Portugal - Facts for Kids

The Portuguese water dog, which can swim really well, was originally bred to help fishermen!

The Portuguese invented green wine (Vinho Verde), which isn’t actually green but is slightly fizzy!

In Portugal, there’s a beach called Nazaré where you can see the biggest waves in the world!

Portugal has a special forest made entirely of cork trees that’s bigger than 100,000 soccer fields!

Portugal helped popularize marmalade in Europe, starting with a sweet quince preserve called marmelada!

Portugal has its own version of Sign Language that’s different from other countries!

The streets of Porto have special blue and white tiles called “azulejos” that tell stories about Portuguese history!

Portuguese children often play a game called “Malha” where they try to knock down wooden pins with metal discs!

The Portuguese city of Óbidos has a special festival where everything is made of chocolate, including some buildings!

Portugal’s Madeira Islands have special slides called “Carros de Cesto” where people ride down hills in wicker baskets!

Portuguese students wear special black capes called “trajes académicos” for important school ceremonies!

In Portugal, there’s a Christmas cake called Bolo-Rei where a dried bean is hidden inside, and the person who finds it has to bring the cake next year!

In Portugal, there’s a village called Monsanto where people build their homes around, under, and even under giant rock boulders!

In Portugal, the government sends goats to munch dry bushes and make safe fire breaks in forests!

On the Portuguese island of Porto Santo, there’s a beach 9 km long with golden, sandy magic — its special sand is used in hot sand baths to help people feel better!

In Portugal, lots of streets are decorated with pretty black-and-white stone pictures called calçada portuguesa, made by expert stone artists who turn sidewalks into magical art!

In Portugal, on the island of Madeira, there’s a famous bread called “Bolo do Caco” that’s traditionally cooked right on a blazing hot basalt stone!

In Tomar, Portugal, they hold a special festival every four years where women walk through the streets balancing tall towers of bread and flowers on their heads!