If there is something most visitors to Portugal truly appreciate, it is our food and wines.

A rich, varied and authentic regional cuisine, with fresh fish, seafood, smoked meats and endless desserts and sweetmeats, are all waiting for you.

With such an ocean-based border, it is no wonder we have seen so many ships landing and leaving and it must be one more reason why we have always been so open to the world and to other people.

Throughout the ages, we absorbed people from many different places: Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans (who left us the language we speak), Nordic people and Moors. Despite this diversity, our borders are amongst the oldest in Europe. In the twelfth century, Portugal gained independence from other peninsular kingdoms, thanks to Count Afonso Henriques, our first king of his own free will. A century later, with the conquest of the Algarve, the kingdom was complete. Just like today.

Towards the end of the 13th century, King D. Dinis created our University, one of Europe's oldest, and took it to the lovely town of Coimbra.

In the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, we were the first Europeans to navigate to Africa, to the far-off east and into the depths of the South American continent, from which we brought wealth and riches. For us, globalisation is really nothing new.

After a slight dynastic crisis, which lasted 60 years and which brought us under the Spanish throne, in 1640 we had once more a Portuguese king because, although discreet, we do our independence.

In the 18th century, King John V, a true art-lover and connoisseur, built the enormous palace-convent of Mafra, although he did not neglect more mundane matters, such as the great aqueduct which brought fresh water to Lisbon.

In the 19th century, party politics weaken the monarchy, which finally falls in 1910, when the Republic of Portugal was established.

Although part of the European Union since 1986, we still have a very strong sense of our own identity and values.

With this history, you will see that our Art is slightly different to what you are used to seeing. We have some distinct peculiarities such as the Manueline style, which extolls and exalts Age of Discoveries; the art of the azulejo - the Portuguese ceramic tile; not to mention the 19th century neo-Moorish whims and fancies; and last but not least our very own Fado - a special nostalgic song, full of that Portuguese "saudade".

Economic structure
Workforce per sector	1997
Total employed	3,6 million people
Agriculture	7.9%
Industry and construction	33.0%
Services	59.0%

Main industries: textiles, shoes, automobile, paper pup, cork derivatives, wine, ceramics and chemicals.