Portugal

Portugal extends along the Iberian Peninsula from the green Minho region to the sunny Algarve, bordered by Spain on land and the Atlantic Ocean on the west and south. Rivers such as the Douro, Tagus, and Guadiana carve valleys lined with vineyards and cork oak forests, while the Azores and Madeira archipelagos add volcanic landscapes, geothermal pools, and laurel forests in the mid-Atlantic. Coastal cliffs shelter fishing villages, surfing beaches, and nautical harbors that once launched caravels toward Africa, Asia, and Brazil.

Portugal is a semi-presidential republic with a president who safeguards the constitution and a prime minister heading the government. Parliament, known as the Assembly of the Republic, passes laws, while municipalities and parishes manage schools, heritage restoration, and urban planning. Autonomous regions in the Azores and Madeira have their own legislatures and presidents, reflecting the nation's maritime network.

History includes Lusitanian tribes, Roman provinces, Moorish castles, and the 12th-century foundation of a Portuguese kingdom under Afonso I. The Age of Discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries sent explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias around Africa and across the Indian Ocean, establishing trade routes and colonies. After periods of monarchy, union with Spain, and authoritarian rule, the Carnation Revolution of 1974 restored democracy, decolonization, and social reforms that paved the way for European Union membership in 1986.

Modern Portugal's economy blends automotive and aerospace clusters with textiles, footwear, agriculture, and tourism. Digital nomads and startups share co-working hubs in Lisbon and Porto, while research institutes pioneer wave energy, lithium refining, and space observation from the Azores. Vineyards from the Douro Valley to Alentejo produce port wine and bold reds, olive groves supply exports, and wind turbines dot ridges from Viana do Castelo to Serra da Estrela.

Culture thrives in azulejo-tiled monasteries, UNESCO-listed neighborhoods like Lisbon's Alfama, and music traditions such as fado that capture longing and resilience. Festivals celebrate sardines, medieval fairs, and surf competitions, while cuisine highlights bacalhau cod dishes, custard pastries, and seafood stews. Portugal contributes to NATO missions, Lusophone cooperation through the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and Atlantic climate initiatives that protect fisheries and marine research.