Portugal has been in the spotlight of travel agencies for years. Its amazing gastronomy, rich culture, friendly citizens, and sunny weather throughout the year make people fall in love for one of the oldest countries in Europe.

Let's explore the main things to know about Portugal!

During the Holy celebration of All Saints' Day, in 1755, Lisbon was hit by an earthquake that contemporary studies believe to last between 3 to 6 minutes. The tremor was followed by a tsunami and an unproportional fire.

If you like wine, you know the importance of the cork to the world. Besides preserving the liquid, cork can be used in hundreds of ways. That's why the biggest cork's importers from the country are Germany, UK, and the USA.  

This old industry was a great reference in its production.

Yes, that is right. It sounds unconventional, but Portuguese traders of the 16th century were the ones that brought the technique to Japan. Deep fry fish in an egg batter was common since the 13th century in Portugal and Spain. Soon the delicacy was locally incorporated.

Also spoken in some regions, like Macau in China.It is believed that 270 million people speak the language, making it the 6th most spoken language in the world and the 1st in the South Hemisphere.

Enjoy the Passion of Portuguese Language!

The history of Bertrand bookstore goes back to 1732, when it first started operations. The location was changed several times, especially because the 1755 earthquake destroyed the physical stores, but the owners managed to open it again in the Baixa region.

Fado music is a form of Portuguese singing that dates back to the 1820s and can often be heard in pubs, cafes, and restaurants. It can be described by using the Portuguese word “saudade”, which means “longing” and stands for a feeling of loss and melancholy.

The famous Portuguese delicacy was created by monks from Jerónimos Monastery inspired by French pastries. As they used the egg whites to starch clothing, they created an egg custard to be served with a puff pastry. After the Liberal Revolution, they sold the recipe to a store!

The biggest wave ever surfed was here in Nazaré. The Brazilian Maya Gabeira has broken her own Guinness World Records title in 2020, surfing a wave with 22.4 meters high.

The vinho do Porto is considered a local treasure, having the vineyards which produce it certified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is a fortified wine that was pretty popular in England during the 18th century.

This map occupies the furthest wall at the entrance of the Maritime Museum, showing the main voyages accomplished by Portuguese navigators as well as the meridian defined by the “Treaty of Tordesillas”.

Positioned at the center of the Maritime Museum's entrance and surrounded by several Portuguese explorers that commenced the Portuguese Atlantic adventure, Prince Henrique’s “the Navigator” statue stands as a testament to his role as one of the first and most important proponents of the Portuguese Discoveries.

The advances in Portuguese shipbuilding during the Early Modern period were key to the success of the exploratory voyages completed in what became known as the Discoveries. Is usually seen as the main example in said advances, becoming a symbol of Portuguese Discoveries.

Sculpted in wood, this statuette was part of one of the most important voyages in both Portuguese and global maritime history: the discovery of the sea route between Europe and India, in 1498. It is the most important material testimony of this trip, commanded by Vasco da Gama.

The development of astronomical navigation was fundamental for increasing the safety of ocean voyages undertaken by the Portuguese in the period of the Discoveries. Currently, the Maritime Museum has one of the richest collections of nautical astrolabes on display in the world.

Copy of the original found in the Biblioteca Estense in Modena, Italy. Through this map, the scope of the Portuguese Discoveries is clear, showing how in just under 100 years the Portuguese had increased their geographical knowledge to the point of creating a world map in which, the represented lands, people, fauna and flora, are recognizable by today's standards. 

This was the largest Portuguese “Nau” (Indiaman) to ever complete the India Run and one of the largest ships in the world when it was built. On its final voyage, was captured by English Pirates who, fascinated by the sheer magnitude of it, sailed the ship back do England.

On July 5th, 1833, during the Portuguese Liberal Wars, a naval battle took place off the coast of the Cape St. Vincent, in the south of Portugal, between the liberals and the absolutists. It was the last battle fought exclusively between portuguese sailing ships.

Built in the royal shipyard in Daman, in the former Estado da Índia, between 1832 and 1845, was the last solely wind-powered vessel of the Portuguese Navy and was the last Indiaman to complete the India Run that linked Portugal to the Indian Ocean for the three centuries previously.

Built at the Fratelli Orlando Shipyard, in Livorno, it was a powerfully armed warship, which appeared at the end of the 19th century, as result of the need to renew the Portuguese naval fleet. It played a key role in several important periods in the Portuguese history, such as the establishment of the Republic.

Republican flag hoisted aboard the cruiser “Adamastor”, act that gave the signal for the beginning of the revolution. The Portuguese Republic was proclaimed on October 5, 1910, putting an end to the monarchical regime that had been in force since the beginning of nationality.

Lifeboat that carried the Augusto de Castilho survivors from the fight against the german submarine U-139. Combat occurred on October 14, 1918, where the Commander of "Augusto Castilho", Lieutenant Carvalho de Araújo, as well as six other crew elements lost their lives. Lothar von Arnaud de la Perière commanded the U-139, considered the best submariner of all times. 

Commissioned by the Portuguese Navy on the 10th of December 1959, this launch had an important role in the Navy’s final engagements in India, during the Indian invasion of Portuguese Diu, in 1961.

Until recently, water streams were the main forms of communication between different peoples and places. One of the models that best represents this aspect is the “Cacilheiro” dinghy, an important vessel to the lives of the people in the Tagus estuary – so much so that its name has been passed down to the current ferries in the river. 

Built in 1938 at the Haan Oerlmans shipyards, in Netherlands, for “Parceria Geral de Pescarias Ltdª”, the “Argus” lugger represents the continuation of the construction of metallic ships for long-distance fishing in Portugal, namely, one of the foods that is still present on Portuguese tables today, the codfish.

Coastal fishing is a type of fishing that is carried out, as a rule, with the coast in sight, this being a very old type of fishing that predates the very existence of Portugal, which remains today and is part of the Portuguese tradition.

It appeared in the 17th century and was a fishing vessel used by fishermen from the estuaries on the south bank of the Tagus River (Seixal, Barreiro and Moita), who crossed the bar to cast nets between Cabo da Rocha and Cabo Espichel.

This room is considered to be one of the extravagant spaces of the Maritime Museum, dedicated to the royal chambers of the yacht “Amélia”, the luxurious rooms of king Carlos and queen-consort Amélie of Orleans, salvaged from the yacht when it was paid off by the Navy in 1938.

One of the most imposing objects in the Barge Pavilion and one of the most important elements of the collection of the Maritime Museum, this royal vessel built at the end of the 18th century helps to understand the strong connection that has always existed between the royal families and the sea.

View of the interior of the Royal Bergantim.

Other perspective of the interior of the Royal Bergantim’s Royal Chamber.

View of the interior of the Royal Bergantim’s Royal Chamber.