Portugal

The Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: República Portuguesa) is a democratic republic located on the west and southwest parts of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, and is the westernmost country in continental Europe. Portugal is bordered by Spain to the north and east and by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south. In addition, Portugal includes two archipelagos in the Atlantic, Azores (Açores) and Madeira Islands.

External links

;Rankings

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• Reporters without borders: Third annual worldwide press freedom index (2004), ranked 25 out of 167 countries
• A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy Magazine: Globalization Index 2005, ranked 22 out of 62 countries
• The Wall Street Journal: 2005 Index of Economic Freedom, ranked 37 out of 155 countries
• The Economist: The World in 2005 - Worldwide quality-of-life index, 2005, ranked 19 out of 111 countries
• Transparency International: Corruption Perceptions Index 2004, ranked 27 out of 146 countries
• United Nations Development Programme: Human Development Index 2004, ranked 26 out of 177 countries
• World Economic Forum: Global Competitiveness Report 2004-2005 - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking, ranked 24 out of 104 countries

;World Heritage Sites

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• Cultural landscape of Sintra - an influential 19th century European royal resort, with its exotic palaces and vegetation.
• Douro Wine Region - a 2,000 year old wine producing region and the oldest demarked wine region in the world, producer of Port wine and Douro wine.
• Historic Centre of Angra do Heroísmo Associated with the 15th century discoveries and trade.
• Historic Centre of Évora (in Portuguese) - founded as a municipality in 59 B.C. by Caesar Augustus it preserves many urban characteristics from all its history and it influenced the Portuguese architecture in Brazil.
• Historic Centre of Porto A preserved 1,000 year old urban area with several monuments.
• Historic Centre of Guimarães (in Portuguese) - The Cradle of Portugal in the 12th century with its historic monuments symbols of Portuguese nationality.
• Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture - an unique and beautiful vineyard landscape practised in a vulcanic island with its huge extinct vulcano.
• Laurisilva Forest of Madeira (in Portuguese) - the largest surviving relict of a previously widespread laurel forest type.
• Monastery of Alcobaça - Founded in the 12th century by the first king of Portugal. It is a masterpiece of Cistercian Gothic art.
• Monastery of Batalha - an highly original Monastery built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians at the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385.
• Monastery of Heronymites (Jerónimos) and Tower of Belém - Reminders of the Portuguese discoveries, these building are the Portuguese art at its best.
• Pre-Historic Rock Art Sites at the Côa Valley - The most outstanding example of early human art in this form in the world. From 22,000 to 10,000 B.C.

;Portuguese State

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• Assembleia da República - Official parliamentary site
• Portal do Governo - Main governmental portal
• Presidência da República - Official presidential site

;Information

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• 25th of April 1974 - Revolution Historic Documents
• Contemporary Portuguese Political History Research Centre - History and politics
• Colonial Voyage Dutch Portuguese Colonial History in Asia
• Portuguese Newspapers
• Sex Trade & AIDS in Portugal - Report
• Portugal Portal - Country Information

;Culture

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• Folclore de Portugal - Portuguese folklore
• Gulbenkian Foundation - Lisbon
• Portuguese Wines
• Serralves Foundation - Porto
• Portuguese Stick Combat - Martial Art
• The Art of Azulejo in Portugal

;Science and Tecnology

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• ABIC - young researchers national association, graduate level up to pos-doc
• AJC - The Portuguese Youth Science Association, mainly undergraduate level
• Centro de Astrofísica - Centre for Astrophysics, University of Oporto.
• FCT - Portuguese Science Funding Agency
• GRICES - The Portuguese Office for International Relations in Science and Higher Education
• IGC - Science and technology funding agency, government-independent and non-profit
• Institutions - A Web page of science and technology institutions, schools, universities, state laboratories, and polytechnic institutes
• Large Dams in Portugal
• Ministry for Science and Higher Education of Portugal
• Science Academy - Academy of Sciences of Lisbon

;Tourism

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• Welcome to Portugal - All about Portugal
• ICN - Conservation areas of Portugal
• Images of Portugal
• IPPAR - Monuments of Portugal
• Pictures and travelogue from a backpacker's trip to Portugal
• Portugalia - Photos from Portugal
• Monumentos - Portuguese monuments
• PortugalTravelGuide - Tourism and holidays
• Interactive Map of Portugal - from itmaps.com
• hotels-portugal.com - Hotel guide for Portugal
• Tapada de Mafra - Tapada (Nature and Hunting)
• Travel guide and directory Everything about travelling to Portugal
• Visit Portugal - Portugal's official travel and tourism website