20 Interesting Facts About Portuguese

P ortuguese is an independent kingdom since 1143 and is one of the oldest nations in Europe. When Portugal’s colonial empire in Asia, Africa, and South America was at its peak, it was the richest nation on the planet. Portugal eventually became one of Western Europe’s poorest countries in the 19th and 20th centuries as a result of this wealth not being used to build domestic industrial infrastructure. It is a predominantly Roman Catholic nation with close-knit family ethics. Its rich culture results from many influences, including Visigoth, Celtic, Lusitanian, Viking, Phoenician, Germanic, Sephardic Jewish, and Moorish.

1. Portuguese is situated in southwestern Europe. It is bordered by the Atlantic ocean and Spain to the east and north.
2. The official name of the country is the Portuguese republic or Portuguese República.
3. The national animal of the country is the Iberian Wolf. Whereas the national bird is the Barcelos Cock.
4. The word Portugal name is derived from the Roman-Celtic place name Portus Cale. Cailleach or cale was the name of a Celtic deity and was the name of an early settlement located at the mouth of the Douro River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean in the north of Portugal.
5. Portuguese language is the official language of 8 nations and is used by ten countries. The countries which use the language are Cape Verde, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, Macau (now China), São Tomé, and Príncipe.
6. The Portuguese language is the 9th most spoken language in the world, with over 234 million people speaking the language.
7. Cabo da Roca of Portugal is the westernmost point of the European continent.
8. Livraria Bertrand is the oldest operating bookstore in the world and was founded in 1732 in Lisbon city of Portugal.
9. The University of Coimbra is the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world. The university was founded in Lisbon city in the year 1290.
10. Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who was the first to sail throughout the planet earth nearly 500 years ago. He was native to Portugal but sailed on behalf of Spain.
11. The olive tree and the cork oak is the national tree of Portugal. At the same time, lavender is the national flower.
12. The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Windsor held on 9th May 1386 is the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world. The treaty was signed between King Richard II of England and King John I of Portugal.
13. The Vasco da Gama bridge is the longest bridge in Europe. It measures over 17 km (10 miles) and connects northern and southern parts of the country.
14. Portugal is the oldest country in Europe as its borders were defined in the year 1139 CE, which was the first in the continent.
15. Portugal is the 3rd most safest country on the planet with a global peace index score of 1.274.
16. The top 5 exports of Portugal are Cars ($4.33 Billion), Vehicle Parts ($3.56 Billion), Refined Petroleum ($2.87 Billion), Leather Footwear ($2.16 Billion), and Uncoated Paper ($1.44 Billion).
17. The top 5 imports of Portugal are Crude Petroleum ($5.75 Billion), Cars ($5.47 Billion), Vehicle Parts ($2.92 Billion), Packaged Medicaments ($2.3 Billion), and Petroleum Gas ($1.85 Billion).
18. The country has over 17 UNESCO world heritage sites, out of which 16 are cultural, and one is natural.
19. There was a time when Portugal use to rule half of the new world. The country colonized 46 countries, some of which are Bahrein, Brasil, Barbados, Cabinda, and Dianga.
20. Lisbon is the second oldest capital city in Europe. In contrast, the cathedral church of Lisbon is the oldest building in the country.