Portugal is a southwestern European country located in the Iberian Peninsula and bathed by the Atlantic Ocean that also comprises the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. Its temperate Mediterranean climate is characterised by the warmer, drier South and the cool, rainy North. The mountainous interior north part of mainland Portugal is the coolest area of the country, with annual average temperatures between 8 and 12°C, while the south part enjoys an average of 16 to 19°C. The warmest regions of Portugal are Alentejo and the Algarve, whose weather conditions are similar to those on the south coast of Spain. Although both archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira have a subtropical climate, there are significant differences between them. While the Azores experiences more rain and slightly lower temperatures, Madeira is sunnier and has a very constant temperature all year round. Most of the country's 10 million inhabitants are Roman Catholics.
Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal, followed by Porto, Braga, Aveiro, Faro, Coimbra and Viseu. Funchal and Ponta Delgada are the capitals of the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores, respectively.
Besides being known as one of the warmest and most pleasant countries in Europe, Portugal is widely recognised for its beaches, beautiful natural landscapes, delicious cuisine, as well as its rich cultural and religious heritage. In fact, Fado music entered UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List and there are fifteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, in Lisbon; the Alto Douro Wine Region; the Town of Angra do Heroísmo, in the Azores; the Convent of Christ, in Tomar (Santarém district); the University of Coimbra; the Historic Centre of Évora, Guimarães and Porto, to name only a few.
After watching our live streaming HD webcams, we are sure you will want to visit Portugal. And if you do, we advise you to hire a car and take a road trip across the country to discover all the treasures of this nation by the sea.
