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PORTUGAL GEOGRAPHY
Area of continental Portugal: 89.059,6 square kilometres. Larger length from North to South: 561 kilometres.
Larger width: 218 kilometres. Western coast: 671 kilometres. South coast: 174 kilometres.
HISTORY
Already inhabited by prehistoric people, Celts, Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians. Carthaginians leave
in 201 b. C. and the Romans arrive. Lusitanians and Celt Iberians rioted in 197 b. C. but surrendered in 177 b. C. The
Lusitanian Viriato starts the 2nd uprising in 151-133, but he was murdered by colleagues paid by the Romans. In the
beginning of the V century came the Sueves, Alans, Vandals and Visigoths.
In 711 the Arabs invaded the peninsula. In the XII century, Afonso Henriques, first king of Portugal, continuing his
predecessors work, of freeing Portugal from the Arab domain, reconquers most of the territory that is now Portugal.
Afonso III definitively conquered the south of Portugal in 1249, in other words, 243 years before Spain conquering
Granada in 1492 (also the year of the discovery of America).
In the XIV century, king Fernando died, leaving his daughter Beatriz as the only descendant to the throne, and she was
married to the king of Spain. Fernando's widow, with ambitions to the throne, did everything to start a war against her
direct rival, João, illegitimate son of king Peter I. She and her partisans, helped by the Castilian king, fought João,
latter king John I supported by the duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt, who was a candidate to the throne of Castile.
John I won and begun what was called the Magnificent Generation, those who started the trips of discoveries. This was
a Generation of brave princes, intelligent, wise and masters of Universal knowledge, which knew the location of most
Continents with precision (like America and Australia, unknown to the others until then).
In 1498 Vasco of Gama arrived India, uniting by sea, Portugal to the East and its coveted trade. Several colonies and
administrations were made in the coast of continents, as in Africa (Morocco (Tanger, Ceuta, Alcacer-Ceguer, Arzila,
Azamor, Safim, Mazagan, Tite), Costa da Mina, Lagos, Portuguese Guinea, São Tomé e Principe, Angola (Congo),
Mozambique), South America (Brazil), Asia (Timor, Macao, Liampoo, Chinchou) India (Bombay, Ormuz, Ceilan, Goa,
Damao, Dio, Cananor, Coxim, Samatra, Malacca, Banastarim, Baçaim, Chaúl, Onor, Barcelore, Mangalore, Cranganor,
Calumbo, Curiate, Ternati, Tidore, Amboína, Solor, Angediva, Santa Helena, Bocotorá) that served as support to the
long and dangerous commercial sea-way to the East. So, in a period of a little more than 20 years, and with a
population of about 1 million inhabitants, Portugal was able to expand its frontiers to a territory 120 times bigger than
Portugal itself.
In 1578 king Sebastian wanted to conquer Morocco that threatened Portuguese caravels. He died combating together
with a great part of his huge army. He died without descents and cardinal Henrique who ruled the country after him
also died without leaving descendants. That's why Felipe II of Spain, grandson of Manuel, the Portuguese king during
the apogee of the Discoveries, governed the whole Portuguese and Spanish empires, preserving though the
Portuguese autonomy. He was followed Felipe III and Felipe IV from Spain, lacking the latest the respect for the
Portuguese autonomy and provoking the revolt that established the independence in 1640. The empire was rebuilt
and later gold and diamonds were discovered in Brazil, which helped the opulence of kings in the XVIII century. This
royal luxury was shaken by an earthquake that was in All-Saints-Day, at the hour of the mass: 9h40m of November 1,
1755 the most overpowering earthquake in Europe. It destroyed the all country, which was rebuilt. Then came
Napoleon's invasions later, in the beginning him of the XIX century. The political fights that proceeded, originated the
independence of Brazil in 1822. In 1910 the Monarchy fell and the Republic began. From 1910 to 1926 there was a
troubled period of Portugal political history, with plenty of revolutions and changes of Government giving origin to the
dictatorship, which lasted up to 1974, when a revolution brought democracy to Portugal and independence to the
colonies that Portugal still possessed in Africa and Asia.
Portugal is today a Parliamentary Democracy and member of the European Union. Although it doesn't possess any
colonies - Macao was the last one to get independent and went back to China in 1999 - it still keeps Azores and
Madeira islands.
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Portugal tours
Tourism & Luxury Vacations in Portugal with a Portuguese Tour Operator and Travel Agency
Hotels, deluxe accommodation, conventions, restaurants, shows, multilingual graduated tour guides, tour buses, luxury coaches,
limousines, multilingual guide/drivers, cruises, boat tours, jeep safaris. Cultural, historical, religious and wine itineraries.
Day sightseeing tours | Deluxe private tours | Historical & cultural excursions | Student trips | Religious & pilgrimage | Business trips
Adventure, wine, romantic tours | Escorted luxury coach trips | Vacation packages | Last minute travel deals | Conference rooms
contact us: ad@lisboasightseeing.com
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