Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Portugal is a country with a long History. In the country had passed many civilizations that had left its mark in the territory. They built castles, palaces, towns and cities. Before this the prehistoric Man already molded the Portuguese landscape. Table of contents 1 Portugal as a mixture of civilizations 2 National Monuments 2.1 Castles, Palaces and Libraries 2.1.1 Northern Portugal 2.1.2 Central Portugal 2.1.3 Southern Portugal 2.2 Monasteries, Cathedrals and Churches 2.2.4 Northern Portugal 2.2.5 Central Portugal 2.2.6 Southern Portugal 2.3 Prehistoric, Roman and other National Monuments 2.3.7 Northern Portugal 2.3.8 Central Portugal 2.3.9 Southern Portugal Portugal as a mixture of civilizations The first known people that lived in Portugal, were the Oestriminis, that stretched they're territory from Galicia (Northwestern Spain) to the Algarve. They are today seen as the first native people. The first documented invasion was much long before the birth of Christ, when the Ophis with other tribes entered the Iberian Peninsula and instaled in the best lands of the Oestreminis, near the Douro and Tagus Rivers. Later the territory has been conquered or settled by numerous civilizations. Celts, Greeks, Iberians and Lusitanians to name some. The Phoenicians had established also in that side of the peninsula and had great effect on the Lusitanians, especially on they're religion, culture and language. The Lusitanians are seen as the proto-Portuguese. Later came the Romans, a people that had been of the most importantance. Many of they're constructions and cities are still found, nowadays, in ruins, because of the various invasions from other civilizations. After the Romans, the Visigoths, the Suevi came along with other Barbarian people from Germany and had installed in the territory. Later came the Moorish people, from North Africa and invated the entired Peninsula, except in a streach of mountains in Asturias (northern Spain) from where the reconquest (reconquista) of the Iberian Peninsula started. This civilizations brougth Portugal a great deal of Monuments. Portugal emerged as one of the various nations from the christian reconquista. It take its autonomy from the Kingdom of Leon in 1128. And emerged as a full independent kingdom and officially recognized in 1143. From then on, Monuments have been built in honour of its kings, nobles, church and its various battles for independence and the maintnance of it. The country continued to been influenced by other civilization, one of which was the Viking that invated , destroied and steal artifacts from many monuments. The Castillian (later the Spanish) and the French where also responsable for some dammage on historical buildings after they're invasions on Portugal. See also: History of Portugal - Timeline of Portuguese history - List of Portuguese monarchs - Kings of Portugal family tree - Lusitania - Roman Empire National Monuments Altought in Portugal there are numerous monuments from various ages. Some of them have a special value due to its historical, architectonic, artistic and cultural importance. This monuments are classified and protected by the Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (Portuguese institute for architectural heritage) that declares monuments as Monumento Nacional (National Monument). They are protected and preserved by this institute. Castles, Palaces and Libraries Northern Portugal region: Entre Douro e Minho Castle of Guimarães, Guimarães Palace of the Duckes of Bragança, Guimarães region: Trás-os-Montes Castle of Ansiães, Carrazeda de Ansiães Castle of Monforte, Chaves Castle of Montalegre, Montalegre Central Portugal region: Beira Litoral Castle of Montemor-o-Velho, Montemor-o-Velho Castle of Penela, Penela Castle of Santa Maria da Feira, Santa Maria da Feira region: Beira Interior Castle of Belmonte, Belmonte Castle of Castelo Rodrigo, Figueira De Castelo Rodrigo Castle of Marialva, Mêda Castle of Pinhel, Pinhel region: Estremadura and Ribatejo Castle of Almourol, Vila Nova da Barquinha Library of Ajuda, Lisbon National Palace of Ajuda, Lisbon National Palace of Pena, Sintra National Palace of Queluz, Sintra National Palace of Sintra, Sintra Palace and Convent of Mafra, Mafra Tower of São Vicente de Belém, Lisbon Southern Portugal region: Alentejo Castle of Amieira do Tejo, Nisa Castle of Belver, Gavião Castle of Campo Maior, Campo Maior Castle of Elvas, Elvas Castle of Évoramonte, Évora Castle of Portalegre, Portalegre Castle of Terena, Alandroal Castle of Viana do Alentejo, Viana do Alentejo region: Algarve Fortress of Sagres, Vila do Bispo Monasteries, Cathedrals and Churches Northern Portugal region: Entre Douro e Minho Cathedral of Braga, Braga Cathedral of Oporto, Oporto Chapel of São Frutuoso de Montélios, Braga Church of São Miguel do Castelo, Guimarães First Church of Caminha, Caminha Monastery of Grijó, Vila Nova de Gaia Monastery of Pombeiro, Felgueiras Monastery of Rendufe, Amares Monastery of Tibães, Braga region: Trás-os-Montes Cathedral of Vila Real, Vila Real Church of Miranda, Miranda do Douro First Church of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Freixo de Espada à Cinta First Church of Torre de Moncorvo, Moncorvo Central Portugal region: Beira Litoral Chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão, Lamego Monastery of Arouca, Arouca Monastery of Ferreirim, Lamego Monastery of Lorvão, Penacova Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, Coimbra Monastery of Santa Cruz, Coimbra Monastery of São João de Tarouca, Tarouca New Cathedral of Coimbra, Coimbra Old Cathedral of Coimbra, Coimbra region: Beira Interior Cathedral of Guarda, Guarda Church of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Aguiar, Figueira De Castelo Rodrigo region: Estremadura and Ribatejo Cathedral of Lisbon, Lisbon Chapel of São Jorge, Porto de Mós Church of Santa Eugrácia and National Panteon, Lisbon Church of Santa Maria da Graça de Santarém, Santarém Church of São Vicente de Fora, Lisbon Convent of Christ, Tomar First Church of Golegã, Golegã Monastery of Alcobaça, Alcobaça Monastery of Batalha, Batalha Monastery of Jenónimos, Lisbon Southern Portugal region: Alentejo Cathedral of Évora, Évora Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Elvas Monastery of Flor da Rosa, Crato region: Algarve Hermitage of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, Vila do Bispo Prehistoric, Roman and other National Monuments Northern Portugal region: Entre Douro e Minho Citânia de Santa Luzia, Viana do Castelo Pre-Historic and Roman Ruins of Tongobriga, Marco de Canaveses region: Trás-os-Montes Roman Sanctuary of Panóias, Vila Real Central Portugal region: Beira Interior Roman Ruins of Egiptânia and Medieval Idanha-a-Velha, Idanha-a-Nova Roman Tower of Centum Cellas, Belmonte Southern Portugal region: Alentejo Grotto of Escoural, Montemor-o-Novo Lagar de Varas do Fojo, Moura Megalitic Monuments of Elvas, Elvas Pre-Historic Settlement of Santa Vitória, Campo Maior Pre-Historic to Medieval Curcuit of Cola, Ourique Roman Ruins of Miróbriga, Santiago do Cacém Roman Ruins of Villa Áulica and Convent of São Cucufate, Vidigueira Roman Villa of Pisões, Beja Roman Villa of Torre de Palma, Monforte region: Algarve Megalitic Monuments of Alcalar, Portimão Roman Villa of Milreu, Faro This article is from Wikipedia. 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