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COMENIUS—PORTUGAL - 2010

PORTUGAL 1143 -2010

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Welcome To Portugal. Our Country is 92090 square Km and is the most occidental country in Europe. Açores and Madeira, the Atlantic islands are Portuguese too. Portugal is the most ancient country in Europe. The kingdom of Por-tugal was born in 1143 d.C. and two centuries after that, our frontiers were defined and practically didn't change after that. So we are Por-tuguese, Christians with one language for 900 years. Only once were we included in the Spanish realm, but only for 60 years– between 1580 and 1640. At the XVth century Portugal launched a task of discovering the world looking for gold, commerce and knowledge. Great Discoverers like Vasco da Gama, Fernão de Magalhães, Pedro Álvares Cabral, were Portuguese. Portugal discovered several territories around the globe, such as Bra-sil, even Australia, opened the way to Índia by sea, spread the Christi-anity, the language, and the culture trough the planet. Mixed races, and cultures, moved plants and animals, races and beliefs. Built the first “global village”. Today there are more than eight countries around the globe which past is linked to Portugal—Cabo Verde, An-gola, Guiné, S.Tomé e Principe, Moçambique, Índia, Timor Leste, and Brasil. The Portuguese—a latim language- is the 5th language in the world, with more than 240 million speakers Portugal has now about 10 million inhabitants. It became a Republic exactly 100 years ago, a democratic country in 1974, and entered the EU in 1986. We Hope you enjoy your visit.

A bit of history

Santarém/ Almeirim

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We believe the foundation of Santarém happened at the VII century b.C. Julius César settled a military camp in Santarém in 61 b.C and after that the Romans were the rulers of this land. 300 years later came the barbarians, and after that, the Muslims from north Africa. At he XI century Christians began to conquer once again the Iberia. Portugal was born, and it was our first king—Afonso Henri-ques—who conquered Santarem from the muslins.(1147)

So the Portuguese culture is a melting pot of several backgrounds– Carthage Greece, Celts, Romans, Moor-ish, Barbarians (Goths) and in Santarém we can feel and taste that. Settled on the most fertile land due to the regular flows of Tejo River, our is a very agricultural land. Here you can meet very friendly people, wonderful tiles and churches, surprising museums, very good examples of the gothic style, and an unforgettable landscape.

From the tourist point of view Santarém is known as the city of the Gothic, so many are the monuments showing this architectonic style one can visit in our town. Horse and bull breading are a feature too, and don´t forget about the god wines, the bullfights... And the fado, our national song. You will also taste our gastronomy which we value as a national heritage for our restaurants are full of pleasant surprises for you.

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Golegã

THE GOLEGÃ NATIONAL HORSE FAIR

was founded in the 18th century, being called "São Martinho" (St. Martin Fair). This denomination was used till 1972 giving place to it's official name "Feira Na-cional do Cavalo" (National Horse Fair).

The "Feira Nacional do Cavalo" is considered one the most important events of it's kind in Ribatejo and in Portugal.

You can find in Golegã many horse lovers and breeders with beautiful speci-mens of the genuine Lusitanian Horse.

These Horses are exhibited in Golegã, and sold all over the world from Japan to South America.

Golegã is also called “The Capital of Horse” and it’s visited yearly by thousands of tourists and horse dealers. People come to Golegã from all over the world, enjoy-ing not only the horses exhibited, but also the local cuisine, Portuguese wine and night events.

One of the most important attractions of Golegã, are the famous “Água-Pé” (a light wine) and "Castanhas assadas" (Crunchy Roasted Chestnuts).

We hope you enjoy your staying in Golegã.

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Fátima

Fátima, white and serene, raises imposingly its Sanctuary that charms at first sight. Mystical land of incessant search for faith, safe harbour of all those looking for light, harmony and peace.

Fátima, that millions visit and remember, in a single miracle of extreme devotion. Land of longing and returns that always offers the necessary calm to all those that bravely travel across its paths.Each May 12th and 13th thousands of pilgrims head for the Altar of the World to kneel at the feet of Our Lady of Fátima, in one of the most impressive demonstrations of faith, peace and spirituality that the world assists, every year, since 1917. The history of Fátima is permanently connected to the existence of three children: Lúcia and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. The sweetness and innocence of the little and humble shepherds took them to see the holiest of the images: the one of Our Lady.

On the 13th of May 1917, at Cova da Iria, a few kilometres from Fátima, they saw a flash of light where now stands the Apparitions Chapel. The Virgin asked them to pray a lot for the wellbeing of the world, and announced that She would return to that place on the next months, every 13th day. The last Apparition occurred in October, being watched by more than 70.000 pilgrims that witnessed the Miracle of the Sun. Fátima is presently considered by many as the Altar of the World, whe-re it smells to promises and burned candles and where arrive thousands of pilgrims moved by the biggest strength of the world: faith.

Batalha

The Word Batalha means Battle.

The name and the history of the town are the history of its Monastery of “Santa Maria da Vitória” (St. Mary of the Victory). Three years had passed from August 14th 1385, the date of the Aljubarrota battle, when the Monas-tery’s construction began in fulfilment of the vow made by King John I to the Virgin Mary. The king had promised to build a mon-astery if he was successful in that his-torical battle. This was a decisive battle for the consolidation of the Portuguese independence and also for the establishment of the Avis dynasty.

The Monastery, UNESCO’s World Heritage, was built not on the battlefield, but 3 km away, in the valley of the Lena River, to allow the presence of a monas-tic community. This magnificent building is the Por-tuguese final Gothic greatest monument, one of the first to receive “Manueline” art decoration and one of the most beautiful European churches of the late Middle Ages. The flamboyant art used in this monu-ment marks the high point of the Gothic style and is a symbol of the late 15th century art.

In this monument one can see the tombs of all the royal Aviz family– John the first, his wife Filipa of the Len-

caster family, and their sons,

This was the family that took the lead-

ership of the overseas discovery.

By the year of 1460, When D.Henrique died, portugueses ships had reach the Sierra Leona at the Atlantic coast, and Portugal had opened the ways of the

planet to other European countries.

VIRTUAL VISIT

http://www.360portugal.com/Distritos.QTVR/Leiria.VR/Patrimonio/Batalha/index.html

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Nazaré The beautiful and typical beach of Nazaré is located on the coast, in the centre of Portu-gal , about 100 km north of Lisbon and 230 km south of Oporto . Considered by many as the most typical beach of the country, its natural beauty enchants all visitors. A mild climate, nice and friendly people, a magnificent light, traditions and fishing arts, transformed Nazaré into the muse of painters and artists, celebrated all over the world. Being part of an historical and patrimonial rich region – the Leiria/Fatima Tourist Region – Nazaré is the ideal place for unforgettable holidays. The head town of the municipality has about 10 000 inhabitants and is divided into 3 population centres: Praia , Sítio and Pederneira, which deserve an attentive visit for their beauty and history. To visit Nazaré is to get to know its history, its people, its customs and traditions, but it is also to discover its gastronomy, its monuments, its beaches and much, much more… Dive into the crystal-clear waters of our beach…

A curious legend attributes the name Nazaré to a statue of the Virgin brought from Nazareth , in Palestine , by a Greek monk to the Spanish monastery of Cauliniana, near Mérida, in the 4th century. In the 8th century arrived at the Monastery the fugitive King Rodrigo, the last Visi-goth king of the Iberian Peninsula , after his defeat before the Moors at Guadalete. In the Monastery he found Friar Romano, who accompanied him in his escape, bringing with them the statue of the Virgin and a box with the relics of St. Bras and St. Bartholomew. Before his death, the friar hid the statue inside a grotto in the promontory of Sítio, where it laid forgotten for 4 centuries, until it was discovered by some shepherds who started to worship it. Legend tells that the Alcaide of the castle of Porto de Mós, D. Fuas Roupinho, was hunting on these lands, in one foggy morning of September 1182, when, chasing a roe deer, the animal suddenly disappeared over the edge of the cliff. Aware of the

danger before him, the nobleman invokes the protec-tion of the Virgin of Nazaré and immediately the horse stopped, saving the knight’s life. In thanksgiving he ordered the little Memory Chapel to be built on the spot. Worshipped since then, the statue of the Virgin would have probably given origin to the name of the place – Sítio of Our Lady of Nazaré.

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Óbidos

Once the wedding present of a queen, the preserved medieval town of Óbidos lying 100 km north of Lisbon is without doubt one of Portugal's most classic walled settlements. Walking the ramparts, visitors can enjoy views of windmills, vineyards and surrounding farmlands. In the residential area below, narrow cobblestone streets are lined with whitewashed houses sporting terracotta roofs. The shops are piled high with local handicrafts, while in spring the town is ablaze with geraniums, morning glo-

Resembling an open-air museum, this walled medieval town has been preserved to look like a picture-postcard, with its monuments, nar-row winding streets and white-washed houses

The massively-towered castle has now been converted into an elegant Pousada (hotel) It was the first one to be adapted and restored from a historical monument, itself a monument of national importance.