| Nestled on the Iberian Peninsula sharing a boundary | | | | Its Maderia and Port wines as well as the Vinho |
| with historical rival Spain, the country of Portugal is | | | | Verde, Vinho do Alentejo and Muscatel wines to |
| home to some of the finest products in the world with | | | | mention a few, have won international acclaim and are |
| a pedigreed lineage tracing back to centuries of | | | | a staple in European dinning which won't be complete |
| tradition. | | | | without. |
| Culinary and Wine Products | | | | Textile Finery and Art |
| As mainland Europe's most west-bound country | | | | Mention Portugal and it is easily associated with finely |
| bordering the Atlantic, it is not surprising that Portugal | | | | crafted table cloth embroidery. Portuguese culture has |
| has a predominant tradition in the fishery products as it | | | | imbibed various local and foreign influences and that |
| has the highest seafood consumption per capita | | | | have found their way into a rich heritage of handmade |
| among mainland European peoples. | | | | linen embroidery works rooted in East Asian and even |
| It is known for its sardines and cod (as in cod liver oil) | | | | Italian cultures enhanced with a Portuguese touch. |
| recipes. But its vast pasture and grazing plains also | | | | You will find various stitching techniques from the |
| give it a distinctly Iberian tradition for meat based | | | | simplest to the most elaborate floral themes in the |
| culinary products that have been perfected since the | | | | Viana do Castelo region like Cretan, Rosetta, |
| middles ages. Portuguese gourmet encompasses a | | | | Montenegrin, coral and herringbone embroidery stitches. |
| variety of specialty fish and meat products that benefit | | | | This heritage creates that distinct masterful crafting |
| from a heritage of epicurean cooking using one of the | | | | that has made embroidery one of the best and most |
| best known Portugal products in the world - Olive oil. | | | | impressive of Portugal products. |
| Olive cultivation of the Galega variety in the Algarve | | | | The Equestrian Heritage |
| regions dates back to thousands of years during the | | | | Portugal used to be called Lusitania during the Roman |
| Roman conquest of the peninsula and now figures in | | | | occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. While football |
| much of Portuguese cuisine that give it the unique | | | | remains the most popular sport in all of the country, |
| character known the world over. It is also found in | | | | horsemanship or the equestrian carries a favored |
| many kitchens around the world. | | | | historic mark as an iconic sport that is one of |
| With soothing Mediterranean climes, it was inevitable | | | | Portugal's tourism highlights. |
| for Portugal to carry a tradition of vineyards and wine | | | | Its history is coincident with the world-famous breed of |
| production that has made the country one of the | | | | horses like the Lusitano so named after Lusitania |
| largest wine makers in the world with a distinctly | | | | which the Romans called Portugal at that time. With its |
| Portuguese character. The Romans associated their | | | | equestrian heritage, Portugal products have spawned |
| god of wine Bacchus to Portugal whose | | | | related accouterments for the sport like the Relvas, |
| wine-producing Douro region is now considered the | | | | Ribatejo and Domingues saddle and bridles that are |
| oldest in Europe. | | | | exclusively handmade in the country. |