Portugal is a stunningly beautiful country with clean cities and an abundance of natural wonders. Most of the country is mountainous. It is bordered by superb ocean views on two sides. I found the people to be friendly and sites to be plentiful. One of the most unique things about the capital Lisbon, is the exquisite use of tiles on the facades of the many buildings and in the city squares. I would love to return to Portugal in the future.
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Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986. (CIA Factbook) |   |
