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Portugal is such a great country to visit and has so much to offer. It's a great destination for a road trip because the country is so diverse and it is cheap, and it's safe. It has white sandy beaches with dramatic rock formations, beautiful cities, and great food and wine.
Here are some fun facts about Portugal you should know about before you go.
1. OLDEST COUNTRY
Portugal is the oldest country in Europe. It has had the same defined borders since 1139. Lisbon is even older than Rome!
2. FAMOUS DESSERT
The most famous dessert In Portugal is a custard tart\egg tart called 'Pasteis de Nata'. It is so delicious and a must-have when visiting Portugal.
3. SYMBOL
The symbol of Portugal is a rooster. In Portugal, the rooster is a symbol of faith, good luck, and justice.
4. OLDEST BOOKSTORE IN THE WORLD
Lisbon is home to the oldest bookstore In The World. It is called Livraria Bertrand in the Chiado district (there are a few of these bookstores in Lisbon so make sure you go to the right one)
5. EUROPE'S WESTERNMOST POINT
You can find Europe’s Westernmost Point In Portugal - Cabo da Roca. It isn't too far away from Sintra so if you're spending two days in Sintra it is worth checking out this beautiful point.
6. MOST BEAUTIFUL MCDONALD'S
Portugal Is home to the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s. Located in Porto you'll find a McDonald's that was opened in 1995 and is believed to be the most beautiful McDonald's.
7. CINNAMON
Portugal brought cinnamon among other spices to the Western world. In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama made the first sea voyage from Europe to India. The mission was driven by a desire to find a direct route to the places where spices were plentiful and cheap, cutting out the middlemen. His arrival on India’s Malabar Coast, the heart of the spice trade, marked the start of direct trading between Europe and South East Asia.
8. SAFETY
Portugal has a low crime rate. Portugal is considered the 3rd safest country in the world and has a very low crime rate.
The people were very very nice to us, waiters laughed with us, shop assistants were always smiling and nice, everyone helped us when we needed to, Uber drivers spoke to us very nicely, told us stories, and even cops we asked for guidance happily helped us. There was a very good atmosphere and we do not say that everywhere.
9. CORKS
Portugal. You'll see things made out of cork everywhere in Portugal which is really cool.
10. LONGEST BRIDGE
Portugal Has the Longest Bridge in Europe. Vasco da Gama Bridge, to this day, remains as one of the longest in the world with 10km of it passing over water and a suspension section that allows ships to pass through close to the Lisbon side