The Region and the country… Lecce, Italy, March 2015

The country… Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, country located in southwestern Europe, whose territory is situated in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula and islands in the North Atlantic.

The Portuguese territory has a total area of km², being bounded north and east by Spain and the south and west by the Atlantic Ocean, comprising a mainland and two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe. The country's name comes from its second largest city, Porto, whose Latin name was Portus Cale.

Regions…

Palácio da Pena, SintraMiradouro dos Balcões - Madeira Monsaraz - Alentejo Porto e Norte

Ilha de São Miguel - Açores Praça do Comércio, Lisboa Castelo de Almourol - CentroZambujeira do Mar - Alentejo

Portugal… The territory within the present borders of the Portuguese Republic has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric times: occupied by Celts, Galician and Lusitanian, was integrated into the Roman Republic and later settled by Germanic people such as the Suebi and the Visigoths

The country founded in 1143, following the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, remained an independent kingdom until 1580, then its sovereign became the spanish king and, later in 1640, regained independence.

It became a Republic in 1910, following a regicide and remained as so until our days.

Gastronomy Portugal has a cuisine as rich and varied as its landscape. It is the sea that prints the most striking feature of Portuguese cuisine. The sweets, come from our convents where they were prepared centuries ago. If you come to Portugal you must try a “Pastel de Nata” accompanied with you coffee. Each dish has a right wine to be served with. We have different wines throughout the country, and the Port Wine is one of the most famous, the Douro red, the Alentejo among others are very appreciated as well.

The region and our school… Our school (Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde) is located in the Minho region, on the northwestern corner of the country.

The headquarters of the school are located in Vila Verde and it has a branch in the neighboring county of Amares.

The region… Vila Verde municipality is located in the district of Braga, right in the heart of Minho. With an area of km2, a population of inhabitants spread over 33 parishes.

It enjoys a pleasant temperate climate with average annual temperatures of 15 ° C, and a wet winter and hot and dry summer. It has, in a great part of this territory, an emphasis on rurality and natural landscapes. It is a township where innovation and entrepreneurship are common.

The region… Amares municipality is located in the district of Braga, also in the heart of Minho. With an area of 81,95 km2, a population of inhabitants spread over 16 parishes.

It enjoys a pleasant temperate climate with average annual temperatures of 14 ° C, and a wet winter and hot and dry summer. It has, as well, in a great part of this territory, an emphasis on rurality and natural landscapes.

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