About Portugal

Portugal is a democratic republic located on the west and southwest parts of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. Portugal is bordered on the north and east by Spain and by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south.

Portugal is famous for it's history and cultural richness, and is perfect for a holiday of excursions, sun, sea, and sports. The southern coastal Algarve with its light, soft sandy beaches is the country's most popular holiday destination.

Portugal was at one time the most powerful and the wealthiest country in the world, and two thirds of the world was discovered by the Portuguese explorers.

Despite its turbulent past Portugal is a stable country. The monarchy ended in 1910 and the republic was founded. In 1926 Salazar established his almost 40 years of dictatorship.
 
 
The country became a modern democracy after a peaceful military coup April 25, 1974 that began the rebirth of the country. Joined EU in 1986, elected as President of EU in 2000, joined the Euro currency in 2002. With the oldest national boundaries in Europe, Portugal is both ancient and newly born.

Eating in Portugal is often a visitor's most memorable characteristic of the country. Each region of Portugal has its own traditional dishes, including various kinds of meat, sea-food, diverse and fresh fish. The Romans associated Portugal with Bacchus, their God of Wine. Today the country is known by wine lovers, and its wines have won several international prizes.

About Portugal:
Approximately the size of Austria, population 10.3 million (Capital Lisbon)
All year round climate & fantastic beaches
Superb sporting facilities: golf, watersports, skiing
Low cost of living
Portugal has one of the highest life expectancy rates in the EU
Very good infrastructure trains, buses, taxis
Huge producer of wine and port
Hosted UEFA football championships in 2004
About The Algarve:
30 top golf courses. Will host the World Golf Championship in November 2005
Best climate in Europe, similar to California 13 to 18 degrees in Winter, 28 to 35 degrees in summer
2 hours from UK with direct flights from almost every airport
Stunning beaches, scuba diving, waterskiing, sailing, tennis centres, equestrian centres, casinos, Michelin star restaurants, marinas
Good health care, private clinics
Most Portuguese speak English
New motorway linking the whole of the Algarve to the capital, Lisbon
Brand new marina in Albufeira
Portugal has developed an increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Union in 1986, a development that began with the boom of the 1960s. Over the past decade, successive governments have privatised many state-controlled firms and liberalised key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors.

As of 2004, economic growth has been above the EU average for much of the past decade, but GDP per capita stands at just 75% of that of the leading EU economies. Portuguese GDP grew 1.5% in real terms in the second quarter of 2004 compared with the same period in 2003, by virtue of favourable domestic conditions. 

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