Page 59 - Northern Spain & Portugal: Pilgrimage into the Past

one at Prainha near the eastern tip of the island). The north coast is untamed and less
populated; the western end is forested and cool; and the eastern tip consists of barren
reddish rock that extends into the blue sea.

• Population: 10,839,514 (estimate)

• Religion: Roman Catholic, 81%, Christian and other, 19%

• Time Zone: ;Z]_`RLW T^ LSPLO ZQ @ > 0L^_P]Y ?TXP Md ʭaP SZ`]^& .PY_]LW ?TXP Md ^Tc
SZ`]^& 8Z`Y_LTY ?TXP Md ^PaPY SZ`]^& ;LNTʭN ?TXP Md PTRS_ SZ`]^
National Holidays: Portugal

In addition to the holidays listed below, 06/10 Portugal Day
Portugal celebrates a number of national
08/15 Assumption of Mary
holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such
L^ 0L^_P] LYO .Z][`^ .S]T^_T ?Z ʭYO Z`_ TQ 10/05 Republic Implantation
you will be traveling during these holidays,
please visit www.timeanddate.com/ 11/01 All Saints’ Day
holidays.
12/01 Restoration of Independence
01/01 New Year’s Day
12/08 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
04/25 Liberty Day
12/25 Christmas Day
05/01 Labor Day

Historical Overview of Portugal

Portugal’s earliest civilization goes back to 8,000-7,000 B.C. Artifacts of pottery and cave
burials indicate that during this time tribes occupied the valley of the Tagus and parts of the
Alentejo and Estremadura. Later, Neolithic people built hilltop forts in northern Portugal.
?SPT] .L^_]Z N`W_`]P bL^ Q`]_SP] OPaPWZ[PO LYO ]PʭYPO Md _SP 7`^T_LYTLY^ L .PW_TN [PZ[WP bSZ
arrived around 700 to 600 B.C.

?SP ʭ]^_ _]LOP]^ _Z P^_LMWT^S LY Z`_[Z^_ ZY _SP PL^_P]Y NZL^_ ZQ ;Z]_`RLW bP]P _SP ;SZPYTNTLY^
who established an outpost at Lisbon around 900 B.C. In the mid-3rd century B.C., they were
QZWWZbPO Md _SP .L]_SLRTYTLY^ bSZ ]PN]`T_PO .PW_TN _]TMP^XPY _Z ʭRS_ Zʬ _SP TX[PYOTYR _S]PL_
of the Roman Empire.

From 210 B.C. onward, the Romans colonized most of Iberia, though they were met with great
resistance from the Celtiberian tribes of the interior. The Romans had quickly subdued the
8POT_P]]LYPLY NZL^_ LYO ^Z`_SP]Y ;Z]_`RLW LYO >[LTY M`_ QZ] ^ZXP ʭQ_d dPL]^ AT]TL_`^ L
legendary Portuguese hero, held up the Roman advance. By the era of Julius Caesar, however,
Portugal, too, had been integrated into the Roman Empire. Colonies included Olisipo (Lisbon),
Ebora (Evora), Scallabis (Santarem), and Pax Julia (Beja). Roman ways were adopted, and it is
from Latin that the Portuguese language was derived.

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