1. Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe

After many wars and foreign occupancy Portuguese independence was approved by Leão and Castile in 1143 by the treaty of Zamora.

2. Lisbon is older than Rome

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world and the second oldest in Europe, being Athens the first ever named city.

3. Lisbon has the oldest operating library in the world

“Livraria Bertrand” is the oldest operating bookstore in the world, founded in 1732 in Lisbon.

4. Japanese tempura is actually a Portuguese invention

During the 16th century Portuguese who lived in Japan created a battered and fried green bean recipe called “peixinhos da horta”. Today, in Japan, it’s called tempura and has been a staple of the country’s cuisine ever since.

5. Over half of the world’s cork comes from Portugal

Portugal is the world's leading cork producer, accounting for over 60% of the volume of world exports, and it has an area of cork oak corresponding to 25% of the area that exists worldwide.

6. Portugal is a world leader in renewable energy

Portugal is a world leader at integrating generation from wind and solar PV and has embraced targets of 80% renewable electricity by 2030 and a carbon neutral economy by 2050.

7. The biggest wave ever surfed was in Portugal

The Brazilian, Rodrigo Koxa as the record on the biggest wave ever surfed. The Brazilian rode a 24.4-metre wave at Nazaré Beach in Portugal on 8 November 2018.

8. One of the Oldest Universities in Europe Is in Portugal

Portugal’s oldest university was originally founded in Lisbon in 1290 and relocated a number of times before moving permanently to its current location in Coimbra, Portugal.

9. Portuguese Fado Music Is an Intangible Cultural Heritage

Fado (fate in Portuguese) is a genre of music that originated in urban Lisbon sometime before 1820, is a performance genre incorporating music and poetry widely practiced by various communities in Lisbon. The musical genre was added to the World's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011 by UNESCO.

10. Portugal in the top 3 of world safety

According to the Global Peace Index 2019, Portugal ranks as the 3rd safest country in the world, following Iceland and New Zealand.