It is no surprise that Portugal is steeped in history, given that it is arguably one of the oldest countries in Europe. Throughout the centuries, this little yet once powerful country has given birth to many notable figures and a host of unusual happenings. This month, let’s take a look at ten facts about Portugal that you possibly didn’t know, which reflect its ancient history.
1. One of the world’s oldest borders
Portugal’s border with Spain is one the oldest frontiers in the world. Defined by the Treaty of Alcañices between King Denis of Portugal and King Fernando IV of Castile in 1297, the 1,234km Portuguese-Spanish border, known as “the stripe”, has remained almost unchanged for over 700 years.
Having shared an open border with Spain, as part of the Schengen zone, since 1995, it is the largest uninterrupted border in the European Union. In July 2020, the President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and H.M. King Felipe VI of Spain met on the border between Elvas and Badajoz to celebrate the reopening of the open border following its temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Longest reigning monarch
King Alfonso is credited as the father of Portugal, having founded the country in 1143. Ascending the throne in 1112, he died in 1185 after 73 years and 220 days in power and holds the Guinness World Record as Europe’s longest-reigning monarch. Portugal’s shortest reigning monarch, however, was Luis Felipe, who was ‘king’ for 20 minutes following the assassination of his father in 1908. The heir-apparent died shortly after his father was assassinated at the hands of the same republican sympathisers, which paved the way for a Portuguese republic.
3. The world’s oldest bookshop
Livraria Bertrand (the Bertrand bookshop) is known as the world’s oldest still-operating bookshop. Pedro Faure opened it in Chiado, Lisbon, in 1732. When French booksellers arrived in Portugal during the 18th century, Pedro Faure set out to establish one of the world’s best-loved companies in literature. Having already established a leading print shop in Cordoaria Velha, he opened his bookshop, presumably under his own name, on Rua Direita do Loreto, close to the current Livraria Bertrand do Chiado. Now, some 292 years later, Livraria Bertrand has gained a prestigious reputation worldwide, attracting internationally renowned scholars and the elites alike. In 2010, Guinness World Records formally announced it as the world’s oldest bookshop. Even Dom Pedro II, the king of Brazil, visited Livraria Bertrand to scroll through the bookshelves during his European tour in 1871. Today, the company operates 59 branches across Portugal, including two on the island of Madeira.
4. Portugal’s oldest village
Ponte de Lima is officially the oldest village in Portugal. Located in the Viana do Castelo region in the north, it was founded in 1125 and was once a Roman settlement on the main road from Braga to Santiago de Compostela. Today, the town is known for its production of vinho verde (green wine), sarrabulho rice and its annual September fair Feiras Novas, which dates back to 1826 under the provision of King Pedro IV.
5. The capital’s oldest house
Casa Nóisi, situated on Rua dos Cegos in Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood Alfama, is the oldest house in the capital. Dating back half a millennium, the small townhouse withstood the earthquake of 1755, which devastated much of the city and country as a whole. Many believe that the house was spared from destruction due to its solid pillars and small design, withstanding the tests of time and beautifully preserved to this day. Its overhanging first floor is a perfect representation of medieval architecture and one of the few surviving in the country today.
6. The oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon
Alfama is considered the oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon, having been founded in 1200 BC. Its name derives from the Arabic al-hamma, meaning hot fountains. Alfama constituted the whole city during Moorish rule, stretching to the west Baixa neighbourhood. Due to its proximity to the Tagus river, Alfama became a popular fishing district. Today, Alfama preserves some of the most historic architecture in Lisbon, complete with its Moorish-built streets, overlooked by the former royal residence, the medieval Castle of São Jorge.
7. The oldest road sign in the world
Staying in Alfama, it would be no surprise to learn that this historic neighbourhood is home to the world’s oldest road sign. Standing on Rua do Salvador, it is the only remaining marble road sign installed by Dom Pedro II in 1686. Originally, there were 24 traffic regulatory signs in the city of Lisbon, but this is the only one which has survived. The 300-year-old plaque reads “Year 1686. His Majesty orders that coaches, carriages and sedan chairs that come from the entrance of Salvador to retreat to the same part.” This would allow those travelling up the street to have priority over anyone coming downwards, thus improving the circulation of traffic and pedestrians. The sign isn’t only the oldest of its kind in Portugal but also the oldest traffic sign in the world.
8. The oldest university
Coimbra University is one of the oldest universities in the world and the oldest in Portugal. Founded in 1290 by Dom Dinis as the Estudos Gerais (General Studies), the university was transferred between Lisbon and Coimbra during the reigns of several monarchs until it was definitively established in Coimbra by Dom João III in 1537. Up until the early part of the 20th century, it was the only Portuguese-speaking university in the world and it is still operating to this day.
9. The world’s oldest megalithic complex
Almendres Cromlech, near Évora, is considered one of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Thought to be around 7,000 years old, it is the largest of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula and around 2,000 years older than Stonehenge. Built with 95 granite monoliths arranged in a circular pattern, the site is believed to have been used for religious and ceremonial purposes, as well as an astronomical observatory. What makes Almendres Cromlech stand out amongst other megalithic structures is that there is no entry fee and visitors can walk around the stones just as many have done for millennia.
10. The world’s oldest alliance
Although common knowledge, we couldn’t end our list without including the world’s first alliance and arguably the oldest friendship in history.
Following the assistance of English crusaders in helping King Alfonso I capture Lisbon from the Moors in 1147, it was in 1372 that Dom Ferdinand I of Portugal and representatives of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, signed the Treaty of Tagilde at the Church of São Salvador of Tagilde in the Braga district.
The following year saw the signing of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 between King Edward III of England and King Ferdinand I and Queen Eleanor of Portugal at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, establishing “perpetual friendships, unions and alliances” between the two countries. When John of Gaunt landed in Galicia in 1386 and failed to press his claim to the Crown of Castile with the help of the Portuguese, he left his daughter, Philippa of Lancaster, behind to marry King John I of Portugal and seal the Anglo-Portuguese alliance once and for all.
The Treaty of Windsor was signed in Windsor, England, on 9 May 1386, followed by the marriage of King John and Philippa of Lancaster on 14 February 1387. Today, the Alliance is 651 years old and probably the oldest friendship between nations in the world.
Did you know?
The Castle of Montemor-o-Velho in Coimbra district is the oldest castle in Portugal. Built in 1088, it is older than Portugal itself.
