Portugal's capital is Lisbon. The official language is Portuguese and the government is a republic. Some of the largest cities include Lisbon, Porto, and Santarém. Christmas and Catholic holidays are important to Portuguese culture. When interacting with Portuguese people, it is polite to greet with a smile, use formal titles, remove hats indoors, and not remove jackets without being asked. Portuguese architecture has been influenced through the centuries by Romans, Moors, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque and modern styles.

1. Portugal

2. Information about Portugal
Capital = Lisbon (largest city)
Official language = Portuguese
Recognised regional language =
Mirandese
Government = republic
President = Aníbal Cavaco Silva
Prime Minister = Pedro Passos
Coelho
Assembly President = Assunção
Esteves
Population 2011 estimate =
10,647,763
Population 2011 census =
10,555,853

3. Information about Portugal
1. Lisbon 2,761 km2 2,244,984
2. Santarém 6,747 km2 454,456
3. Setúbal 5,064 km2 849,842
4. Beja 10,225 km2 152,706
5. Évora 7,393 km2 167,434
6. Faro 4,960 km2 450,484
7. Évora 7,393 km2 167,434
8. Portalegre 6,065 km2 118,952
9. Castelo Branco 6,675 km2 195,949
10. Guarda 5,518 km2 160,931
11. Coimbra 3,947 km2 429,714
12. Aveiro 2,808 km2 714,351
13. Viseu 5,007 km2 378,166
14. Bragança 6,608 km2 136,459
15. Vila Real 4,328 km2 207,184
16. Porto 2,395 km2 1,816,045
17. Braga 2,673 km2 848,444
18. Viana do Castelo 2,255 km2 244,947

4. Holidays.

Most Portuguese holidays are centered around the
Christian calendar . Many include Easter, Good
Friday, All Saints’ Day and New Year’s; only a
handful are the most important to mention.
The most important holiday celebrated by the
Portuguese is Christmas on December 25th, called
Christmas in Vila Vehla. The ceremony in the
church is concluded when the priest holds up an
image of the baby Jesus so the congregation can
kiss him.
 Holidays are not the only recognized traditions in
Portugal. The Portuguese are also very religious
and superstitious, believing and taking part in
magical practices and witchcraft. These ceremonies
are usually performed when dealing with illnesses
and healing.

5. Interaction traditions

When you interact with people from Portugal there is
some things you should know about:
Some of these examples can occur on our own place but
does surely belongs to common sense.
1. Every time you greet or meet somebody, show
them a smile. It will show that you are a cheerful
person and therefore, when people talk to you
next, they know they will have a pleasant time.
 2. Start a conversation with somebody using the
polite form (0 senhor / A senhora)
 3. If you are invited over to someone's house you
mustn't take off your jacket unless the host suggests
you to do so.
 4. If you are wearing a hat, you should take it off
when you enter someone's house.

6. Portuguese explorers Vasco da Gama
Portuguese empire

7. Megaliths
Anta (dolmen) in Cabeção,
near Mora, in the Alentejo

8. Pre-Roman villages
Iron age house in
Citânia de Briteiros

9. Roman period
Roman Temple of Évora

10. Roman period
Roman Temple of Évora

11. Roman period
Roman bridge of Aquae
Flaviae, today's Chaves

12. Pre-Romanesque
Saint Frutuoso Chapel near Braga, a
Greek cross building of Byzantine
influence (7th century)

13. Moorish period
Main gate (Porta de Loulé) of the
old Moorish city centre (Almedina)
of Silves.

14. Castles
View of Mértola; the Main
Church, formerly a mosque, is on
the foreground.

15. Romanesque style (1100-c. 1230)
West façade of the church of the
Benedictine Monastery of Rates
(façade built in the second half of
the 12th century).

16. Romanesque style (1100-c. 1230)
Façade of the Old Cathedral of
Coimbra (begun 1162).

17. Romanesque style (1100-c. 1230)
Almourol Castle, built c. 1171 on an
island of the Tagus by the Templar
Knights. The highest tower is the
square-shaped keep of the castle

18. Gothic (c. 1200 - c.1450)
Central aisle of the church of
Alcobaça Monastery (12th-13th
century).

19. Gothic (c. 1200 - c.1450)
Flamboyant Gothic in the Monastery
of Batalha: church façade (left) and
Founder's Chapel (right).

20. Gothic (c. 1200 - c.1450)
View of Bragança Castle. The large
keep tower was built in the 15th
century

21. Manueline style (c.1490 - c.1520)
Manueline nave of Jerónimos
Monastery in Lisbon.

22. Renaissance and Mannerism
(c.1520 - c.1650)
Nave of Church of São Roque in
Lisbon (1565-1587).

23. Plain style (1580-1640)
View of the Monastery of Tibães
with the church façade, near Braga

24. Restoration architecture
(1640-1717)
Church of Santa Engracia, Lisbon

25. Baroque style (1717-1755)
Palace of Queluz

26. Baroque style (1717-1755)
Intricately worked façade of the
Palácio do Raio in Braga

27. Pombaline style (1755-1860)
Praça do Comércio with the arch
leading to Augusta street, in Lisbon

28. Modern Architecture
Portuguese modern
architecture: buildings at
Parque das Nações, Lisbon