Portuguese resent EU as they take its helm - International Herald Tribune
Portuguese resent EU as they take its helm
LISBON: In this old and nostalgic capital, filled with grand monuments to the navigators who helped create Europe's first overseas empire in the 15th century, one begins to understand why the Portuguese have never completely learned to love the latter-day empire of sorts known as the European Union.
LISBON, Portugal: Former dictator Antonio Oliveira Salazar was chosen as the greatest Portuguese of all times by viewers of a TV show.
When James Cook thought he had discovered Australia and claimed it for the crown in the 18th century, he was late to the party. Another English explorer had been decades ahead in sighting the great southern land, while Dutch explorers had been charting the continent even earlier.
But evidence has emerged to suggest that neither the English nor Dutch were the first Europeans to reach the continent during the great era of epic sea adventure and global circumnavigation.
Continue reading "Were the Portuguese the first to discover Australia? - from the Guardian" »
Salazar Bridge celebrates anniversary from "The Resident | Greater Lisbon Edition"
• Ponte 25 de Abril, then called Ponte Salazar
Continue reading "Salazar Bridge celebrates anniversary" »
The Monastery of Alcobaça (Portuguese: Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça) is a mediaeval monastery located in the town of Alcobaça, in central Portugal. It was founded by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, in 1153, and maintained a close association with the Kings of Portugal throughout its history.
The church and monastery were the first Gothic buildings in Portugal, and, together with the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, it was one of the most important of the mediaeval monasteries in Portugal. Due to its artistic and historical importance, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1989.
Continue reading "Monastery of Alcobaca from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia" »
Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.