The 7 Wonders of Portuguese Culture: From Azulejos to Pastéis de Nata

Portugal is a fashionable country. According to a study by Statista, over 15 million international travelers visited the country in 2022. Its popularity comes down to three main factors: weather, safety, and culture. With sunny days and warm nights, Portugal stands the 6th safest country in the world in 2023. 

Besides, with over 800 years of history, it has a rich heritage, including delicious food and stunning architecture. Yet, what are the highlights of Portuguese culture? What would we recognize anywhere as part of its identity and people?

Bellow, you will explore the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Culture. Start with a beautiful Fado tune and appreciate hand-painted azulejos. Then, discover the Manueline architecture. Enjoy the traditional bacalhau

and finish your meal with a luscious pastel de nata and a lovely Port Wine. Finally, discover all about Portuguese celebrations and festivities.

The 7 Wonders of Portugal

Besides these seven characteristic features, Portugal has much more for you to discover. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @portuguesewithcarla for exclusive content! Our videos explore the European Portuguese language, culture, and gastronomy. For example, check out the Top Food&Drink in Portugal, according to the natives.

Fado

: Soulful Traditional Songs

Fado (meaning fate or fortune) is a music genre specifically from the Alfama

neighborhood in Lisbon. It developed from the XIX century onward. Despite its dubious origins, this heartfelt style turned into a national symbol.

Traditionally, the Fado belonged to urban class workers who sang about their stories and afflictions. With time, history saw the creation of the Portuguese guitar in three variants: Porto, Lisbon, and Coimbra, to accompany it. And with so many talented artists playing them, there is no way to identify a single one as Portugal’s finest guitarist.

There are two types of Portuguese Fado: the Lisbon one, more popular, and the Coimbra Fado, associated with the local University. Their differences lay in the lyrics and tune but, again, in the instrument used.

Fado has influenced Portuguese contemporary music and life. Amália Rodrigues

was a widely celebrated singer with international recognition. After she died in 1999, the government declared three days of national mourning.

Despite the customary gloomy styles, current “fadistas”

(fado performers) compose more joyful songs. You might have heard of Ana Moura or Mariza, which are internationally known. But we recommend discovering artists like Gisela João, Raquel Tavares, Madredeus, and Sara Correia. 

Azulejos

: Art in Portuguese Architecture

Azulejos are small ceramic glazed tiles, usually square, presenting distinctive designs. They might gather to form a large picture with a specific significance or create a captivating decorative pattern. You can find them in a panoply of colors, but the blue and white tiles are the most common.

The Portuguese word “Azulejo”

comes from an Arabic expression that refers to polished stone, hinting at its glossy surface. And they were introduced in Portuguese history when the country was still under Moorish command.  

Unlike in other countries, Portugal adopted azulejos as more than mere embellishments. The locals incorporated them into the buildings as valuable construction materials. 

Now you can find the stunning Portuguese art of “Azulejaria”

(azulejo production) everywhere. There are also metro stations decorated with unique, captivating panels. And the National Tile Museum in Lisbon has beautiful exhibitions you can visit. 

Manueline Architecture: A Style of Its Own

Manueline architecture originated from the Gothic style, prominent from the 12th to the 16th centuries. It included imponent spaces full of intricate and symbolic details. 

In the late 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, the Age of Portuguese Discoveries was in its hype. Then, during the reign of King Manuel I

, the Manueline developed and gained fame. 

It incorporates religious and political symbols. But it also has elements from nature related to the sea and navigation. You can find buildings in the Manueline style, especially in central Portugal. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

, Torre de Belém, and Mosteiro de Alcobaça are magnificent buildings you can visit.

Cod: A Staple of Portuguese Cuisine

The base of Portuguese gastronomy is the Mediterranean diet. It includes olive oil, garlic, fresh vegetables, fish, and traditional bread. With hundreds of recipes developed over the years and millions of dedicated fans, cod is a widespread national dish.

Yet, cod is a fish that never lived in Portuguese waters. So instead of eating it fresh, the tradition is to buy it salted or cured and soak it before cooking.

During the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal established a salted and cured fish trade. Later, in the 15th century, when the Portuguese arrived in Canada, they found an abundance of cod and, again, resorted to salt.

Cod, after being caught, was placed in wooden barrels full of salt and sent off. During the Estado Novo

dictatorship, the state continued fostering the cod industry.

Pastéis de Nata

: The Flavor of Portugal

It’s luscious egg custard wrapped in a flaky, buttery puff pastry. A Pastel de Nata is everything you could ever crave in a sweet treat and more. This unique pastry dates back to the 18th century. Monks created it in the Jerónimos

Monastery in Lisbon, which you can still visit today.

Later, the recipe was patented and remains secret today. The factory, Pastéis de Belém

, is the only place you can get the original version. All others have different compositions and are thus called Pastel de Nata. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfVcani-myg

Regardless, Pastel de Nata is now one of the most famous desserts in Portugal, earning new fans every day. You can find them at almost every bakery in Portugal, but some are unmissable. There is even a yearly competition to determine who bakes the best ones in the Lisbon region. 

Interesting variations have come up, such as a chocolate pastel de nata and a vegan one. In Lisbon and Porto, you can try them at Fábrica da Nata

, Manteigaria, Castro, and many more. Vegan Nata has three locations in and around Lisbon.

Port Wine: A Taste of Portugal’s Tradition

Port wine comes from the Douro

region, which has harbored wine production for over 2000 years. Exportation of the first wines of this kind started in the 17th century.

As a fortified wine, “aguardente” is added during production. This process stops the fermentation process and preserves the sweetness of the grapes. 

Because of the variety of Port wine available, its strength is versatility. Some are perfect as appetizers, and others go with dessert or as digestive beverages. Regardless, there is a Port for each situation and individual.

You can learn more about it by visiting some of the best wineries in the Douro, like “Poças,”

“Quinta do Vallado,” and “Cálem.” You can also do the Douro Wine Tour.

Traditional Festivities and Celebrations: The Vibrant Spirit of Portuguese Society

Portugal has all kinds of celebrations. Fairs are common throughout the country, and national holidays, such as the 25th of April, are solemnly observed. The Catholic Church has had much influence in the country. Hence, most of them praise a regional patron saint. 

For example, on the 13th of June, Lisbon celebrates Saint Anthony. On the 24th in Porto, the people organize festivities dedicated to Saint John, and on the 29th, the southern regions honor Saint Peter. 

The natives call these celebrations the “Santos Populares“

(Popular Saints). Besides the procession, locals decorate the streets. Then, they engage in traditional dances called “Arraiais” and enjoy evenings of revelry.

More on What is Portuguese Culture Known For

Portuguese With Carla has a special program to guide you through the European Portuguese language. The Journey is an interactive path to fluency that presents the unique features of our culture.

Portuguese Football

Portuguese people love their football. It is also home to famous players like Cristiano Ronaldo

and Luís Figo. As the most popular sport in the country, every native fiercely supports their favorite team.

Whether in rural regions or urban areas, it’s common to find locals at the local café having a beer and enjoying the game. In 2023, FIFA ranked the Portuguese national team in 9th and 19th places for men and women, respectively.

Arts

You won’t find a great dramatic theatre tradition in Portugal. Instead of dramatic art, musical expression, and dancing have grown a fundamental part of popular culture.

They became accessible to the Portuguese middle class during the 20th century. Afterward, artistic expression grew extremely important for the population. Cultural centers like the Casa das Artes

 in Porto and the Belém Cultural Centre (CCB) in Lisbon are common in larger cities.

Dancing

The Portuguese love to dance. They include music and dancing in all their festivities. The “Vira,”

the “Fandango,” and the “Chula Rebela” are all typical from the northeastern region of the country. “Corridinho” is a traditional dance from the rural areas of Algarve.

These dances reached the former colonies when Portugal experienced the Age of Discoveries. Some of them are still popular today in places like Goa, India.

Classical and contemporary dancing also conquered its place in Portugal. Several schools and companies opened throughout the country and earned international recognition. The National Ballet Company (CNB), founded in 1977, was the first in the country to present full-length classical ballets.

Music

The mournful tunes of Fado are part of the country’s fundamental forms of musical expression. But Portugal also has a strong presence in other genres. There are several types of traditional folk music, like Cante Alentejano

.

Polyphonic music, derived from employing multiple vocal parts, became common in the late 15th century. With time, it became profoundly meaningful for Portugal and its people. Additionally, the country is home to notable pianists and other musicians.

A pioneer in academic music’s modern revival in Portugal was Luís de Freitas Branco

. He was a neo-classical composer and musicologist. After him, Joly Braga Santos became a renowned conductor and composer, prominent in Portuguese culture. 

Lisbon’s Metropolitan Orchestra, founded in 1992, is famous for its major concerts. And more recently, another composer, João Pedro Oliveira

, won worldwide acclaim for his work in the electroacoustic music field.

Literature

Portuguese culture includes original literature, meaningful poetry, heartfelt romances, and non-fiction works. In the 16th century, the Renaissance fostered changes in writing styles, creating an elevated tone.

From that time, the work “Os Lusíadas“

highlights the impact of Portuguese oral traditions. It also shows the changes introduced in Portuguese culture and literature. Its author, Luís de Camões, is remembered on the 10th of June, an official holiday and Portugal Day.

Fernando Pessoa

, a famous poet from the 20th century, composed thousands of texts still widely admired today. Also, José Saramago won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998, and some of his work is part of the National Reading Plan and Teaching program.

When in Portugal: The 7 Wonders of The Iberian Country

As one of the oldest countries in Europe and the world, Portugal amazes with its rich cultural heritage. In this article, you’ve explored a part of what the country has to offer.

You’ve discovered the history and significance of the Fado and how cod made its way to Portuguese tables. Then, you learned the value of art for the natives over the years with Manueline architecture, dancing, and literature.

These cultural aspects are part of a country’s identity, and learning about them makes your visit all the more enjoyable. What was your favorite of the seven wonders of Portuguese culture? Which are you more excited to see on your next trip? Let us know below!

More of Portugal: Culture, History, and Tradition

Our European Portuguese course, The Journey, is a comprehensive resource for you to learn about Portugal. It includes fascinating curiosities about the country and its people. 

This interactive program will help you learn our beautiful language while having fun. Join us and discover the true splendor of Portugal!