Interesting Facts about Portugal

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9 curious facts about Portugal.

Portugal's natural resources include cork, tungsten, coal, iron, uranium, pyrite and marble.
Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, found a route to the Far East in 1498, six years after Columbus' voyage across the Atlantic. Pedro Alvares Cabral landed in South America in 1500.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal's seagoing strength gave it naval superiority and a privileged economic position in Europe.
The bullfights in Portugal are very different from those of Spain and South America. In Portugal it is illegal to kill the bull during the fight.

The Portuguese enjoy drinking wine and view it as therapeutic.
Portugal has an International University in Lisbon, where students from 19 to 90 can obtain a bachelor's degree after completing a three-year program.
In restaurants in Portugal, the letters S. P. stand for segundo o peso. This is beside items on the menu that indicate the food, usually seafood, is charged by weight.
Forty days before Good Friday is Carnival Day, a colourful and exciting celebration similar to Mardi Gras in Brazil. It marks the beginning of Lent.
In Portugal, tiles are artistically decorated with tin glazed colours, clay, religious designs, vegetation, mosaics and marble. Many streets are paved with tiles.