“where the land ends and the sea begins …”
Luís Vaz de Camões

Portugal is one of the oldest nations in Europe, existing for eight centuries. It is where different people groups like the Phoenicians, Celts, Romans, Germans, and Muslims lived in Portuguese territory and let their marks that remain until today in the language, law, and religion. 

In the 12th century, Dom Afonso Henriques proclaimed himself king, and later the kingdom of Portugal was founded.  During the Age of Discovery, the country lived in its zenith, relying on their main navigators, Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral who became the pioneer of great navigations, conquering the “new worlds”.

The famous earthquake of 1755 in Lisbon and the invasions of Napoleon brought upon Portugal a deep instability, which, after a revolt, approved the first Portuguese Constitution.  In October of 1910, the first Monarchy ended, and then the Portuguese Republic was established.    

For political and economical reasons, which got worse due to the first world war, Portugal suffers a military dictatorship, known as the “New State”.  On April 25th of 1974 – a very celebrated date by the Portuguese, the dictatorial regime ended, giving place to the Carnation Revolution and the return of Democracy in the country.    Today, Portugal is marked by its strong, welcoming, and charismatic people.  We are more than 10 million that live with culture, history, and gastronomy every day with love, from the North to the south.  We are the land of Fado, of Fernando Pessoa, of Navigators and Explorers. We are the bright smile and the friendly shoulder which to the fallen one, we help to stand up again. And, stimulated by God, we are land of the brave ones