9781422278055

Chapter One PORTUGAL’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

I n recent years, Portugal has often been overshadowed by its larger neighbor, Spain. However, it was once a wealthy and powerful nation, ruling an empire that stretched across the globe. Although it has lost much of that glory, it remains a colorful and fascinating country in modern times. The smaller of the only two countries to occupy the Iberian Peninsula (the other being Spain), Portugal has an area of 35,555 square miles (92,090

ABOVE: The Fort of São João Baptista das Berlengas, is located on the west coast of Portugal, on the largest island of the Berlengas archipelago. 11