Portugal

Portugal lies in the southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the westernmost nation that is situated in the mainland Europe. On its east and north, Portugal is surrounded by Spain and on its west it is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

It is a high Human Development Index and it is also the fourteenth most peaceful nation in the world. Even though the Gross domestic product or GDP of Portugal is not high, it is ranked 19th nation in the world with a high quality of life.

The people in Portugal are mostly Roman Catholics, with more than 80% of the population following Roman Catholicism. The language that is spoken in the country is Portuguese.

In fact, Portugal has one single religion (Catholicism) and it also has one single language. Of course, foreign languages are also spoken by some of the population.

The automobile industry, the software industry and the service industry are important for the country’s economy. Fishing is considered to be an important activity in the country.

Portugal is also a popular tourist destination and in the year 2006, it attracted 12.8 million tourists from all around the world. In fact, the tourism industry of Portugal accounts for 5% of its GDP.

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    Alcobaca

    Alcobaca is a city and a municipality in Oeste Subregion, region Centro in Portugal, formerly included in the Estremadura Province. The city grew along the valleys of the rivers Alcoa and Baca, from which it derives its name.

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    Alcobaca Monastery

    The Alcobaca Monastery is a Mediaeval Roman Catholic monastery located in the town of Alcobaca, in Oeste Subregion. It was founded by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, in 1153, and maintained a close association with the Kings of Portugal throughout its history.

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    Arab Room, Sintra National Palace

    Arab Room was the bedchamber of Joao I at the beginning of the 15th century. Moorish fountain and tile revetment date from the beginning of the 16th century. Arab Room, Sintra National Palace.

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    Batalha Monastery

    The Monastery of Batalha, literally the Monastery of the Battle, is a Dominican convent in the civil parish of Batalha, in the district of Leiria, in the Centro Region region of Portugal.

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    Bedchamber-prison of Afonso VI, Sintra National Palace

    Chamber in medieval Palace of King Dinis, dating from beginning of 14th century. In 17th century it served, for nine years, as bedchamber-prison of Alfonso VI, who died here in 1683. Bedchamber-prison of Afonso VI, Sintra National Palace.

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    Berlenga Grande Island

    Berlenga Grande is the largest of the islands of the Berlengas Archipelago. The archipelago includes Berlenga Grande, Estela and Farinhoes islands.

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    Berlengas Islands

    The Berlengas archipelago is a group of small islands 10 to 15 kilometers off the Portuguese coast, west of the town of Peniche in Oeste region. These islands were traditionally known to British mariners as "the Burlings".

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    Castle of the Moors

    The Castle of the Moors (Portuguese: Castelo dos Mouros) is a hilltop medieval castle located in the central Portuguese civil parish of Santa Maria e Sao Miguel, in the municipality of Sintra.

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    Chinese Room, Sintra National Palace

    Part of the old palace of King Dinis, this room was used as bedchamber of Joao I, before the monarch carried out extensive construction work at the beginning of the 15th century.

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    Coats-of-Arms Room, Sintra National Palace

    The particularly impressive Sala dos Brasoes (the Coats-of-Arms Room) is situated on the site of the old Casa da Meca, built during the reign of Manuel I (1495-1521).

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    Convent of Christ (Tomar)

    The Convent of Christ (Portuguese: Convento de Cristo/Mosteiro de Cristo) is a former Roman Catholic convent/monastery in the civil parish of Tomare Santa Maria dos Olivais, in the Centrol region municipality of Tomar.

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    Fort of Santa Luzia, Elvas

    Fort of Santa Luzia, Elvas. The well-preserved 17th Century fortifications of Fort de Santa Luzia to the north of the old town Elvas.

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    Galleon Room, Sintra National Palace

    Galleon Room, isolated later construction, reflecting the transition between 16th and 17th century, with vaulted ceiling and decorated with seascapes, galleons and other ships. Galleon Room, Sintra National Palace.

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    Hall of Magpies, Sintra National Palace

    The Hall of Magpies, the first private anteroom so called from the 15 century because of the ceiling paintings representing magpies holding in their beaks a rose with the words "por bem" (for good), motto of Joao I. Hall of Magpies, Sintra National Palace.

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    Historic Centre of Oporto (Porto)

    The city of Oporto, built along the hillsides overlooking the mouth of the Douro river, is an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year history.

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    Jeronimos Monastery

    The Jeronimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery, is a monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome located near the shore of the parish of Belem, in the Lisbon Municipality, Portugal.

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    Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture

    The Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture is an outstanding example of the adaptation of farming practices to a remote and challenging environment. Pico Island is one of nine volcanic islands in the Azores Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean.

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    Manueline Hall, Sintra National Palace

    The Manueline Hall (Sala Manuelina) is the main hall of Royal Residence built by Manuel I at the beginning of 16th century. Manueline Hall, Sintra National Palace.