"My Country" Portugal by bambino36

Brief History

The portuguese territory, before the independence, was part of the Kingdom of Leon, that occupied the northwest of Iberian Peninsula, in those times allied with the Kingdom of Castilla. Both kingdoms had the same King and Castilla had no borders with Portugal.
In the period between 1090 and 1095, the King established two counties with autonomous administration, Galicia and Portugal, and were delivered to two of his sons-in-law, both cousins and from the House of Borgonha (Dijon, France). D. Raimundo in Galicia and D. Henrique in Portugal. Both of them died before the father-in-law. The Countess of Galicia, D. Urraca, became the Queen of Leon and Castilla and wanted that the nobles of Portugal became your subdits.
In 1128, D. Afonso Henriques, son of Count D. Henrique and Countess D. Teresa, fought the Galicean knights lead by Fernão Peres de Trava in a place called "Campo de São Mamede" in Guimarães.
The Count of Trava lost the battle and D. Teresa had to escape to Galicia.
The battle was won and Afonso Henriques clearly assumed the leading of the county with the goal of independence.
In 1143, in a meeting in Zamora, with D. Afonso VII of Leon with the approval of the pope, D. Afonso Henriques saw recognized his royalty and the independence of Portugal.
In his life he managed to conquer lands to the moors and when he died in 1185, Portugal was Kingdom well defined.

The discoveries

A millitary expedition organized by King D. João I easily conquered the city of Ceuta in north africa, and this fact is truly the beginning of the portuguese discoveries. Infante D. Henrique promotes then the portuguese discoveries. During the reign of D. João I, under the command of Infante D. Henrique, Madeira, Canary islands and Azores were discovered. After this happens the discovery of the african coast.
In 1472, Gaspar Corte Real discovers New Found Land.
Em 1487, Bartolomeu Dias, in command of three ships sails to the Cape of Good Hope.
After Columbus arrival to America, Portugal and Spain sign the Tordesillas Treaty, where it's stated that the world would be divided in two areas of exploration, half portuguese and half spanish.
In 1498 Vasco da Gama arrives to Calecute (India). In 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral arrives to Vera Cruz, later Brazil. In 1514, Jorge Álvares arrives to China and in 1557 the portuguese are established in Macau.

The fall of the empire

From 1580 til 1640 Portugal was occupied by Spain. From 1807 til 1810 Napoleon tries to invade Portugal but bravely the portuguese, with the help of the english, defeat the french army.
In 1926 was established a very oppressive regimen that only ended with the revolution in the 25th of April of 1974. In 1986 Portugal joined the EEC now EU and in 2002 the euro (€) was introduced replacing the escudo.

What to visit in Portugal?

Most visitors to Portugal head for the beaches and the perfect golf courses of the Algarve. But beyond those south coast touristic resorts lies the least explored corner of Western Europe, a country of magnificent landscapes, historical cities, rural backwaters and contrasting traditions.
The portuguese borders were virtually unchanged for 800 years. The ten million portuguese speak OUR own language, WE follow our own unique cultural traditions, and we have a centuries-old history.
For a small country, the regions of Portugal are immensely varied. The rural Minho and Trás-os-Montes in the north are the most traditional, have marvelous landscapes, and are a must to visit. Minho is probably the most beautiful part of portuguese mainland. The rivers, the valleys, the forests and the fields are just magnificent. No doubt green is green there. Following the River Minho that separates Minho from Spanish Galicia it's possible to find breath-taking sites and history at each step. The valley of the River Lima, The Gerês-Peneda National Park, The cities of Viana do Castelo, Braga and Guimarães amongst others are just fantastic.
The Douro river, rise in Spain and then flow westward across Portugal, dividing Tras-os-Montes and Beira Alta, to the Atlantic Ocean. From the slopes of the Douro valley comes Portugal's most famous product, the Port Wine.
The "Serra da Estrela" with it's 2000 meters height and the valleys around, being the Zêzere valley one of the biggest fjords in Europe.
Coimbra, home of one of the most ancient universities in the world along with Bolonha, Sorbonne, Salamanca, Florence, Krakow, Oxford and Cambridge. More to the south, the Tagus that also rise in Spain and then flow westward across Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. By contrast, is wide and languid, often spilling out over the flat and fertile Ribatejo flood plain, land of fine horses and fighting bulls.
The south of the country could'nt be more different. The Algarve, with the beautiful beaches and a wonderful, warm Mediterranean climate all year around.
The Azores and Madeira archipelagos with all their natural beauty, in particular the Island of São Miguel in Azores.
Words are not enough to describe Portugal. You must come and see for yourself. I'm sure it will be an experience you will never forget.

• Pros:Magnificent sights, good wine, tasty food, contrasts, friendly people, the past and the present
• Cons:You never want to leave the country