Social Profile
Food & Drink: Seafood is popular, especially in Lisbon, but can be expensive. Soup is a main dish. Typical Portuguese dishes include sopa de marisco (shellfish soup cooked and served with wine), caldo verde (green soup made with finely shredded green kale leaves in broth) and bacalhau (dried cod, cooked in over 100 different ways). Caldeirada is a fish stew with as many as nine kinds of fish, cooked with onions and tomatoes. Also typical is carne de porco á Alentejana, in which bits of fried pork are covered with a sauce of clams stewed with tomato and onions. Puddings include arroz doce (rice pudding), Madeira pudding and nuvens (egg custard). Portugal’s sweet pastries (available in most cafes) are also worth a try. Table service is normal.
Portuguese table wines are good value. The most popular regional names are Dão for red wines and Bucelas and Colares for white wines. Sparkling rosé wines are mostly produced for export. Mateus Rosé is a famous lightweight rosé. Portuguese brandies are also good; the best are produced around Oporto, where Port wines come from. There are no licensing hours.
Nightlife: The large towns offer every kind of entertainment. There are many nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, stage shows, folk dancing and music performances. The traditional Fado can be heard in many restaurants, and performances begin at about 2200. The theatre season is from October to May. Gambling is authorised and Estoril, Figueira da Foz, Espinho, Alvor, Vilamoura and Monte Gordo have casinos. The elegant Estoril Casino is the most renowned.
Shopping: Items include leather goods, copper, ceramics, handcrafted silver and gold, embroidery and tapestry, woodcarving, cork products, porcelain and china, crystal and glassware. Shopping hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1900, Sat 0900-1300 (and 1500-1900 in December). Shopping centres are usually open Mon-Sun 1000-midnight.
Special Events: Portugal has many festivals – for a complete list, contact ICEP/Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office. Below is a selection of events celebrated in 2003 in Portugal:
Jan World Handball Championship (various locations). Feb Fantasporto (International Fantastic Film Festival, Porto). Mar 2-4 Carnival (Torres Vedras, Sines, Loulé, Sesimbra, Nazaré and Funchal). Mar 16 International Lisbon Half-Marathon. Apr Tennis Estoril Open, Estádio Nacional, Oeiras. Apr 17-20 Holy Week Festivities, Braga. May Queima da Fitas (burning of ribbons at Coimbra University). May 3-4 Flower Festival, Azores. May 12-13 Pilgrimage to Fátima. Jun Tróia International Film Festival. Jun 13 Festival of St Anthony, Lisbon. Jun 24 Festival of St John, Porto. Jul National Handicrafts Fair, Vila do Conde; Classic Music Festival, Casa de Mateus; Festas dos Tabuleiros, Tomar; Faro International Motorcyclists Meeting. Jul 20-26 World Gymnaestrada (Gymnastic world championship, Lisbon). Jul-Sep Art Biennial, Vila Nova de Cerveira; Estoril International Handicrafts Fair. Aug Our Lay of Agony Feast, Viana do Castelo; Festival do Sudoeste, Zambujeira do Mar (Rock Music Festival); Seafood Festival, Olhão; Sea Week Festival, Horta (Azores). Sep Feast of Our Lady of Remédios, Lamego; Madeira Wine Festival. Oct National Gastronomy Festival, Santarém. Nov Guimarães Jazz; National Horse Fair, Golegã. Dec Reveillon, Funchal (New Year’s Festival).
Note: Portugual will host the European Football Championships in 2004.
Social Conventions: The Portuguese way of life is leisurely, and old-fashioned politeness is essential. Warm, Latin hospitality is the norm. The country has a deeply individual national character, although each province has its own traditions and folklore. Casual wear is widely acceptable, although beachwear should not be worn in towns. In restaurants, it is usual to smoke only at the end of the meal. Smoking is prohibited in cinemas, theatres and on buses. Tipping: Generally ten to 15 per cent. Taxi drivers are tipped ten per cent.
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