Officially known as the Portuguese Republic, Portugal is a country in southwestern Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. Portuguese cuisine is diverse. And Football is the most known, loved and practiced sport in Portugal.
Portugal has developed a specific culture. It has been influenced by various civilizations that crossed the Mediterranean and the European continent. One of the earliest Western literatures, Portuguese literature developed through text and song. Portuguese music encompasses a wide variety of genres. The most renowned is fado, a melancholy urban music. It is associated with the Portuguese guitar and saudade, known as longing. Out of the summer season, Portugal has a large number of festivals for urban audience like Flowfest or Hip Hop Porto. Portugal also has a rich history of painting.
Portugal is a developed country. Even if it has the lowest GDP per capita of all Western European countries, it has a high Human Development Index. It is one of the highest quality of life ratings in the world. Since 1986 it is a member of the European Union and also of the United Nations since 1955. It is also a founding member of the European Union’s Eurozone, OECD, CPLP, and NATO.