As one of the oldest nations in Europe, Portugal had its genesis in 1139. Since 1297, when the Portuguese and the Spanish signed a treaty that ceded the Algarve to Portugal, its borders have remained practically unchanged. The first king, Afonso I Henriques, came to power in 1143, and the country remained a kingdom for the next 800 years until 1910 when it became a republic.
Portugal is a special country full of character, peculiarities, and traditions that shape it in a place that welcomed 12.7 million tourists in 2017 alone. So, if you have already visited and explored its rich history or if you have not yet enjoyed its sunny climate, here are 6 interesting facts about Portugal that show that there is still a lot to learn about this fascinating country.
1. Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries
Having previously been a global empire, it is not surprising that Portuguese as a language has traveled beyond the coasts of Portugal. It is claimed that more than 236 million people worldwide are native Portuguese speakers.
Portuguese is the official language not only of Portugal but also of Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé, and Príncipe, and Equatorial Guinea. The language is also spoken in Goa, India, in Macau, on the south coast of China, and in East Timor, in Southeast Asia.
2. Lisbon was almost destroyed by an earthquake
On November 1, 1755, during the religious celebration of All Saints' Day, at 9:40, Lisbon was shaken by a monumental earthquake that almost destroyed the city. Reports at the time indicate that the earthquake lasted between three and six minutes and created cracks 5 meters wide in the center of the city. Approximately 40 minutes after the earthquake, a tsunami engulfed the port area and the downtown area, continuing to climb the Tagus River. This event was so fast that people on horseback had to gallop as fast as possible to avoid being dragged.
Subsequently, two more waves followed.
To make matters worse, the candles that had been lit all over the city in houses and churches for All Saints' Day were dropped due to the earthquake. As the tsunami receded, the city began to burn violently for hours, choking people up to 30 meters away from the flames.
The number of people who lost their lives in the disaster is not certain, but the values are believed to be in the tens of thousands. Nearly 85% of Lisbon's buildings were destroyed, including famous palaces and libraries, as well as most of the striking examples of 16th century Manueline architecture in Portugal. The earthquake also had an economic and political impact. After years of developing Lisbon as a cosmopolitan capital, it was destroyed in one day and took decades to be rebuilt and become what it is today.
3. More than half of the world's cork comes from Portugal
The cork oak is one of the few native trees still existing in Portugal and the country uses it to its benefit by producing 70% of the world's cork exports. The main importers of the Portuguese cork are Germany, the United Kingdom, and the USA.
Portugal has the largest cork oak in the world, and it is currently illegal to harvest cork oaks without government authorization. Cork oak trees thrive in Portugal due to balanced rainfall, short dry periods, moderate winters, and sunny days that bless the country, creating the ideal conditions for these trees.
4. The origin of Japanese tempura is attributed to Portuguese traders
Tempura, fried and breaded pieces of vegetables, and seafood are some of the many gastronomic delights associated with Japanese cuisine. However, this was brought about by Portuguese traders and missionaries in the 16th century. Frying was one of the main ways of cooking fish in Portugal and Spain for hundreds of years, with recipes for fried fish in egg batter appearing in Spanish Arab cookbooks as early as the 13th century.
Legend has it that, in 1543, a Chinese ship with three Portuguese sailors on board was heading for Macau when it was diverted from its route and ended up on the Japanese island of Tanegashima.
António da Mota, Francisco Zeimoto and António Peixoto, the first Europeans to set foot on Japanese soil, were considered "southern barbarians" by the locals. However, the Japanese were in the middle of civil war and eventually started to negotiate with the Portuguese, mainly in armaments. This deal resulted in the creation of a Portuguese commercial warehouse in Japan, having started with firearms and subsequently moved on to other items such as soap, tobacco, wool, and even recipes, obviously including tempura, which quickly became a consumer product. basic.
5. Pasteis de Nata was supposedly created in the 13th century by monks
Pastéis de Nata is Portugal's favorite dessert and has been like this since the 13th century, as they are said to have been created by monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. The monks had settled in France when they were inspired by the delicious pastries available.
They needed to find a way to use the remaining egg yolks when separating them from the whites to get the gum for the clothes, so what better way than making custard tarts?
After the Liberal Revolution in 1820, the monastery was in danger of closing and, as such, the monks began to sell the custard tarts to a nearby sugar refinery.
In 1834, the monastery closed and the recipe was sold to the sugar refinery. Three years later, the refinery owners opened the Pastéis de Nata de Belém Factory, which continues to operate today and is managed by the descendants of the original owners. So, if you're around, don't miss the opportunity to try one (or five) of the famous cinnamon-dusted pastries before leaving!
6. Portugal has its own musical genre
Fado is a type of Portuguese singing that dates back to the 1820s and can often be enjoyed in bars, cafes, and restaurants. It is generally known for its expressive form, as well as for its strong melody. Usually, in fado, the interpreter sings about the harsh reality of everyday life in a balance between resignation and hope.
This feeling can be described through the Portuguese word "Saudade", which means "yearning" and represents a mixture of loss and melancholy.
Fado is usually accompanied by one or two 12-string guitars, one or two classical guitars, and sometimes a small 8-string bass guitar. Different styles are depending on the area of Portugal and, in 2011, fado was included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
Some famous fado singers include Dulce Pontes, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, Mafalda Arnauth and Amália Rodrigues (below), the so-called "Rainha do Fado".
