Fun Facts
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- Portugal is the oldest country in Europe, with the same defined borders since 1139. It’s also home to the oldest bookstore chain in the world, Livraria Bertrand, launched in 1732. And one of the oldest universities in Europe is in Portugal, the University of Coimbra, established in 1290.
- Portugal is a top surf spot—one of the best in Europe. With about 500 miles of coastline and weather that’s said to allow for good surfing 365 days of the year, this one of the best places to catch a wave on this side of the Atlantic.
- Portuguese is spoken by more than 230 million people worldwide and is the official language of nine countries.
- Half of the “New World” once belonged to the Portuguese Empire. It was one of the longest-lived colonial powers, lasting for almost six centuries from 1415 until Macau was given back in 1999. To its credit, it was also the first colonial power to abolish slavery, back in 1761… half a century before France, Spain, the U.K., or America.
- The Vasco de Gama Bridge in Lisbon, over the Tagus River is the longest bridge in Europe at 10.7 miles long.