Topography of Portugal:

Portugal has a very long sea coast, a reason for many sailing adventures and arrival of various civilizations in the past history of Portugal. Portugal has a mixed population from different origins settled here and influenced the present language of Portugal totally different from the Portugal’s original language. Besides all these upheavals, Portugal is the oldest nation of Europe.

Brief History of Portugal:

During the 12^th Century Portugal gained it’s independence from the erstwhile ruling kingdom. Thus Count Afonso Heneriques was the first king as per the wishes of Portugal people. With the conquest of Algarve Portugal possessed its continental border. During the thirteenth century a University was founded at Coimbra in Portugal.

Territories Archipelagos of Azores and Madeira were discovered and form part of Portugal. The Portuguese attained their First Feat among European Nations by sailing to Africa, bringing back wealth of treasures.

Portugal witnessed Dynasty problem and were ruled under Spanish King in the beginning of sixteenth century, which was taken over by a Portugese King. King Joao V, an art lover built a huge palace and a convent at Mafra. The water supply system to Lisbon was completed in the 19^th century.

The monarchy failed and a Republic was established in 1910.

Portugal Political & Administrative Set Up:

Portugal has the status of Democratic Republic and its rule is governed by the Constitution of 1976 with Lisbon, Portugal’s Mega sized city being its capital. There are four main wings, which in combination form part of the Government run by the President of the Republic.

The Parliament is comprised of Assembly of the Republic. The Government is headed by a Prime Minister. There are courts to look after judicial function in the country. Portugal has no state religion hence making it a secular state.

The president, gets elected to serve a five-year term, has a supervisory non-executive role. The government is run by the Prime Minister. He selects the Council of Ministers and secretaries to help him run the government.

The courts are set up to make several categories forming the judicial, administrative, and fiscal Services to handle respective issues of the country. The supreme courts are courts of last appeal. A thirteen-member constitutional court oversees the constitutionality of the laws.

Climate of Portugal:

Portugal’s climate differs drastically from one region to the other due to factors like latitude, distance from sea and mountains on the land resulting into tolerable winters in Algarve in contrast to colder regions at Porto e Norte near Spain.

The Temperature is mild as compared to rest of Europe. Serra da Estrela mountain, witness snowfall and is a place to do skiing during winters. The summer season is hot and dry witnessed in the inland regions as compared to coastal regions, where the temperatures are lower. Weather is good in the month of November commonly called “St. Martin’s Summer” because saint’s day falls on 11^th November.

Azores and Madeira have a mild climate all the time because of varying geographical positioning in contrast to other territories of Portugal.

Monetary System:

Portugal is member of EU since 1986 and Euro is its official Currency, which is common to other 16 countries of Europe.

Through out Portugal - Automatic Teller Machines ATMs are installed and are effectively dispensing cash to the needs of the population

Exchange of currency can be made at Banks and with the help of automatic currency exchange machines.

Portugal population has access to Popular Credit Cards of Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Master Card, Euroclub etc. which are supported by good customer care service.

Communication Links:

Telephones Services:

There are coin operated public telephone booths. Virtual cards are also available, which can be procured from Telecom shops, post offices and some designated public counters.

The telephone numbers have 9 digits for making a call outside Portugal digits 00 and 351 are to be suffixed.

Similarly for making a call abroad, dial 00, the country code, the area code followed by the number to be accessed. Information of country codes is available at the booths.

Mobile phones:

Portugal has the highest number of mobile phone users and the service is provided by TMN, Vodafone and Optimus all have roaming arrangements with international mobile phone service providers. There is good coverage by these network arrangements.

Under the Portuguese Highway Rules one can not use mobile phones, while driving the vehicle except when there is hands free appliance.

Internet Services:

Internet services can be accessed on payment in some cafés, in post offices having Net post service. A number of hotels and public places like Airports, Conference centers, Restaurants, Service Areas in motor-ways and shopping centers, wireless internet service is available.

Casa dos Tapetes de Arraiolos, rua Santa Catarina 570:

It is show room for the fabled Arraiolos carpets, which are popularly known as  nubby pure wool carpets of Portugal. A huge number of women workers, who for the last many generations of producing such art work, devote long hours in crafting carpets depicting symmetrical offbeat designs in bright and attractive colors, which are exhibited and sold to unique customers having love for the craft items.

Mуvel 4–rua de Camхes 19:

Is the largest dealer of Cutting-edge home furnishings, which are sold at their branches located at rua de Santa Catarina 1002, and rua Dom Manuel II 196.

Haity, rua de Santa Catarina 247:

They are largest dealer of leather goods at Porto.

Casa dos Linhos, rua de Fernandes Tomas 660:

Are dealers for all varieties of linen and embroideries.

Livraria Lello, rua das Carmelitas 144:

It is a renowned book store and has exclusive stocks of great titles in English and has a good range. One can find any thing needed at this book store. The premises, is well decorated, the shop is more than a century old and therefore has some rare books. It is very famous through out north Portugal.

Perfumaria Castilho, rua de Sб de Bandeira 80:

It is a place, where one can access any brand of international perfumes and if you’re looking for any of the standard international perfumes, besides some very rare perfumes, which are exclusively available here.

Ana Salazar, rua nova de Alfopndega 65:

They make exclusive designs related to women’s fashion, the womens’ clothing portray sexy look.The show room stocks all type of goods like for casual wear, office wear, sports wear including foot wear, bags and accessories. Their clothes are bit costly, when compared to local stuff, but they are reasonably priced as compared to other similar designer crafts available in Paris.

Regional Center of Traditional Arts: rua de Reboleira 33-37:

They stock traditionally produced Portuguese handicrafts. It was established in the eighteenth century. It sources its items from select artisans spread through out Portugal.  ita 20A.

Vista Alegre, rua Cвndido dos Reis 18:

They stock ultrafine porcelin products, and have facilities of sending the consignments of orders received from customers to any place. The rates of items are related to the intricacy of the artwork involved.

Cafe Majestic

Rua de Santa Catarina, 112

It is the place from where the cafe Majestic started it’s services in the twenties. The cafe has close connections with the events and happenings in the city of Porto starting from 1921 offering a feeling of luxury besides the coffee beverage, when it was named as Elite. Within just one year it was named Majestic, which is in continuance thereafter. Various writers and politicians of the times assembled here for a refreshing cup of coffee to stimulate their think tank and exchange views and opinions. It would be true fact that Art, technology and Politics progressed at this spot

Subsequently the Porto city, witnessed tremendous life style changes and the survival a splendid coffee place also became an unmanageable issue. It was closed down, and subsequently in 1994 it reopened as a Public Interest and cultural Heritage Property displaying it’s artistic look having decorations of Antwerp Crystals, Indian Marble flooring captivating furnishings. Among the Antiques is the Piano and winter garden warmly inviting the visitors.

This is the kind of refined atmosphere, with poetry readings, piano concerts, painting exhibitions and book launches, that the Cafe Majestic creates for your visit.

Following are some of the prominent regional restaurants serving all famous dishes like Sardinhas Fritas, Pataniscas de Bacalhau, Bacalhau а Narcisa e Bacalhau, Filetes de Polvo e Congro Arroz Doce e Mousse de Chocolate, Doces Caseiros,
Sopa de Legumes e Entradas Variadas  to the visitors.

Restaurante Adega do Pacheco: Rua de Miraflores.

Restaurante Adega Vila Meг: Rua dos Caldeireiros, 62.

Restaurante Bar Club 21 Rua Afonso Lopes Vieira, 162:

Restaurante Capa Negra:Rua Campo Alegre, 191:

Restaurante Chez Lapin:Rua dos Canastreiros, 40/42:

Restaurante Churrascгo do Mar: Rua Joгo Grave, 134/152. –

Ao Estadio do Bessa.

Restaurante Convнvio: Rua Arq. Marques da Silva, 303 e Rua Gonualo Sampaio, 238.

Restaurante Cufra: Avenida da Boavista, 2504.

Restaurante D.Tonho Cais da Ribeira, 13/15.

Restaurante Don Manoel: Avenida Montevideu, 384 (Foz do Douro). Restaurante Escondidinho: Rua Passos Manuel, 144.

Restaurante Favas Contadas Rua de Gondarem, 843.

Restaurante Galiza: Rua do Campo Alegre, 55.

Restaurante Gambamar Rua do Campo Alegre, 110/118.

Restaurante Lagosteiro: Rua Conde de Burnay, 140.

Restaurante Mal Cozinhado: Rua do Outeirinho, 13.

Restaurante Mercearia: Cais da Ribeira, 32/33-A.

Restaurante Miguel: Rua D. Domingos Pinho Brandгo.

Restaurante Neptuno: Rua Rodrigues Sampaio, 133.

Restaurante O Fado: Largo Sгo Joгo Novo, 16 – 16-A.

Restaurante У Macedo: Rua Passeio Alegre, 552.

Restaurante Orfeu: Rua Julio Dinos, 928.

Restaurante Porto Fino: Rua do Padrгo, 103 (Foz do Douro).