Table of Contents
Introduction
Portugal is synonymous with beautiful beaches, picturesque seaside towns, and a laidback lifestyle. But beyond the sandy shores lies a country with a deep and diverse history spanning millennia. Though often overshadowed by its larger neighbor Spain, Portugal has its own compelling story of ancient civilizations, naval dominance, artistic accomplishments, and cultural traditions. For travelers looking to dig deeper, Portugal offers a treasure trove of historical sites and heritage ready to be uncovered across its cities, towns and landscapes.
Ancient Roots
The Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with various Celtic, Phoenician and Greek settlers mixing with indigenous peoples over the centuries. The Lusitanians were one early Indo-European tribe settling west of the Iberian Peninsula from 1200 to 400 BC. They resisted occupation, fighting against both the Romans and Moors. Elements of their culture survive in modern Portuguese culture.
The Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula in 19 BC, bringing 500 years of infrastructure, urban development and reforms. They constructed bridges, roads, aqueducts and temples across their Lusitania province. Ruins like the Temple of Diana in Évora and Milreu Palace in the Algarve stand as reminders of Roman rule today.
Medieval Grandeur
In 711 AD, Moors from North Africa began occupying the Iberian Peninsula, bringing Arabic language and Islamic architecture and culture. Portugal’s name even derives from the Roman name for its location ‘Portus Cale’.
Christian crusaders fought to reclaim Iberia during the Reconquista. Afonso Henriques proclaimed himself the first king of Portugal after victory at the Battle of Ourique in 1139. With support from English crusaders, Portugal’s borders were secured through treaties with Spain by 1297.
Portugal entered its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries. Extravagant Manueline architectural styles emerged, incorporating maritime symbols and objects from Portuguese voyages. The Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon exemplifies this unique ornamentation.
Age of Discovery
Prince Henry the Navigator established a school of navigation in 1419 and supported maritime exploration along Africa’s coast. Portuguese ships successfully sailed around Cape Bojador and Cape Verde between 1434-1444. Further voyages reached Sierra Leone by 1460 and rounded the Cape of Good Hope by 1488, paving the way for travel to India and the East Indies.
Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to sail around Africa’s southern tip in 1488. Vasco da Gama completed the first sea voyage from Europe to India in 1498. Pedró Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil in 1500, laying foundations for Portugal’s colonial empire.
This golden age of discovery saw Portugal amass wealth and territories spanning Brazil, parts of Africa, India and East Asia. Portuguese seafaring innovations made them a dominant colonial power in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Artistic Treasures
Portugal’s historical sights includes exceptional architecture showcasing diverse artistic styles. The Batalha Monastery combines Gothic and Manueline craftsmanship, with intricately carved limestone and maritime motifs. Built to honor victory at the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota, it was one of Portugal’s finest architectural works by the 15th century.
Another Manueline masterpiece is the 16th century Belém Tower guarding the Lisbon harbor. Its ornate façade incorporates carved ropes, coral, anchors and spheres.
The interior of the Hieronymites Monastery in Lisbon was decorated with blue and white azulejo tiles in the 18th century. Azulejos adorn palaces, churches, schools and train stations across Portugal today.
Fado Music
Fado is Portugal’s national musical tradition, believed to originate from the songs of sailors and African slaves. Lyrics reflect sorrow, regret, passion, jealousy or lost loves, sung solo with a Portuguese guitar accompaniment. Fado houses in the Alfama district are the best places to experience authentic shows in Lisbon. Portugal’s annual Amália Rodrigues Festival in October celebrates fado music and its most famous singer.
Contemporary Culture
While honoring traditions, Portugal also has thriving contemporary culture. Portuguese literary greats include Nobel prize winners José Saramago and António Lobo Antunes. The charming love stories of author José Rodrigues Migueis offer lighter reading.
Portugal’s Novo Cinema movement of the 1960s brought international attention to Portuguese film. Director Manoel de Oliveira was prolific until his death at age 106. Pedro Almodóvar’s 1999 film All About My Mother was partly set and filmed in Portugal.
Portuguese cuisine takes seafood, meat, bread, rice, olive oil and wine and transforms them into flavorful dishes. Salted cod features in the national dish bacalhau, while pasteis de nata custard tarts are another specialty.
Preserving Traditions
Portugal safeguards ancient practices through handicrafts, festivals and local customs. Artisans preserve traditions like Azorean embroidery, Alentejo rugs, lacework and glazed pottery.
Festivals like the Easter processions, summer solstice Festa de São João and Christmas nativity Misericórdias enact Portugal’s Catholic devotions and folklore. Bullfighting, passion plays, pilgrimages and dancing rituals like the vira or chamarrita also remain popular.
Pousadas are historic hotels set in castles, monasteries or palaces, ideal for immersing yourself in Portuguese heritage. Staying in quintas vineyard estates, solares manors or aldeias traditional villages also connects visitors to authentic local culture.
Key Historical Sites
Portugal is home to over a dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites spanning prehistoric rock art, Roman ruins, medieval quarters and monasteries, 18th century aqueducts and 20th century architecture.
Impressive medieval castles are found across Portugal. Castelo de São Jorge on Lisbon’s highest hill has stunning views. The fairytale Pena Palace crowns the heights above Sintra. Obidos is a completely walled medieval village.
Christian, Jewish and Islamic cultures intersect at 12th century UNESCO World Heritage Site Tomar, once home of the Knights Templar. The Convento do Cristo temple stands on ancient Templar foundations.
Built in 1199, Coimbra University is one of Europe’s oldest educational institutions. Its Baroque library houses 300,000 volumes. Nearby, the Roman ruins of Conimbriga contain elaborate mosaic floors.
Portugal has many pilgrimage sites, including the tomb of St. Anthony in Lisbon’s 12th century Cathedral and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, where religious apparitions were reported in 1917.
Lisbon
Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital showcases the country’s diverse layers of history. The medieval Alfama neighborhood has labyrinthine lanes and Fado taverns. The Belem district’s 16th-17th century Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower highlight the Age of Discovery. Striking contemporary architecture ranges from Álvaro Siza’s sleek Museu de Arte Contemporânea to Santiago Calatrava’s organic Oriente Station.
Overlooking the city is the fairytale 19th century Pena Palace in Sintra while nearby Mafra has an extravagant 18th century palace-monastery complex.
Porto
Porto nurtured Portuguese maritime exploration and conquering dynasties. Its colonial riches funded lavish Baroque churches, with gold-gilded carving and blue and white tiles. Porto’s 72-metre Clerigos Tower is one of the city’s postcard landmarks. The historic Ribeira riverside district cascades down to the Douro River, crossed by Gustave Eiffel’s iconic double-decker metal Dom Luis Bridge.
Porto’s top cultural institution is the Museu de Serralves, set in an Art Deco mansion surrounded by gardens and contemporary galleries.
Sintra
The fairy-tale town of Sintra with its sugar-sprinkled palaces and castles was a haven for Portuguese royals. Its forested hills inspired Lord Byron and hub of Romantic architecture led to its UNESCO World Heritage status.
The National Palace’s twin conical chimneys date from Moorish rule. Ferdinand II added Gothic wings and imported azulejos tiles in the 15th century after taking Sintra from the Moors.
In the 19th century, King Ferdinand built the extravagant Pena Palace on the town’s heights, with a mix of Moorish and Manueline styles and flamboyant colors.
Évora
Évora thrived under the Romans in the 1st century AD but fell to the Moors in 715 AD. Its retaking during the Reconquista established Portuguese control. Évora blossomed in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, crowned by an elaborate Gothic cathedral. Portugal’s elite built their palaces within Évora’s medieval walls.
Yet Évora also witnessed darker days as a notorious 16th century slave market. Portugal’s second Inquisition began here in 1536. Scars remain in Evora’s narrow lanes lined with whitewashed houses. But its prestigious university maintains Évora as a lively cultural hub.
Conclusion
Beyond Portugal’s beautiful beaches lie dynamic cosmopolitan cities and towns steeped in history. Visitors will discover striking architectural treasures, ancient castles, charming villages and customs connecting to Portugal’s seafaring pioneers, medieval knights, kings and queens. As rewarding coastal escapes can be found across Europe, it’s Portugal’s singular history that makes it an utterly unforgettable destination. Digging into the diverse heritage beneath the surface brings Portugal’s intricate past and culture to life.
FAQs
What are the major historical periods of Portuguese history?
The major periods are the early Celtic and Roman settlements, Moorish occupation and the Christian Reconquest from the 8th-13th centuries, the Age of Discovery from the 15th-16th centuries, the establishment of a global empire from the 17th-18th centuries, and contemporary modern history from the 19th century onward.
What architectural styles reflect Portugal’s rich history?
Key styles are Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque, and Azulejo tilework. The diverse Arab, Roman, and European influences shape the nation’s built heritage.
What are must-see destinations to experience Portuguese history?
Top historical sites are Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Coimbra, Évora, Tomar, the Algarve coast, Guimarães, Aveiro, Braga, the Douro Valley, and the islands of Madeira and the Azores.
What are popular ways to immerse yourself in Portuguese traditions?
Visiting festivals and markets, attending a Fado music performance, staying in a pousada historic hotel, hiking pilgrimage routes, seeing handicrafts and lacemaking, and cooking/taking a food tour are top ways to engage with traditions.
How has Portuguese culture influenced other parts of the world?
Portuguese explorers spread language, religion, food, architectural styles and culture to South America, Asia, and Africa. Portuguese is spoken globally today thanks to the Age of Discovery. Cuisine, fado music and azulejo tiles are also Portugal imports found across the world.