants and on the most dilapidated buildings. And even the subway is no exception. It is definitely worth going through the country with your eyes open and paying attention to the wonderful displays.
Climate
Travel times
The idea of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depends on various factors. Pure cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people planning a beach holiday. Health status and age can also play a role in the experience of the climate.
The
following months are particularly recommended for a stay in Portugal for people who are hungry for the sun, who like to enjoy a lot of sun and for whom higher temperatures do not cause problems: Summer
For people who prefer a moderate climate
People who prefer a moderate climate and lower temperatures should better use the following time for a stay in Portugal: spring and autumn.
Climate table
The following table shows climate data for. It should be noted that the climatic conditions in different regions of the country can differ from each other and thus also from the values shown. In addition, the monthly average values of the temperature have little informative value with regard to the minimum or maximum temperatures. It is possible that at average temperatures of around 20 °C maximum values of 30 °C or more occur. The table therefore only provides a general overview of the climatic conditions in Portugal.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 10 | 14 | 08 |
February | 08 | 16 | 08 |
March | 10 | 18 | 10 |
April | 08 | 20 | 12 |
May | 08 | 22 | 12 |
June | 02 | 24 | 16 |
July | 0 | 26 | 18 |
August | 0 | 28 | 18 |
September | 04 | 28 | 18 |
October | 08 | 22 | 14 |
November | 10 | 16 | 10 |
December | 10 | 14 | 08 |
Attractions
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that PT stands for the nation of Portugal as a two-letter acronym.
Big cities
Lisbon
The “white city” Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is over 2,000 years old and is located on the Tagus. Lisbon has the country’s most important port and is therefore also an economic center. In 1755, Lisbon was hit by a strong earthquake followed by a tsunami, which had devastating consequences for both the population and the cityscape. About 30,000 people died and the city’s buildings were badly damaged. Since Portugal at that time had large financial resources due to its colonies, the city could be generously rebuilt.
Porto
Porto, the city that gave the country its name, was once a Roman port. The port of Portus and the settlement of Cale became Portugal. The second largest city in Portugal is located on a mountain by a river, near the confluence with the sea. The city’s economy has always been based on maritime trade. In addition, Porto produced the most famous Portuguese wine, port wine. In the 19th century, the city was the center of the liberal movement that turned against the monarchy. Today Porto also has a lot to offer tourists, in addition to numerous museums and parks, you can enjoy the nightlife with a glass of port wine in one of the restaurants or bars.
Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia is Portugal’s center for port wine production. The coastal city with 289,000 residents is located in the north of the country.
Special structures
Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta (Triumphal Arch)
The Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta in Lisbon is a mighty structure adorned with statues of famous Portuguese. It marks the entrance to the old town and was completed in 1873.
Campo Pequeno
On Lisbon’s Avenida da Republica rises the striking bullring Campo Pequeno, which is now also used as a shopping center. It was opened in 1892, but later had to be overhauled and reopened in 2006. The neo-Arab building, reminiscent of a mosque, can accommodate up to 10,000 visitors.
Castelo de São Jorge
This preserved castle ruin in Lisbon extends over 6,000 m² and consists of many towers, a moat, guard posts and two larger squares. A visit to the Castelo is worthwhile not only because of the historicity of the building, but also because of the wonderful view that you get from there over Lisbon.
Elvas
fortress walls The Elvas fortress walls were built in the 17th century and are among the largest and best preserved in Europe.
Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta
The Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta in Lisbon is a mighty building that is adorned with statues of famous Portuguese. It marks the entrance to the old town and was completed in 1873.
Porto
City Hall The Porto City Hall was built between 1929 and 1948 and has a 70 m high bell tower.
Technical buildings
Rossio Train Station
Between 1886 and 1887, the Estação de Caminhos de Ferro do Rossio train station was built on the Praça de D. Pedro IV. (Also Rossio Square). The executive architect was José Luís Monteiro. The fascinating construction with its wonderful facade dominates the north-west side of the Rossio.
Sao Bento train station The Sao Bento
train station in Porto has an entrance hall decorated with monumental ceramic paintings. The paintings date from 1930 and depict scenes from the history of Portugal.
Cabo da Roca
The Cabo da Roca marks the western end of the European continent at a height of 140 m. There is a restaurant, a lighthouse and a marine radio transmitter. The cape is about 40 km southwest of Lisbon on the Atlantic.
Cais da Ribeira
The Cais da Ribeira in Porto is the city’s former river port. Today there are many restaurants and bars there.
Elevador de Santa Justa
This steel structure, also known as the “Elevador do Carmo”, is a 45-meter-high passenger elevator that connects the Baixa district of Lisbon with the slightly higher Chiado. It was built in 1902 by the Eiffel student Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard and has two cabins that can transport 48 people together. It is not only the most famous passenger elevator in Portugal, but also one of the landmarks of Lisbon.
Aquaduct Aguas Livres
Lisbon’s Aquaduct Aguas Livres is a landmark of the city. At the highest point it is 65 m high.
Ponte 25 de Abril
The 2,278 meter long suspension bridge crosses the Río Tejo and was built between 1962 and 1966. Its current name is reminiscent of the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974. The bridge connects the Alcântara district with Almada and its design can be the Portuguese answer to be referred to the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco.
Ponte Vasco da Gama
As one of the city’s landmarks, this 17,185-meter-long cable-stayed bridge leads over the Tagus River from Lisbon to the southern city of Setúbal. The longest bridge in Europe was built between 1995 and 1998 on the occasion of Expo 98 and named after what is probably Portugal’s most famous discoverer.
Aqueduto de Amoreira
The 18 km long Aqueduto de Amoreira was built between 1488 and 1622. The aqueduct bridges a 30 m high valley with four arches and extends from Queluz via Caneças to the Amoreiras district. It is one of the largest buildings of its kind in the world. The most impressive is without a doubt the aqueduct in the Alcântara Valley, a building from the 18th century. It has not been used since 1967 and can now be visited.
Alvito dam The Alvito
dam near Beja stores 2,285,000 m³ of water. It has been in use since 1977.
Torre de Belém
This wonderful historical building in the Belém district is one of the absolute landmarks of Lisbon. The construction of the tower began in 1515 under Manuel I and ended in 1521, the year the king died. The statue “Our Lady of Safe Homecoming” acts as a protective figure for the seafarers. Once used as a prison and arsenal, the tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. There is a viewing platform at a height of 35 meters that should not be missed.
Torre Vasco da Gama
, the tower named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, extends over the Tagus River, 145 meters high. It was constructed in 1998 for the Expo 98.
Palaces, castles
Palácio da Pena
This fascinating palace is one of the main attractions of Sintra. The colorful fairytale castle is surrounded by an almost rainforest-like park.
Palacio da Bolsa
The Palacio da Bolsa in Porto is the stock exchange palace that was built in neo-Moorish style.
Palácio de São Bento
This palace, whose roots go back to a Benedictine monastery from the late 16th century, is home to the “Assembleia da Republica”, the Portuguese parliament, which moved into its current seat after the liberal revolution and the dissolution of the Order in the 19th century: The move was followed by many renovations such as the construction of the monumental staircase in the 1940s, and in 1999 an extremely modern extension was added, which goes back to the architectural ingenuity of Fernando Távora.
Just behind the main building is a house that functions as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Portugal. The house from 1877 was built in the middle of the old monastery garden.
Mafra Monastery Castle
The Baroque Mafra Monastery Castle near Sintra was built under King Joao V in the 18th century. The castle has 880 rooms with 2,500 windows, the main facade is 220 m long, the inner courtyard has an area of 40,000 m². The castle library with a total of 35,000 volumes is well worth seeing.
Campo Pequeno
On Lisbon’s Avenida da Republica rises the striking bullring Campo Pequeno, which is now also used as a shopping center. It was opened in 1892, but later had to be overhauled and reopened in 2006. The neo-Arab building, reminiscent of a mosque, can accommodate up to 10,000 visitors.
Castelo de São Jorge
This preserved castle ruin in Lisbon extends over 6,000 m² and consists of many towers, a moat, guard posts and two larger squares. A visit to the Castelo is worthwhile not only because of the historicity of the building, but also because of the wonderful view that you get from there over Lisbon.
Elvas
fortress walls The Elvas fortress walls were built in the 17th century and are among the largest and best preserved in Europe.
Mafra Monastery Castle
The Baroque Mafra Monastery Castle near Sintra was built under King Joao V in the 18th century. The castle has 880 rooms with 2,500 windows, the main facade is 220 m long, the inner courtyard has an area of 40,000 m². The castle library with a total of 35,000 volumes is well worth seeing.
Mercado da Ribeira
This impressive market hall in Lisbon is located on the Cais do Sodré and is open Monday to Saturday between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. In the wonderfully tiled hall, you can buy not only “conventional” foods, but also regional specialties and selected Portuguese wines.
Palacio da Bolsa
The Palacio da Bolsa in Porto is the stock exchange palace that was built in neo-Moorish style.
Palácio da Pena
This fascinating palace is one of the main attractions of Sintra. The colorful fairytale castle is surrounded by an almost rainforest-like park.
Palácio de São Bento
This palace, whose roots go back to a Benedictine monastery from the late 16th century, is home to the “Assembleia da Republica”, the Portuguese parliament, which moved into its current seat after the liberal revolution and the dissolution of the Order in the 19th century: The move was followed by many renovations such as the construction of the monumental staircase in the 1940s, and in 1999 an extremely modern extension was added, which goes back to the architectural ingenuity of Fernando Távora.
Just behind the main building is a house that functions as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Portugal. The house from 1877 was built in the middle of the old monastery garden.
Palácio Nacional de Queluz Queluz is
not even half an hour by train from Portugal’s capital. It is not necessarily the city itself that attracts the many visitors, but rather its pink Palácio Nacional de Queluz, in which the future Queen Maria I also lived. The not tall, but seemingly endless palace is surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens in the country.
Palace Hotel Bussaco
The Palace Hotel Bussaco is housed in a former royal hunting lodge from 1884. It is considered the most feudal hotel in the country.
Palace of the Bragancas
The Palace of the Bragancas in Vila Vicosa was the ancestral seat of the Braganca dynasty, which ruled Portugal from 1640 to 1910. The palace is 110 m long and built in different styles.
Quinta da Rigaleira
This neo-Manueline castle villa, which is absolutely worth seeing, is also part of Sintra. However enchanting and romantic the villa may be, the main attraction of the ensemble is the lovingly laid out labyrinth garden that surrounds the house extensively.
Roman city of Conimbriga
Roman city of Conimbriga
The largest excavation site in Portugal is the Roman city of Conimbriga near Condeixa. There you can visit the ruins of villas with preserved magnificent mosaic floors and beautiful garden courtyards. In the 5th century the city was abandoned by the population of that time due to Germanic raids.
Museums
Centro de Ciência Viva
This ultra-modern science museum on the Expo grounds Park of Nations (= Parque das Nações) has been designed for the general public with its interactive exhibits and experiments. Depending on the topic, you can lie on a nail bed or ride a bike safely over a high wire.
Centro de Arte Moderna
The Centro de Arte Moderna in Lisbon is the museum for modern art.
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
This museum is named after Calouste Gulbenkian, a Portuguese patron. A permanent exhibition can be seen in the house, which consists of a wide variety of exhibits.
Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga
The most important museum in Portugal and all of Europe is dedicated to the development of Portuguese art and was founded in 1884. The huge range of exhibits includes paintings, sculptures, furniture, textiles and much more.
Museu de Arte Moderna
The Museu de Arte Moderna in Sintra shows international modern art.
Museu do Azulejo
The Museu do Azulejo in Lisbon shows Portuguese tile art.
Museu da Cidade
In the Museu da Cidade you can find out about the history of Lisbon and see a model of the city before the great earthquake.
Museu do Chiado
The Museu do Chiado in Lisbon shows art from the city from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Museu do Design
The Museu do Design in Lisbon shows a comprehensive collection of design objects from the 20th century.
Museu do Trabalho
The Museu do Trabalho in Setubal was housed in an old sardine factory and shows tools and documentation of work during the industrialization period.
Museu de Evora
The Museu de Evora was housed in the former bishop’s palace and shows works from the 16th century.
Museu Arqueologico
The Museu Arqueologico in Faro shows objects that document the history of the city.
Museu Maritimo
In the Museu Maritimo you can see how the residents of Faro lived before the age of tourism.
Museu Machado de Castro
The Museu Machado de Castro in Coimbra exhibits stone carving as well as paintings and ceramics from the Middle Ages to the Baroque.
Museu Nacional do Traje e da Moda
Around 33,000 exhibits can be seen in the National Museum of Costumes and Fashion. These mainly include costumes from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Museu de Caramulo
The Museu de Caramulo in Caramulo shows an extensive collection from Renaissance tapestries to works by Picasso.
Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis
The Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis in Porto exhibits Portuguese art from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Churches and other sacred buildings
Convento da Ordem do Carmo
The Carmelite monastery, or rather its ruins, now houses the city’s archaeological museum and until the earthquake in 1755 had a magnificent church, which was built between 1389 and 1423 by Nuno Alvares Pereira. The nave, which no longer has a roof, is a popular venue for various concerts in the summer months.
Catedral Sé Patriarcal
The main church of Lisbon is also the cathedral of the patriarchate of the Portuguese capital. When it was built – the 12th century – the cathedral is the oldest church in Lisbon. The most important elements of the Christian sacred building include the baptismal font of St. Anthony (= baptized in 1195) and the nativity scene constructed by Machado de Castro (1766).
Church Igreja de Jesus
The late Gothic church Igreja de Jesus in Setubal was founded in 1490 and has Manueline features. The Museu de Setubal, housed in the former monastery, houses remarkable works of the Renaissance.
Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha
This old church is located in Lisbon’s Baixa, but its current appearance goes back to reconstruction work that followed the devastation of the devastating earthquake of 1755. The church is famous for its Manueline style, which only appeared in Portugal in the early 16th century and mixes Renaissance and Gothic elements. The façade, the portal and the façade windows, which are decorated with wonderful representations, are particularly impressive.
Santa Engracia Church
The baroque Santa Engracia Church in Lisbon was started in 1684 and only completed in 1966. The church also serves as a pantheon.
Sao Roque Church The Sao Roque
Church in Lisbon was completed in 1596 and has a baroque chapel that is well worth seeing.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém is a monastery of the Hieronymite monks. It was started in 1502 and survived the great earthquake. The cloister of the monastery is extremely worth seeing due to its oriental-looking jewelry. The Gothic south portal of the church rises to a height of 32 m and is decorated with numerous sculptures. The Jeronimos Monastery is often referred to as the most important building of the Manueline style. Here are the final resting places of various Portuguese kings, but also those of Fernando Pessoa, Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões. The monastery also houses the marine and archaeological museums. The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Evora Cathedral Evora
Cathedral was founded in 1186. It shows Romanesque and early Gothic style features. The choir is rebuilt in a baroque style. The cloister and the treasury are also worth seeing.
Sao Joao Evangelista
Church The Sao Joao Evangelista Church in Evora is built in the Gothic style and has a very beautiful interior painting.
Santo Antonio
The baroque church of Santo Antonio in Lagos is decorated with beautiful gold-plated carvings.
Se Velha Cathedral The Se Velha
Cathedral in Coimbra is an impressive Romanesque church. The interior is equipped with remarkable Romanesque capitals. The cloister is Gothic and, in contrast to the massive main building, graceful.
Mosteiro de Santa Cruz
The large monastery Mosteiro de Santa Cruz in Coimbra was founded in 1121 and is decorated with rich sculptures and stone carvings. The pulpit in the monastery church is designed in the Renaissance style, the choir stalls are a Manueline rarity.
Adro da Se Cathedral The Adro da Se
Cathedral in Viseu has a remarkable Manueline vault from 1513 and a beautiful cloister.
Porto
Cathedral The Porto Cathedral dates from the 12th century, but has been redesigned several times. The sacrament altar was made from 800 kg of silver. The Gothic cloister with its baroque ceramic paintings is also worth seeing.
Basilica in Fatima
The basilica in Fatima, a place of pilgrimage based on an apparition of Mary, was built in 1953 and attracts numerous pilgrims every year.
Santuário de Cristo Rei
This 100 meter high statue of Christ stands above Almada near Lisbon. With her arms outstretched she is reminiscent of the statue in Rio de Janeiro. The view from up there is breathtaking and at 3 euros for the elevator ride, more than cheap.
São Vicente de Fora
This Manueline complex of sacred buildings is the most important burial place of the Portuguese royal family of the Braganza line. Although the first building dates back to the first half of the 12th century, it owes its current appearance to the reign of Philip II. Incidentally, the church is in Lisbon.
Cistercian Abbey Alcobaca
The Cistercian Abbey Alcobaca was founded in 1153 and was the most powerful and richest monastery in Portugal in the Middle Ages. The monastery was unfortunately damaged by earthquakes and finally devastated by Napoleon’s troops. It has been abandoned since 1834 and has been a listed building since 1930. In 1989 the monastery was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Santa Maria da Vitoria Monastery The Santa Maria da Vitoria
Monastery in Batalha is one of the most magnificent Gothic buildings in Portugal. It was built from 1388 to 1533 and has Gothic and Manueline style features.
Convento do Christo
The Convento do Christo in Tomar houses the Charola, a rotunda built by Knights Templar in the 12th century. The attached church was built in the Manueline style, the cloister in the style of the late Renaissance.
Universities
University of Coimbra
The University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra) is a state university in the city of Coimbra. The university, founded in 1290, is the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest universities in Europe. However, the university was founded in Lisbon by King Dionysius, the peasant king. In the years from 1308 to 1338 and from 1354 to 1377 there was a partial move to Coimbra and the final move took place in 1537. The university has thus been the scientific center of Portugal for centuries and within the city of Coimbra the university has a decisive influence on the pulse of the city. The University of Coimbra is also a reflection of the former colonial Portuguese wealth. Numerous lavishly designed and decorated buildings such as the university church and the university library bear witness to this. The latter, the Biblioteca Joanina, was built in 1728 and is now one of the most spectacular libraries in the world. Furthermore, the botanical garden of the university (Portuguese: Jardim botanico da Universidade de Coimbra), which was laid out in 1772, is worth mentioning, which is not only the oldest botanical garden in Portugal, but also has an extensive plant collection from tropical plants to Australian plant species and California plant species.
As a result, the university was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on June 22, 2013.
Well-known personalities such as the only Portuguese Nobel Prize winner (medicine) Egas Moniz, the well-known mathematician Pedro Nunes and the German Christophorus Clavius (Euclid of the 16th century) studied at the University of Coimbra, under whose direction the calendar reform of the Gregorian calendar used today was carried out in 1582 has been.
The University of Coimbra currently has around 22,000 students studying in the following eight faculties:
- Medicine (Faculdade de medicina)
- Economics (Faculdade de Economia)
- Pharmacy (Faculdade de Farmácia)
- Philosophy (Faculdade de Letras)
- Psychology and educational science (Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação)
- Law (Faculdade de direito)
- Sports Science (Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física)
- Technology (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia)
Contact | www.uc.pt |
University of Lisbon
The State University of Lisbon (Portuguese: Universidade de Lisboa) was founded in 1911 and is now one of the largest universities in the country with over 20,000 students enrolled in 8 faculties. The university has the following faculties:
- Faculty of Fine Arts (Faculdade de Belas-Artes)
- Faculty of Literature (Faculdade de Letras)
- Faculty of Medicine (Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa)
- Faculty of Natural Sciences (Faculdade de Ciências)
- Pharmaceutical Faculty (Faculdade de Farmácia)
- Faculty of Psychology and Education (Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação)
- Faculdade de Direito Faculty of Law)
- Faculty of Dentistry (Faculdade de Medicina Dentária)
Contact | www.ulisboa.pt |
University of Évora
The University of Évora (Portuguese: Universidade de Évora) is a state university founded in 1559, the second oldest in the country. After the University of Évora was handed over to the Society of Jesus, it was closed after the Jesuits were expelled in 1759 and only reopened in 1973. Today around 6,000 students study here in the 17 departments of the university:
- Department of Agricultural Engineering
- Department of Business Administration
- Department of Biology
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Earth Sciences
- History Department
- Department of Linguistics and Literature
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Ecology
- Department of Economics
- Department of Education and Training
- Department of Planning Biophysics and Landscape Planning
- Department of Physics
- Phytotechnology Department
- Department of Sociology
- Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Department of Zootechnics
Contact | www.uevora.pt |
Autonomous University of Lisbon
The Autonomous University of Lisbon (Portuguese: Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa) was founded in 1985, making it the oldest private university in Portugal. The university is located in Lisbon in the historic Palácio dos Condes do Redondo. This dates from the 17th century and is located on Rua Santa Marta. This makes the Autonomous University of Lisbon the only university in Lisbon that is located in the city center. There are currently around 4,500 students studying at the Autonomous University of Lisbon, and the university offers a total of 13 Bachelor’s and 11 Master’s degrees.
Contact | www.universidade-autonoma.pt |
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Oceanario
The Oceánario in Lisbon is one of the largest aquariums in Europe and is intended to simulate the ecosystems of the world’s oceans. It was inaugurated in 1998 on the occasion of the World Exhibition in the Park of Nations. It was designed by the American architect Peter Chermayeff. In the middle of the facility is a 5,000 m 3Saltwater-filled, glazed tank, in which there are numerous fish, including sharks and rays. This tank is supposed to symbolize the “ocean as such”. 4 smaller aquariums are grouped around this tank as the optical center, in which parts of the animal world of the North Atlantic, the Pacific, the Antarctic and the Indian Ocean are presented to the visitor. On the ground floor there are 30 more, but small, aquariums, which in turn are placed around the main tank in the middle. Here you can get information – from shells to birds to seaquakes and tsunamis – about numerous facts that are in some way related to the sea.
Market halls
Mercado da Ribeira
This impressive market hall in Lisbon is located on the Cais do Sodré and is open Monday to Saturday between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. In the wonderfully tiled hall, you can buy not only “conventional” foods, but also regional specialties and selected Portuguese wines.
Market hall Mercado do Bolhao
In the old market hall Mercado do Bolhao in Porto you can get all the culinary specialties of the country. The hall is equipped with a cast iron gallery and marble counters.
Natural beauty, national park, surf spot
Algarve
The Algarve is the stretch of coast between Faro and Lagos and the tourist fishing point of Portugal. The Algave covers an area of around 4,960 km² – with around 400,000 residents. The two largest towns in the Algave are Faro with around 40,500 residents and Portimão with around 36,000 residents. The region is a very popular holiday destination.
The Cabo de São Vicente near Sagres (approx. 2,000 residents) the most south-westerly point on the European mainland. The local coast is a rocky cliff that climbs up to 70 m from the sea. There is only sparse vegetation and almost no trees.
The name is dedicated to Saint Vincent of Saragossa, a patron saint of seafarers, whose body, according to legend, was driven in a boat at this point in 304.
A special feature of Cabo de São Vicente is the lighthouse there, whose nominal carrying range is 32 nautical miles (= 59.3 km) and is therefore the lighthouse with the strongest light in Europe.
Serra da Estrela
Mountains The Serra da Estrela Mountains are the highest mountains in Portugal. The area around the mountain Torre is protected as Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela.
Peneda-Gerês
National Park The Peneda-Gerês National Park is the only national park in Portugal. It is located in the Norte region in the north-west of the country and extends over the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga and Vila Real. The park was established on May 8, 1971 with the aim of protecting the landscape and flora and fauna. The park covers an area of around 703 km². The two highest mountains in the park are the Nevosa with a height of 1,545 m and the Altar dos Cabrões with a height of 1,538 m. The following mammals can be found here – in alphabetical order:
pine martens, squirrels, foxes, otters, deer, wild boars, wild cats and wolves. A specialty are the Garranos – small horses – that were released here in 1945 and have reproduced well.
And the following birds are native here:
whinchat, falcon, goshawk, buzzards, red kite, short-toed eagle, golden eagle and eagle owl.
In addition, real vipers live here, such as the poisonous inverted nosed viper or snakes – such as the non-poisonous stair snake.
Bird sanctuary Reserva Natural do Sapa
The bird sanctuary Reserva Natural do Sapa near Castro Marim is known for its flamingos.
Pulo do Lobo waterfall The Pulo do Lobo
waterfall in the Vale do Guadiana nature park near Mertola is 20 m high.
Parque Eduardo VII.
This huge park in the center of Lisbon extends along the Avenida da Liberdade and was named after the English King Edward VII, who visited the park on the day it was established. The park includes countless different plants, some of which have been housed in an imposing winter garden.
Parque Natural
The Parque Natural of Arrabida is a large nature reserve. It includes a coastal mountain range and the coastal strip and has an ancient and sometimes unique flora.
Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
The Parque Natural da Ria Formosa is a 60 km long lagoon system between Faro and Matna Rota.
Surfspot Nazaré
Nazaré is a Portuguese city on the Atlantic Ocean in the Oeste sub-region of the Centro region – approx. 100 km north of Lisbon.
The village has 10,000 residents. It is known as a fishing and tourism town as well as a place of pilgrimage.
But the local surf spot is particularly well-known, where you can find breaking waves with a height of over 20 m due to special conditions.
The village is located around 100 km (as the crow flies) north of Lisbon.
Great ports
Port of Lisbon
The port of Lisbon stretches about 30 km along the river Tejo and is one of the largest European seaports.
Portugal: UNESCO World Heritage Sites
City center of Angra do Heroísmo on the Azores island of Terceira (1983)
Angra de heroism was of decisive importance for the exploration of the sea, from here many ships started into unknown waters and all ships on their way from the West Indies or Africa stopped at one of the two ports.
The city is protected from the storms of the sea within & ranges of hills, whereby the houses of the locals are adapted to the climate.
The city has 400 year old fortifications which are a typical example of military architecture. The city center was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1983.
More about the Azores under the following link.
Jeronimos Monastery and Belém Tower in Lisbon (1983)
The Jeronimos Monastery is a building in the Belém district directly at the port entrance of Lisbon and was completed in 1502.
The columns, as well as the walls, are decorated with animal and vegetable reliefs.
This monastery is built in the Manueline style (the Manueline style is an extraordinarily magnificent architectural style of the 16th century – only in Portugal).
There is a large park in front of the monastery.
Napoleon’s troops devastated the monastery at that time.
Nearby is the Belém Tower, built in 1514 to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India.
The Jeronimos Monastery and the Belém Tower were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1983.
Batalha Monastery (1983)
When Potugal defeated Castile in 1385, the Batalha Monastery was built in honor of this victory. The actual construction time then took almost 200 years.
The monastery is built in the Gothic style , but here, too, in the simple, austere room there are decorations of the round arches in Manueline style.
The precious glazed choir windows date from the 16th century.
Batalha Monastery was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.
Christ Monastery in Tomar (1983)
After the Iberian peninsula had been partially liberated from Islamic rule, the Christ Monastery was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, who had settled in Tomar and the surrounding area and designed the monastery in a Gothic-Moorish style, with 16 side chapels that surround an octagonal choir are grouped.
The interior of the monastery is lavishly decorated.
A hospital was attached to the monastery.
The Christ Convent was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1983.
Historic Center of Evora (1986)
The historic center of Evora was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1986.
It was the royal seat of the Avis kings from the 14th to the 16th century. Magnificent palaces and monasteries date from this period.
Alcobaça Monastery (1989)
The Alcobaça Monastery is located about 100 km from Lisbon in the city of the same name. The monastery was given by the king to the Cistercian monk Bernhard von Clairvaux in 1152 after the king had succeeded in taking the fortress of Santarém during the liberation struggle against the Moors. However, he made the condition that the monks should work and cultivate the surrounding area.
The monastery is built in the Gothic style and includes several monastery buildings such as wash house, chapter house, cloister, reception rooms and cells for the monks. From here, political and cultural impulses spread across the entire country. The close ties to the royal family are evident in the precious Gothic tombs for the kings, which were created in 1360.
The monastery complex was hit by three disasters, in 1348 the plague raged among the monks and only a few survived, the violent earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 also destroyed parts of the monastery and in 1772 a tsunami wave broke through the monastery and destroyed it large parts of the monastery. But destruction caused by humans was also inevitable, so Napoleon’s troops destroyed large areas of the monastery. After the Cistercian monks had to leave the monastery, it was looted and fell into disrepair. It was not until 1907 that the monastery was placed under protection and restoration work began.
The Alcobaça Monastery was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1989.
Cultural landscape of Sintra (1995)
Sintra should inspire everyone who is interested in fairytale palaces, dense vegetation and lavishly equipped museums.
The main sights of Sintra are first of all the Palácio da Pena, a colorful fairytale castle, which is surrounded by an almost rainforest-like park. The castle-villa Quinta da Rigaleira, built in the neo-Manueline style, is also definitely worth seeing , the main attraction of which is certainly the loving labyrinth garden. Finally, you can visit the Palacio da Sintra-Vila ena and the ruins of the once Moorish Castelos dos Mouros.
All these sights can be reached by bus. Otherwise, Sintra itself is also well worth seeing – the city consists of picturesque gardens, cozy cafés, magnificent private houses and an endless amount of atmosphere. The cultural landscape of Sinta was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995.
Historic Center of Porto (1996)
The city of Porto is located on a hill at the mouth of the Duoro River in the Atlantic.
The Celts and later the Romans settled here 2,000 years ago.
The Moors ruled here with interruptions from 716 to 1050.
From the year 1092 the city finally became Christian. The various rulers repeatedly left their mark on the construction, so that buildings from all stylistic epochs can be found – but above all Baroque buildings. The narrow streets of the old town wind up the hill like terraces from the banks of the Douro. Particularly noteworthy are the two-towered cathedral, which has a Romanesque choir and a silver and a gilded altar, the stock exchange in neoclassical style and the Santa Clara church, which was built in the so-called Manueline style (the Manueline style is an extremely splendid architectural style of the 16th century only in Portugal) and the railway bridge Maria Pia Bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1876.
Wine was grown in the Duoro Valley, which was shipped from the port of Porto and which long contributed to the city’s prosperity.
The historic center of Porto was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996
Prehistoric rock carvings in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (Spain) (2010)
The images carved into the rocks are dated to an age between 22,000 and 10,000 years.
There are three sites, at Faia the carvings are in granite, at Quinta de Barca on both sides of the Côa river and at Ribero de Piscos in the slate.
The carvings show goats, fish aurochs, horses, ibex and deer. The finds are spread over a total of 17 km.
The prehistoric rock carvings were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1998 and expanded across borders in 2010 to include the rock carvings in Siega Verde (Spain).
“Laurisilva” laurel forest from Madeira (1999)
Madeira’s laurel forest covers an area of approx. 150 km². It can be found on the north side of the island at heights between around 300 and 1,300 m and on the south side at heights between 700 and 1,200 m.
Since the humid air of the Atlantic doesn’t beat itself on the slopes, the forests are very humid. The typical trees in the Lobeerwald are the Madeira laurel, the Azores laurel, the Barbusano, the Canary holly, the tree heather, the Madeira elder and the silver laurel.
The laurel forest was added to the list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites in 1999
Alto Douro wine region (2001)
The Alto Douro wine region is located on the Douro River, the longest river in Portugal. The area of the area is approx. 260 km². Wine has been grown here for 2,000 years, and port wine, for example, comes from this area. In 1756 the wine region became a protected wine region by law.
The wine region was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2001.
Historic Center of Guimarães (2001)
In 2012 Guimarães became the European Capital of Culture.
The city of Guimarães is located between the Douro and Mondego rivers.
In 1109 the city of Guimarães became the first capital of Portugal and called itself the cradle of Portugal after Heinrich moved his residence there. He called himself: God’s grace Count and Lord of all Portugal. In 1139 the first Portuguese king was proclaimed from here.
The historical center of the city shows architectural styles from the Middle Ages to modern times. In the years after 950 to the end of the 15th century, stone buildings were erected and a half-timbered construction was preferred. In the 19th century it became fashionable to use almost exclusively wood as a building material. Although the city has been rebuilt a lot, the city has retained its own character. The construction methods of Guimarães were a model in many Portuguese cities and in the Portuguese colonies that adopted this construction method. The historic center of Guimarães was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2001.
Viticulture culture of the island of Pico (2004)
The island of Pico is of volcanic origin and it is the second largest island in the Azores. The area is approx. 450 km². The volcanic mountain of the same name is 2,351 m high and the highest mountain in Portugal.
The island has been inhabited since the 15th century, and people cleared the impassable terrain and have been growing very good wine ever since. The small plots are enclosed by walls so that the vines are protected from wind and weather. The red wine has a special and unique aroma due to the volcanic rock. The viticulture culture of Pico Island was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2004. For more information on the Azores, please contact Goruma at this link.
Garrison town of Elvas and its fortifications (2012)
The city of Elvas is close to the Spanish border, so the city was forced to build a fortification. The city was founded in the 10th century.
The fortresses themselves, however, only emerged during the Restoration War with Spain in 1640. Portugal had gained its independence and wanted to keep it under all circumstances.
There are the fortresses Castelo de Elvas, Forte de Santa Luzia, Forte da Graça, Fortim de São Pedro and many more. Inside the fortress walls there are beautiful, richly decorated small houses, all painted white. It’s easy to get lost in the winding alleys, but there are small cafes everywhere to relax. A multitude of churches and military buildings line the streets in the city.
The Amoreira Aqueduct – a circular arch bridge with four floors, which is approximately 8 km long and has over 800 arches. – was completed in 1622 after 80 years of construction.
The garrison town of Elvas and its fortifications were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2012.
University of Coimbra (2013)
The University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra) is a state university in the city of Coimbra. The university, founded in 1290, is the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest universities in Europe. However, the university was founded in Lisbon by King Dionysius, the peasant king. In the years from 1308 to 1338 and from 1354 to 1377 there was a partial move to Coimbra and the final move took place in 1537. The university has thus been the scientific center of Portugal for centuries and within the city of Coimbra the university has a decisive influence on the pulse of the city. The University of Coimbra is also a reflection of the former colonial Portuguese wealth. Numerous lavishly designed and decorated buildings such as the university church and the university library bear witness to this. The latter, the Biblioteca Joanina, was built in 1728 and is now one of the most spectacular libraries in the world. The university’s botanical garden, laid out in 1772 (Portuguese: Jardim botanico da Universidade de Coimbra), is also worth mentioning, which is not only the oldest botanical garden in Portugal, but also has an extensive collection of tropical plants, Australian plant species and Californian plant species.
As a result, the university was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on June 22, 2013.
Well-known personalities such as the only Portuguese Nobel Prize winner (medicine) Egas Moniz, the well-known mathematician Pedro Nunes and the German Christophorus Clavius (Euclid of the 16th century) studied at the University of Coimbra, under whose direction the calendar reform of the Gregorian calendar used today was carried out in 1582 has been.
The University of Coimbra currently has around 22,000 students studying in the following eight faculties:
- Medicine (Faculdade de medicina)
- Economics (Faculdade de Economia)
- Pharmacy (Faculdade de Farmácia)
- Philosophy (Faculdade de Letras)
- Psychology and educational science (Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação)
- Law (Faculdade de direito)
- Sports Science (Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física)
- Technology (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia)
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte (2019)
The sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte is located on the heights of Espinho, above the city of Braga. Braga, with around 182,000 residents, is located in the north-west of Portugal in the Norte region. This cultural landscape is reminiscent of Christian Jerusalem through the replica of a holy mountain with a church.
The sanctuary, which is mostly in the Baroque style, was built over a period of more than 600 years and illustrates the European tradition of the “Sacri Monti”, the sacred mountains. A central element of the mountain is the Way of the Cross with its monumental stairs, a series of chapels with statues of the Passion of Christ, fountains, sculptures and baroque gardens.
The sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2019
Mafra Royal Building Complex (2019)
The royal building complex of Mafra with the palace, the basilica, the monastery, the Cerco garden and the approximately 800 hectare Tapada hunting ground was designed in 1711 under King John V (1689-1750). The ensemble was intended to symbolize the architectural realization of the king’s idea of monarchy and state.
The rectangular palace houses the living quarters of the king and queen, the royal chapel in the form of a Roman baroque basilica, a Franciscan monastery and a library. Johann V used the architecture and art of the Italian Baroque as a model for the complex. The plant is located in the city of Mafra, around 40 km northwest of Lisbon, with a population of around 18,000.
The Mafra Royal Building Complex, including the Tapada Hunting Grounds, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019.