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Why choose Portugal? | About Portugal | Where in Portugal | Lisbon | Algarve |
Oporto | The Douro Region | The Coastal Region
Why choose Portugal?
Ease of arrival
There are international flights daily to Portugal's major airport in Lisbon. Lisbon is a two and a half hour flight from London or Amsterdam and seven hours from the east coast of the US. There are direct flights to Lisbon from some North-American airports, while Porto and Faro are served by other European capitals.
Selection of venues
Participants at conventions in any region of Portugal find fully-equipped centers and beautiful venues, often in particularly prestigious places, which are efficiently organized. In addition to the traditional convention centers and big hotels with congress facilities, one can choose from a wide range of old palaces, castles, historic residences, and resorts, set in magnificent rural and seaside locations.
The History
An independent kingdom since 1143, Portugal established its continental frontiers in 1297 and is one of the oldest nations in Europe. Situated on the west side of the Iberian Peninsula, its geographic location along the Atlantic coast has determined its relationship with the sea. In 1415, the Portuguese set sail on an epic voyage that would make them the first to discover the ocean routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan, and at the same time founded settlements on the east and west coasts of Africa.
The People
Traces of this worldwide historic presence may be felt even today in the Portuguese psyche. Portuguese became one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, while the Portuguese people were exposed to many different civilizations and cultures. The vast monumental, artistic and archaeological heritage of modern Portugal is a tribute not only to its seafaring, but also to the many ancient tribes which settled on its shores, including Celts, Romans and Moors.
Landscapes
Portugal is a sunny country, with all the ensuing natural advantages. It has diverse geographic features, from green river valleys, to dry inland ranges, through to white sandy beaches on the shores of the Atlantic. An ideal place for playing golf, due to its mild weather conditions, Portugal is a year-round destination.
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About Portugal
Facts
Capital: Lisbon (Lisboa) (1,900,000 inhabitants)
System of Government: Parliamentary democracy
Area: 88,889 square kilometres
Estimated Population: 487/sq. mile
Portugal has a population of about 10 million. The population density is at its greatest in Lisbon, the capital and its suburbs, where about 1.9 million people live. The second largest city in Portugal is Oporto in the north. Generally speaking, there are more people living in the country's coastal regions than in the inland areas.
A member-country of the European Union since 1986, Portugal currently enjoys steady economic growth.
Size
Portugal is situated at the south-west point of Europe and also includes the Madeira and Azores archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean. Mainland Portugal is 218 km wide and 561 km long, with 832 km of Atlantic coast and a 1,215 km border with Spain.
The Azores are situated in the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and North America (two hours flight from Lisbon). They have an area of 2,355 km sq.and consist of nine islands – São Miguel and Santa Maria in the Eastern Group, Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial in the Central Group and Flores and Corvo in the Western Group.
The Madeira Archipelago has an area of 741 km sq. and lies in the Atlantic Ocean about 500 km from the African coast and 1,000 km from the European continent (1hr 30 mins. flying time from Lisbon). It consists of the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo and the uninhabited Desertas and Selvagens islands, which are nature reserves.
Language
One of the Latin languages, Portuguese is the third most spoken European language in the world and the native tongue of about 200 million people, due to its presence in Brazil and some other ex-colonies in Africa. In Portugal many people speak excellent English, and good Spanish.
Climate
The climate in Portugal is mild all year round, due to its geographic location in Southern Europe, while also benefiting from the waters of the Gulf Stream. Summers are dry and clear, with warm sunshine extending long into autumn. Winters are moderately cool and are the rainiest time of year (except in subtropical Madeira, where it rarely rains). Midsummer temperatures range around 70?F, while winter temperatures tend to be around 50?F.
Time
Continental Portugal and Madeira Island are on Greenwich mean time (GMT). The Azores Islands are 1 hour behind the Portuguese mainland.
Currency
Portugal is one of 12 European Union countries whose common official currency is the euro (€). 1 euro is divided into 100 cents. The coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. The notes are differentiated by their size and colour and come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.
VAT and Tax Refunds
Visitors from non-European Union countries can request reimbursement of the Value Added Tax (VAT) they have paid on any of their purchases over €59.36. The VAT rate charged on most items in Portugal is 19%.
In order to be reimbursed, when you make a purchase you should ask the shop for a declaration detailing the amount you paid, the items bought and the amount to be reimbursed. You can request the reimbursement at the airport, either in cash, by credit card, or by international cheque, provided that you show the items in question to customs beforehand.
Opening Hours
Banks open from 8:30 am to 3 pm from Monday to Friday; closed on bank holidays. Shops open from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm (working days). On Saturdays, most shops close at 1 pm. The shopping malls in larger towns are normally open 7 days a week from 10 am to 11 pm. Museums open from 10 am to 12:30 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm and are closed on Mondays.
Electrical Current
The electric current in Portugal is 230/400 volts at a frequency of 50 hertz. Sockets comply with European standards. You will need a 230 volt transformer and an adaptor to use American-style flat-prong plugs.
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Where in Portugal
Cities/destinations offered
We can organize your meeting, conference or event in Lisbon, Oporto, the Algarve, and a selection of other sea, city and countryside locations throughout Portugal.
Getting to Portugal
A valid passport is the only requirement for US citizens and European citizens.
International airports are located at Lisbon, Oporto, Faro, Funchal (Madeira), Ponta Delgada (Azores), and Lajes (Azores). The national airline is TAP-Air Portugal. The regional air company, SATA, flies connections to the Azores Islands. There are also air links between Funchal (Madeira) and Porto Santo. Portugalia (www.pga.pt) and Air Luxor also operate schedule flights to and from Portugal in Europe. Every day, international trains run between Paris and Lisbon (Sud Express) and Lisbon and Madrid (Lusitânia).
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