- Portugal once owned half of the “New World”. When the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed in 1494, Portugal was given the eastern half of the New World, including Brazil, Asia and Africa.
- The shrine of Fátima is a popular pilgrimage spot for Christian worshippers. It was here in 1917 that the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to three young shepherds. In terms of the number of visiting pilgrims, it is second only to Rome in Europe.
- Portugal is home to 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With the exception of only one, these are all cultural sites. These play an important role in tourism and are one of the reasons Portugal has become one of the top 20 most-visited countries in the world.
