While the climate in Portugal has both Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, the shore is created completely by the Atlantic sea, a fact that some visitors are shocked to discover as we like to think of Portugal as Mediterranean. This should be because of the bright colors, long days of sun and influences from cultures that have also become a urgent part of the culture in Spain and along the south coast of France for instance. The Mediterranean influence is especially obvious in the southern parts of Portugal. The Stream Tagus (Rio Tejo) divides Portugal into its clearly different northwards and southern halves. In the north the population has Celtic and Germanic origins, more conventional farming strategies and a cooler climate. South of the Rio Tejo folk have darker skin as this area was Roman and then Moorish territory, and farming tends towards figs, cork and oranges instead of the potatoes and corn of the north. In truth, Portugal produces more than 50% of the planet’s wine corks, around fifteen thousand million every year.

The main towns in Portugal are the capital Lisbon, with its various choice of Portuguese culture ; the second-biggest town of Porto, which is also Portugal’s commercial capital; and university cities like Coimbra and vora, and the traditional capital of Guimares. There are not many actually massive cities in Portugal but a multitude of tiny, provincial cities that are worth visiting. Basically , the beaches in Portugal are the main draw for tourists, especially in the Algarve. There are beaches all of the way up the west coast, but the sea has a tendency to be cooler and even cold as far north as Viana do Castelo.

Aside from the mainland, Portugal is composed of Madeira and the Azores, islands colonised in the fifteenth century. Southwest of Portugal Madeira is 900km off the west coast of Africa, and the Azores archipelago is composed of 9 islands 1440km west of Lisbon. Both are too far away to form part of a visit to Portugal but are favored holiday maker destinations in their own right.

With Portugal’s rich Roman history and links to the Spanish Crown, it only became its own Republic in 1910. Portugal’s Manueline style of art reflects its engaging history and the popular ‘fado’ – song of nostalgia is own to Portugal!

When visiting Portugal, you have to truly put in effort to go to for the various holidays and cultural events. The thrilling and colourful Sanjoaninas Holiday , in the Azores, draws thousand of visitors from around the world to Terceira Island annually. The holiday includes bullfighting, marches, sporting activities and recreational events. The holiday goes back to the 16th century and has been on Portugal’s social calendar without a break since then.

Also held in Terceira, is the yearly world jazz holiday which is staged in October – The Angra do Herosmo World Jazz Holiday . It showcases shows by some of the finest musicians from Northern America and Europe.

In the 1st week of Sep , you can take part in the festivities at Campo Maior. In the Flower Holiday this whole small city goes through a complete metamorphism when the residents starts to decorated each nook and corner, from the floors to the roof nocks, streets and lamp posts totally with paper decorations and flowers in each bright color you can imagine. The tradition of this holiday is very transferable and cast a light on the friendliness and hospitality of the Portuguese country. In the traditional town of Braga, the Holy Week in Apr is celebrated in the Porto e Norte region.

It’s not possible not to stand bewildered by the appearance of the tons of street-side altars full of lights, flowers, tasty eatables and the thousands of decorations in spiritual motifs that fills up the aura of the city with a virtually holy vibe. If fashion is concerning you and you need to take a vacation in March or October, Moda Moda Lisboa / Estoril is the event not to miss in Cascais. All of the main Portuguese fashion designers and courtier homes attend this lavish holiday. if bustle isn’t actually your idea of a vacation, then Madeira might rather be a more sensible choice.

With a 500-year-old heritage, the islands offers you journeys to the Quinta das Cruzes Museum, Museum of Holy Art and the Madeira Story Centre. There are a couple of priories, priories, churches and palaces together with army fortifications to test out in the archipelago. Porto Santo, fifteen mins by air from Madeira, is one of Europe’s quietest and most tranquil beaches. Moorish legends, golfing, jetty yachts and old fashioned folk draw you to the Algrave area. Its capital Faro, derives its name from the Arabic nomenclature of Ibn-Harun.

The Arco da Vila is a palm garden that was designed by Italian designer Fabri but from inside, it has all of the accoutrements fitting Moor prince Ben Bakr. Nearby is the Living Science Center that draws holiday makers for a family day out for a show on ‘Cyber Space’. Faro is also a great shopping mall in Portugal. Naturally, you can’t come away from Portugal without a visit to its capital Lisbon.

Lisbon is mainly about indoor soccer, handball, basketball and roller hockey. Irrespective of where in Portugal you go. You are certain to come across intriguing cultural activities, engaging history and most significantly, the warm hospitality of a great country.