Background: 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.
April 23rd 2008Europe » Portugal » Alentejo » Évora “A church made of bone!?” I exclaimed. “Yes, and tastefully done too,” came Ralph’s reply. The bus taking both of us from the city of Palmyra in Syria continued to rumb ... 26 photos[full story]
January 28th 2008Europe » Portugal » Alentejo One hundred-twenty kilometres north of Sagres, after a long strip of amiable small towns and charming beaches, Porto Covo stands out for its cool streets with tidily displayed houses, all of which nea ... 13 photos[full story]
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