Portugal travel guide
Fun Facts About Portugal
Ten things that will surprise you about Europe’s oldest nation.
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1
Portugal is Europe’s oldest nation-state
Its borders have barely changed since 1139 — the oldest in Europe.
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2
It gave the world tempura
Portuguese missionaries introduced batter-frying to Japan in the 16th century.
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3
Cork is king
Portugal produces around half the world’s cork, all harvested by hand without felling a tree.
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4
The Vasco da Gama Bridge is vast
At 12.3km it was the longest bridge in Europe when it opened in 1998.
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