Fado
Fado is part of Portuguese culture, a musical style that only exists in Portugal. In Lisbon and Porto, fado is a phenomenon that is very present in older regions and in typical houses. The tone is always geared towards political and social criticism, but there is also room for passion, disillusionment, nostalgia and everyday problems.
Amália Rodrigues was the main fado singer in the country and is considered a diva of Portuguese music, being unbeatable to this day in terms of the number of albums sold.
Currently, the new fado singers who stand out the most are Carminho, Ana Moura and Mariza.
Gastronomy
Portugal is currently witnessing an authentic exaltation of flavors, where new chefs combine traditional products and recipes with contemporary cuisine. Five icons of our cuisine stand out: the best fish in the world; the cataplana (a living symbol of Mediterranean cuisine); port wine (inimitable); the pastel de nata (“celestial sweet”); our chefs (fuse tradition with innovation and creativity). Which goes hand in hand with the principles why UNESCO recently recognized Portugal as holder of the Mediterranean Diet. Furthermore, because we like to receive and socialize around the table, making each meal a moment of sharing.
Religion
The Portuguese are mostly Catholic. In fact, religion in Portugal is at the center of the lives of thousands of people who still have the habit of attending Mass on Sundays, in addition to pilgrimages to shrines to fulfill promises. Despite having lost strength in the younger generation, religion is still part of everyday life in the country.
Certainly the best known sanctuary in Portugal is the Sanctuary of Fátima. Every year thousands of people visit the place to receive blessings and give thanks.
Wine
Portugal has been a famous wine producer for over two millennia, since the arrival of the Roman people with cultivation and production techniques. And the wine sector has grown exponentially in the country due to the great diversity of grape varieties.
In fact, nowhere else on the European continent are there so many varieties that can generate very high quality Portuguese wines.
In Portugal there is still the oldest Demarcated Region on the planet, in the Douro. This location was developed to guarantee the world-renowned excellence of the famous Port Wine.
Traditional dances
Dance is an expression of the music and soul of a people and are several of the typical dances in Portugal. Although there are several elements common to all these dances, some manage to be completely different from others, such as the Pauliteiros de Miranda, whose origins date back to an ancient Celtic tradition that represented the struggle between rival tribes. With the exception of this particular case, other types of dance in Portugal almost always have the accordion as a common musical instrument, which is not surprising since it was the most popular musical instrument in the country at the end of the 19th century.
Conventual sweets
The most famous typical Portuguese sweet is, without a doubt, the pastel de Belém (or its imitation, less perfect but equally delicious, the pastel de nata). However, the variety of typical sweets is enormous and it can even be said that each small town or city in the country has its own sweet.
Pastel de Tentúgal, pastel de Vouzela, queijadas and pillows from Sintra, clarinhas from Esposende, bread from Ló de Ovar, soft eggs from Aveiro… the examples are countless (and all delicious). The Portuguese appetite for sweet things is well known, as well as their art for working with ingredients and preparing authentic delights.