the Official name of the country - the Portuguese Republic. The head of the state - the president selected for five years. The legislature belongs to unicameral parliament, executive - to the government. The constitution of the Portuguese Republic has been accepted on April, 25th, 1976.
The Continental part of the country is divided into 22 administrative divisions. Division into historical provinces is saved. Islands Azorsky and Madiera have the status of independent regions. Under control of Portugal last splinter has extensive colony remains (till 1999) the Chinese terrain Aomin to which in 1976 the intrinsic autonomy is granted.
Capital of Portugal - Lisbon - one of the most beautiful cities of the world. Other large cities - Port, the Span, Setubal, Coimbra, Evora.
the country Population compounds 10,56 million persons. Population density of some southern and intrinsic regions at 5-10 time is less, than bayshore western regions and islands. In bayshore region it is concentrated about 70 % of the population of the country. The urban population predominates. Small cities with number of inhabitants no more 10 are most typical for Portugal; thousand persons.
In the national attitude the population of Portugal - is is unimodal. 99 % Portugueses compound. A basis of the Portuguese ethnos are luzitany, one of ancient iberijskih nations.
a country State language - Portuguese. Portugueses - very believing. In the country the catholicism (90 is passed round; % of believers).
Portugueses like feasts with passion, accessible to few nations of the world. Motives for celebrations the pilgrimage, fair etc. can minister anamnesis numberless sacred. In the north of the country any most small settlement has the celebratory traditions with music, dances, deafening fireworks and specific ceremonials.
It is impossible to ignore bullfight. To learn its aboriginal features, it is necessary to depart to province Ribatezhu - the country of the Portuguese cowboys where long since bred bulls and horses. In days of festivals in many cities of the country bullfight is arranged. Bullfight - one of liked shows of Portugueses. Cracked eggs conditions differ from the Spanish: they are less severe, here a bull do not kill, as in Spain.
it is final, when speech comes about Portugal much at once recollect, что it is the port native land. Really, Vinju du to Port - red or white sweet wine with 20 alcohol % has brought to the country the world popularity. Range of its effecting - terrasnye slopes of a valley of the river Douro. This range conceals in itself a geological puzzle. Assume, that the slate layers containing a moisture, accumulate heat in the afternoon and radiate его in cold nights. Here cultivate 40 quality of a grape for port effecting. Here there are baroque farms of wine barons. Also known regions on wine effecting - a river Mino valley (green wine - vinju verde) and place Azejtao near to a city of Setubal (the grape for popular wine Muskatel Setubal here grows ripe).
grape Fermenting interrupts spirit addition. The wine with the high content of alcohol which can be stored very long is as a result gained. The majority of ports represent the stood admixture vinomaterialov. Formulation of such admixtures of the young wines discriminated on quality and years of crop - the present wine alchemy with ancient traditions. The gained admixtures stand in cellarages-storehouses of a city to Port. Names of many stamps of port - English. It is result of enslaving agreement 1703 on which manufacturing and port sale are in the arm of Englishmen.
It is impossible to be penetrated by spirit of the country not having tried ethnic cuisine. The Portuguese kitchen is a simple, dense meal on the basis of fish, meat and cabbage. The fresh potherb unlike the Mediterranean practically is not used. The most popular dish - sardines, zharennye on coals. Portugueses adore the sweet. In monastic bakehouses produce absolutely fantastic delicacies with heavenly names. And it is final, what good dinner without a kind small bottle of the Portuguese wine!
