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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.
Portugal as a mixture of civilizations The first known people that lived in Portugal were the Oestriminis, that stretched their territory from Galicia (Northwestern Spain) to the Algarve. They are today seen as the first native people. The first documented invasion occurred 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 also settled in that part of the peninsula and had great influence on the Lusitanians, especially on their religion, culture and language. The Lusitanians are seen as the proto-Portuguese.
Later came the Romans, who were of great importance. Many of their constructions and cities are still found, nowadays in ruins because of the various invasions of other civilizations.
After the Romans, the Visigoths and the Suevi came along with other Barbarian peoples from Germany and settled in the territory.
Later came the Moorish people, from North Africa who invaded the entire Peninsula, except for a stretch of mountains in Asturias (northern Spain) from where the reconquest (reconquista) of the Iberian Peninsula started.
These civilizations built in Portugal many Monuments. Portugal emerged as one of various nations after the christian reconquista. It took its autonomy from the Kingdom of Leon in 1128 and emerged as a full independent kingdom, 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 maintenance of it. The country continued to be influenced by other civilizations, one of which was the Viking that invaded , destroied and stole artifacts from many monuments. The Castilian (later the Spanish) and the French where also responsible for dammage in historical buildings after their invasions of Portugal.
See also: History of Portugal — Timeline of Portuguese history - List of Portuguese monarchs — Kings of Portugal family tree — Lusitania — Roman Empire
National Monuments Although 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. These 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
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
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 region: Estremadura and Ribatejo - Cathedral of Lisbon, Lisbon
- Chapel of São Jorge, Porto de Mós
- Church of Santa Engrácia 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 Jerónimos, Lisbon
Southern Portugal region: Alentejo - Cathedral of Évora, Évora
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Elvas
- Monastery of Flor da Rosa, Crato
region: Algarve
Prehistoric, Roman and other National Monuments
Northern Portugal region: Entre Douro e Minho region: Trás-os-Montes
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
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