The most famous travelers and their discoveries. Portugal - the country of great navigators and the western outskirts of Europe

Travel has always attracted people, but before they were not only interesting, but also extremely difficult. The territories were not explored, and, setting off on a journey, everyone became an explorer. Which travelers are the most famous and what exactly did each of them discover?

James Cook

The famous Englishman was one of the best cartographers of the eighteenth century. He was born in the north of England and by the age of thirteen he began to work with his father. But the boy was unable to trade, so he decided to take up navigation. At that time everything famous travelers of the world went to distant countries on ships. James became interested in maritime affairs and moved up the career ladder so quickly that he was offered to become a captain. He refused and went to the Royal Navy. Already in 1757, the talented Cook began to manage the ship himself. His first achievement was the drawing up of the fairway of the St. Lawrence River. He discovered in himself the talent of a navigator and cartographer. In the 1760s he explored Newfoundland, which attracted the attention of the Royal Society and the Admiralty. He was assigned to travel across the Pacific Ocean, where he reached the shores of New Zealand. In 1770, he did something that other famous travelers had not achieved before - he discovered a new continent. In 1771, Cook returned to England as the famous pioneer of Australia. His last journey was an expedition in search of a passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Today, even schoolchildren know the sad fate of Cook, who was killed by cannibal natives.

Christopher Columbus

Famous travelers and their discoveries have always had a significant impact on the course of history, but few have been as famous as this man. Columbus became a national hero of Spain, decisively expanding the map of the country. Christopher was born in 1451. The boy quickly achieved success because he was diligent and studied well. Already at the age of 14 he went to sea. In 1479, he met his love and began life in Portugal, but after the tragic death of his wife, he went with his son to Spain. Having received the support of the Spanish king, he went on an expedition, the purpose of which was to find a way to Asia. Three ships sailed from the coast of Spain to the west. In October 1492 they reached Bahamas. This is how America was discovered. Christopher mistakenly decided to call the locals Indians, believing that he had reached India. His report changed history: two new continents and many islands, discovered by Columbus, became the main travel destination of the colonialists in the next few centuries.

Vasco da Gama

Portugal's most famous traveler was born in Sines on September 29, 1460. From a young age, he worked in the Navy and became famous as a confident and fearless captain. In 1495, King Manuel came to power in Portugal, who dreamed of developing trade with India. For this, a sea route was needed, in search of which Vasco da Gama had to go. The country had more famous sailors and travelers, but for some reason the king chose him. In 1497, four ships sailed south, rounded and sailed to Mozambique. I had to stay there for a month - half of the team had scurvy by that time. After a break, Vasco da Gama reached Calcutta. In India, he established trade relations for three months, and a year later he returned to Portugal, where he became a national hero. The opening of the sea route, which made it possible to get to Calcutta past the east coast of Africa, was his main achievement.

Nikolay Miklukho-Maclay

Famous Russian travelers also made a lot of important discoveries. For example, the same Nikolai Mikhlukho-Maclay, who was born in 1864 in the Novgorod province. He could not graduate from St. Petersburg University, as he was expelled for participating in student demonstrations. To continue his education, Nikolai went to Germany, where he met Haeckel, a naturalist who invited Miklouho-Maclay to his scientific expedition. So the world of wanderings opened up for him. His whole life was devoted to travel and scientific work. Nicholas lived in Sicily, Australia, studied New Guinea, implementing the project of the Russian Geographical Society, visited Indonesia, the Philippines, the Malay Peninsula and Oceania. In 1886, the naturalist returned to Russia and proposed to the emperor to establish a Russian colony across the ocean. But the project with New Guinea did not receive royal support, and Miklouho-Maclay fell seriously ill and soon died, without completing his work on a travel book.

Ferdinand Magellan

Many famous navigators and travelers lived in the era of the Great Magellan is no exception. In 1480 he was born in Portugal, in the city of Sabrosa. Having gone to serve at court (at that time he was only 12 years old), he learned about the confrontation between his native country and Spain, about traveling to the East Indies and trade routes. So he first became interested in the sea. In 1505, Fernand got on a ship. Seven years after that, he plied the sea, participated in expeditions to India and Africa. In 1513, Magellan went to Morocco, where he was wounded in battle. But this did not curb the craving for travel - he planned an expedition for spices. The king rejected his request, and Magellan went to Spain, where he received all the necessary support. Thus began his world tour. Fernand thought that from the west the route to India might be shorter. He crossed Atlantic Ocean, reached South America and discovered the strait, which would later be named after him. became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. On it, he reached the Philippines and almost reached the goal - the Moluccas, but died in battle with local tribes, wounded by a poisonous arrow. However, his journey opened Europe new ocean and understanding that the planet is much larger than scientists previously thought.

Roald Amundsen

The Norwegian was born at the very end of an era in which many famous travelers became famous. Amundsen was the last of the navigators who tried to find undiscovered lands. From childhood, he was distinguished by perseverance and self-confidence, which allowed him to conquer the South Geographic Pole. The beginning of the journey is connected with 1893, when the boy left the university and got a job as a sailor. In 1896 he became a navigator, and the following year he went on his first expedition to Antarctica. The ship was lost in the ice, the crew suffered from scurvy, but Amundsen did not give up. He took command, cured the people, remembering his medical background, and brought the ship back to Europe. Becoming a captain, in 1903 he went in search of Northwest Passage at Canada. Famous travelers before him had never done anything like this - in two years the team covered the path from the east of the American mainland to its west. Amundsen became known to the whole world. The next expedition was a two-month trip to the South Plus, and the last venture was the search for Nobile, during which he went missing.

David Livingston

Many famous travelers are connected with seafaring. he became a land explorer, namely the African continent. The famous Scot was born in March 1813. At the age of 20, he decided to become a missionary, met Robert Moffett and wished to go to African villages. In 1841 he came to Kuruman, where he taught local residents agriculture, served as a doctor and taught literacy. There he learned the Bechuan language, which helped him in his travels in Africa. Livingston studied in detail the life and customs of the locals, wrote several books about them and went on an expedition in search of the sources of the Nile, in which he fell ill and died of a fever.

Amerigo Vespucci

The most famous travelers in the world were most often from Spain or Portugal. Amerigo Vespucci was born in Italy and became one of the famous Florentines. He received a good education and trained as a financier. From 1490 he worked in Seville, in the Medici trade mission. His life was connected with sea travel, for example, he sponsored the second expedition of Columbus. Christopher inspired him with the idea of ​​trying himself as a traveler, and already in 1499 Vespucci went to Suriname. The purpose of the voyage was to study coastline. There he opened a settlement called Venezuela - little Venice. In 1500 he returned home with 200 slaves. In 1501 and 1503 Amerigo repeated his travels, acting not only as a navigator, but also as a cartographer. He discovered the bay of Rio de Janeiro, the name of which he gave himself. Since 1505, he served the king of Castile and did not participate in campaigns, only equipped other people's expeditions.

Francis Drake

Many famous travelers and their discoveries have benefited humanity. But among them there are those who left behind a bad memory, since their names were associated with rather cruel events. An English Protestant, who had sailed on a ship from the age of twelve, was no exception. He captured local residents in the Caribbean, selling them into slavery to the Spaniards, attacked ships and fought with Catholics. Perhaps no one could equal Drake in terms of the number of captured foreign ships. His campaigns were sponsored by the Queen of England. In 1577 he went to South America to defeat the Spanish settlements. During the journey, he found Tierra del Fuego and the strait, which was later named after him. Rounding Argentina, Drake plundered the port of Valparaiso and two Spanish ships. When he reached California, he met the natives, who presented the British with gifts of tobacco and bird feathers. Drake crossed Indian Ocean and returned to Plymouth, becoming the first British citizen to visit world tour. He was admitted to the House of Commons and awarded the title of Sir. In 1595 he died in the last campaign in the Caribbean.

Afanasy Nikitin

Few famous travelers in Russia have achieved the same heights as this native of Tver. Afanasy Nikitin became the first European to visit India. He made a trip to the Portuguese colonizers and wrote "Journey Beyond the Three Seas" - the most valuable literary and historical monument. The success of the expedition was ensured by the merchant's career: Athanasius knew several languages ​​and knew how to negotiate with people. On his journey, he visited Baku, lived in Persia for about two years and reached India by ship. Visiting several cities exotic country, he went to Parvat, where he stayed for a year and a half. After the province of Raichur, he headed to Russia, paving the route through the Arabian and Somali Peninsulas. However, Afanasy Nikitin never made it home, because he fell ill and died near Smolensk, but his notes survived and provided the merchant with world fame.

Atlantic Ocean (1419-1507)

From the 8th to the 15th century, the Venetian and neighboring Maritime Republics held a monopoly on European trade with the Middle East. The Great Silk Road and the Road of Spice, along which spices, incense, medicinal herbs, medicines and opium were carried, made these medieval city-states fabulously rich. Spices were the most expensive and sought-after commodity in the Middle Ages, widely used in medicine, religious rituals, cosmetics, perfumes, as well as flavorings and for conservation. All of them were imported from Asia and Africa. Muslim merchants, mostly descendants of Arab navigators from Yemen and Oman, controlled the sea routes across the Indian Ocean, buying up goods from their places of production in the Far East to India, mainly in Kozhikode, and then transporting them west to Hormuz on the Persian coast. Gulf and Jeddah on the Red Sea. From here, by land routes, they followed to Mediterranean coast. Venetian merchants sold these goods further across Europe until the rise of the Ottoman Empire, which occurred after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, cutting off Europeans from the mixed maritime and land trade routes.

Forced to curtail its activities in the Black Sea region, and also because of the war with Venice, Genoa returned to the North African trade in grain, olive oil (which was also used for lighting) and the search for silver and gold. The Europeans experienced a constant shortage of silver and gold, as the coins only moved in the direction from Europe, spent on eastern trade, which was now cut off. Several European mines were already depleted, and the lack of gold and silver bullion led to the development of a sophisticated banking system to manage trade risks (the first public bank, the Bank of San Giorgio, was established in Genoa in 1407). Sailing also to the port of Bruges (Flanders) and to England, the Genoese community also settled in Portugal, which began to benefit from their enterprises and financial transactions.

For the first oceanic journey, Western Europeans used a compass, and also used the latest achievements in cartography and astronomy. Arabic navigation instruments such as the astrolabe and the quadrant were used for navigation. For European voyages, as a rule, coastal ones, in close proximity to the coast, portolans were used. These maps marked known routes marked by coastal landmarks: navigators sailed through each of the previously known points, following the direction of the compass needle, determining their location from the landmarks.

Portuguese geographical discoveries

In 1297, after the completion of the Reconquista in Portugal, King Dinis I turned his attention to foreign trade and in 1317 entered into an agreement with the Genoese merchant Manuel Pessagno, appointing him the first admiral of the Portuguese fleet, whose goal was to protect the country from the raids of Muslim pirates. The outbreak of the bubonic plague led to a decrease in the country's population in the second half of the 14th century, which contributed to an increase in the importance sea ​​coast where most of the population was engaged in fishing and trade. In 1325-1357, Afonso IV of Portugal patronized maritime trade and sent the first expeditions to the Atlantic Ocean. Canary Islands, already known to the Genoese, were officially declared open by the Portuguese expedition in 1336, but in 1344 the Castilians challenged the rights of Portugal to them, increasing their influence on the sea.

In 1415, Ceuta was captured by Portugal, who sought to gain control of navigation from African coast. Infante Enrique (Henry), later nicknamed the Navigator for having devoted his life to organizing exploratory sea expeditions (although he himself did not participate in these expeditions), was well aware of the profitability and prospects of the Trans-Saharan trade. For centuries, the trade routes that brought slaves and gold and connected West Africa with the Mediterranean through Western Sahara were controlled by the Muslim states of North Africa hostile to Portugal.

Enrique wanted to know how far Muslim possessions extended to southern Africa, hoping to go around it and establish maritime trade with West Africa, finding allies in the legendary Christian states to the south, in particular the lost Christian kingdom of Prester John, and also wanted to find out if it was possible to get into distant India, sources of precious spices, by sea. He financed sea expeditions to the south of Mauritania, attracting merchants, shipowners and other persons interested in opening new trade routes. Soon Madeira (1419) and Azores (1427).

At that time, the Europeans did not know what was behind Cape Nun on the coast of modern Morocco, and turned their ships around as soon as they reached it. Ancient maritime myths called this cape the limit for navigation, warned of ocean monsters, an unseaworthy sea and a scorching sun that would destroy any ship that dared to swim beyond this cape, but the sailors of Prince Enrique neglected them: starting from 1421, they regularly sailed for him, and in 1434 one of Enrique's captains, Gil Eanesh rounded Cape Bojador.

A great technological leap was the appearance in the middle of the 15th century of the caravel, a small ship capable of sailing farther than other European ships of the time. An evolution of the Portuguese fishing boats, she was the first ship that could go beyond the usual coastal coastal voyages and go out safely open ocean. The Portuguese used ephemeris to navigate, a method that was developed considerably in the 15th century. These tables revolutionized navigation by allowing latitude to be calculated. However, the exact calculation of longitude was not available to navigators for several centuries. Regular voyages on caravels became farther and farther, on average, navigators moved south by one degree per year. Coast of Senegal and Cape Verde were reached in 1445 by Dinis Dias, and in 1446 Alvaro Fernandes reached almost the shores of modern Sierra Leone.

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the transfer of the city under the control of the Ottoman Empire was a strong blow to the Christian world, and trade routes to the East were closed for Europe. In 1455, Pope Nicholas V issued the Romanus Pontifex bull, which reinforced the previous bull Dum Diversas (1452), and transferred all lands and seas discovered beyond Cape Bojador to the possession of the Portuguese king Afonso V and his heirs, as well as trade and conquest from the Muslims and pagans, which was the beginning of the mare clausum policy in the Atlantic. The king, who learned from the Genoese about the sea route to India, ordered a map of the world from Fra Mauro, which arrived in Lisbon in 1559.

In 1456, Diogo Gomes reached the shores of the Cape Verde archipelago. In the following decade, several captains in the service of Prince Enrique, including the Genoese Antonio da Noli and the Venetian Aloysius Cada-Mosto, discovered the remaining islands, which had been explored as early as the 15th century. In the 1460s, the Portuguese discovered the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, rich in gold and ivory.

Portuguese exploration after the death of Prince Enrique

In 1461-1462, Pedro de Sintra reached the shores of Sierra Leone and gave their names to many geographical objects. Prince Enrique died in November 1460, after which the funding of the expeditions ceased, until in 1469 the Lisbon merchant Fernand Gomes received a monopoly on trade with the Gulf of Guinea in exchange for an obligation to explore annually 100 miles to the south for five years. With his funding, the navigators Juan de Santarén, Eshcobar of Peru, Lupo Gonçalves, Fernand de Po and Pedro de Sintra did even more than he promised. They reached the southern hemisphere and the islands of the Gulf of Guinea, including Sao Tome and Principe in 1471. In the southern hemisphere, they used the constellation of the Southern Cross for navigation.

Alluvial gold trading began in this area with Arab and Berber merchants, and in 1481, João II, who ascended the throne, decided to build the trading post of Sant Jorge da Mina on the Gold Coast. In 1482, Diogo Kahn discovered the mouth of the Congo River, and in 1486 reached Cape Cross (modern Namibia).

In 1488, the expedition of Bartolomeu Dias rounded the southernmost cape of Africa, which he called the "Cape of Storms" (Cabo das Tormentas), anchored in Mossel Bay. and then headed east to the mouth of the Great Fish River, entering the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic. At the same time, Peru da Covilhã, secretly sent by the king overland in search of Prester John and the "lands of spices", reached India and Ethiopia, where he collected important information about the Red Sea and the coast of Kenya and found out that a sea route to the East Indies was possible. Soon the Cape of Storms was renamed by João II the "Cape of Good Hope" (Cabo da Boa Esperança), as the possibility of a sea route to India opened up optimistic prospects for trade, and also refuted the notion that had existed since the time of Ptolemy that the Indian Ocean was surrounded by land.

See, understand, enjoy, love!

Colors, shapes, aromas, tastes add up

into vivid pictures in memory, so that later we

could look at them all my life"

About the country, its history and people

Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe with a rich history. Portugal is charming country, which can be called a quiet European province, where virgin nature serenely coexists with developed tourism infrastructure, and respect for national customs coexists peacefully with common European traditions.

The country of great navigators Portugal is located in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. In the south and west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, on land it borders on Spain. Portugal includes the Azores, located in the Atlantic Ocean about 1,450 km west of Lisbon, and the island of Madeira, 970 km southwest of Lisbon, which are autonomous regions of Portugal. The area of ​​the country, together with the islands, is 92.39 thousand square meters. km.

The name of the country comes from the name of the Roman settlement of Portus Cale at the mouth of the Douro River. In 1139, Portugal became an independent kingdom from Spain. At that time, it occupied only the northern third of its modern territory. In 1249, the last Muslim ruler in the south of the country was expelled, and since then its borders have changed little. The era of conquest began in the 15th century, when Portuguese maritime explorers such as Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan traveled around the world, making great geographical discoveries. By the 16th century, the territories they discovered formed a huge empire that stretched from the coast of Brazil to Africa and Asia. It was during this era that the economy of Portugal reached its greatest prosperity.

In 1910, the monarchy was overthrown in Portugal, and in 1974 a democratically-minded military junta put an end to the dictatorial regime that had existed since 1926. Portugal is one of the few countries in Europe that was not occupied by Nazi troops during World War II.

The constitution adopted in 1976 declared Portugal a parliamentary republic with direct elections and universal adult suffrage.

By handing over the last of its overseas territories, Macau, Macau, which it had held since 1680, to Chinese rule in 1999, Portugal ended a long and sometimes turbulent colonial era in its history.

The events of Portuguese history had a huge impact on the culture of the country and introduced the features of Moorish and Oriental styles into architecture and art. Traditional folk dances and tunes, especially lyrical fado, do not lose their significance to this day, which can be seen and heard right on the streets. According to one version, the name fado comes from the Latin word fatum, which means fate. The melodies of the songs harmoniously combine Moorish, African and Brazilian melodies, the theme of loneliness, longing and foreboding of a sad fate runs through all the songs, but this does not mean that this type of music is suitable only for melancholics. The ability to sing of sadness, to turn it into an object of admiration is one of the national traits of the Portuguese, and it is not without reason that for several centuries almost every family in this country has been waiting for sons and husbands who set off to conquer the sea, and the journey could end in the most unpredictable way.

The population of the country is mono-ethnic, 99% of the 10.8 million population are Portuguese. Many peoples have settled on the Iberian Peninsula for a long time. The most ancient inhabitants - the Iberians - were undersized and swarthy. Over the centuries, the appearance of the Portuguese was formed under the influence of the Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, as well as Germanic tribes (Visigoths and Alemanni).

Portugal is a monolingual country. The official language is Portuguese. It is spoken by more than 200 million people worldwide on three continents: Eurasia, Africa and South America. This language has similarities with Spanish, since both belong to the Ibero-Romance subgroup of the Romance group of languages, however, with a similar grammatical structure, there are significant differences in pronunciation between them. The formation of the language was greatly influenced by the Germanic tribes and the Arabs (Moors), from whom the Portuguese language borrowed many words, as well as the contacts of travelers, discoverers and merchants with Asian peoples.

National features: Do not question the historical greatness of the country - the Portuguese are proud of their past, especially against the backdrop of the modest place that the country occupies today. The Portuguese are very painful to compare them with the Spaniards, despite the similarity of languages, characters and national cultures. Bullfighting is also popular here, but, unlike the Spanish bullfight, where the bull is killed, in Portuguese the animal is pacified by a team of unarmed fighters (forkados).

This country has one of the highest rural populations in the world. Western Europe, many foreigners work at its factories, construction sites and fields, including from Ukraine. Average annual income per capita: 22,500 USD (data from the World Bank, 2011). Average life expectancy is approaching 80 years. As in other countries, women in Portugal live longer, almost 82 years, while men still do not reach 76. The retirement age is 65 years, and the actual retirement age is 61-62 years.

Portugal is a country of great sea voyages, grandiose geographical discoveries and tart port. Mild climate, fresh forest and meadow aromas, light ocean breeze and the vast expanses of the Atlantic, unique architecture in the Manueline style and strong coffee… All this deserves to get to know this interesting country better.

Wgetting to know Porto

They say about the cities of Portugal: they pray in Braga, they work in Porto, they party in Lisbon. My acquaintance with Portugal began from Porto. Porto, the second most populated city in Portugal with a population of 240 thousand inhabitants, gave its name not only to port wine, but to the whole country. The historical center of Porto is located on the right bank of the Douro River, a few kilometers from its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean. The city center has been declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Porto is well known for its entrepreneurial spirit, distinctive culture and local cuisine. The city is often called northern capital Portugal. Porto is home to the largest university in Portugal (about 29,000 students).

One of the most striking sights of Porto is the Clerigos Tower - the highest in Portugal - 76 meters or 225 steps. The baroque church was built for the brotherhood of clerics ("Clerigos") by the architect Nicola Nasoni according to the Roman scheme. Its construction began in 1732 and ended in 1750 with the construction of a monumental staircase. July 28, 1748, despite the fact that the building was not yet fully completed, the church was opened for worship. Torre dos Clerigos has become the symbol of the city of Porto. It has been a National Monument since 1910.

The city is famous for the production of different brands of port wine. We visit one of the ancient "port wine houses" - Galem, get acquainted with the history and features of the production of this popular drink. And, of course, we taste some varieties, and whoever wants to buy the wines they like. Warming up the appetite with tasting wines, we begin our acquaintance with Portuguese cuisine in one of the restaurants, where we enjoy the national fish dish called “bacalau”.

Having refreshed ourselves with “bacalau” and tasting port wines, we walked with pleasure along the embankment of the Douro River, where such pretty boats float.

Four bridges are thrown across the Douro River, connecting the historical part of the city with Vila Nova de Gaia, a small neighboring town where the world-famous port wine is stored. One of the bridges (by Louis the First) was built according to the design of Gustave Eiffel: a two-tier structure of impressive size seems openwork and light.

On the highest point of the old city, the Se Cathedral was built. Erected in the 12th century on a granite rock, it originally served as a fortress. Later it was rebuilt, but it has retained its severe appearance to this day. Inside the cathedral is not very interesting. Decor lovers will be impressed by the luxurious silver altar, the construction of which took 800 kg of silver, and the patio, lined with the famous Portuguese azulejo tiles.

WITH Cathedral Square offers a beautiful view of the city.

From the cathedral to the river, the descent goes through the poorest district of Porto. The area of ​​luxurious villas is located near the ocean. You can get here on the current tram-museum, which has not changed since 1930. It's called the Electric Machine Museum. However, each of Porto's trams can serve as an exhibit: inside the vehicle is upholstered in wood, the driver drives it while standing, for the simple reason that there is no seat for it. When the tram reaches destination route, the driver moves from the head to the tail, where there is also a cabin, and drives his car in a “reverse course”: the rails in Porto end in a dead end. The most scenic route runs along the ocean coast. From the windows of noisy and old trams you can see fashionable villas, chosen by wealthy people from all over Europe.

Porto, like other Portuguese cities, is distinguished not only by its peculiar architecture, but also by the fact that many houses are lined with multi-colored tiles.

From the early Middle Ages to the 17th century, there was a law that forbade the aristocracy not only to build, but also to stay in the city for more than three days. Even the king did not have his residence in Porto. He stayed at the Bishop's Palace built by Nicolo Nazzoni. It is a masterpiece of 18th century Portuguese Baroque architecture. The port city is located all on the hills, it has many funny houses and streets.

It was also interesting to visit the store and a kind of book museum Livraria Lell - the oldest in Portugal and one of the most incredibly beautiful bookstores in the world. Unusual, simply fabulous interior, which is located on two floors of the store. Spectacular and massive decoration of the walls, ceiling, everything is made of noble wood using original and unusual carvings, combined with the surprisingly curved lines of the red staircase that leads to the second floor. No less impressive is the magnificent ceiling made of expensive stained glass. The bookstore is located five minutes walk from the city center.

This pretty fountain caught our attention.

Not to mention the visit railway station Sao Bento. In addition to its direct destination, Sao Bento Station is interesting for its wall-paintings, lined with azulejos tiles in white and blue tones. The largest of them is made of 20 thousand tiles and decorates the waiting room. This panel completely occupies one of its walls. The picture depicts episodes from the history railways, and important points history of Portugal.

When leaving Porto, behind the fortress walls, my first meeting with the Atlantic Ocean took place. I go knee-deep into the ocean, the water is quite cool, but you can still take a dip.

Two days in Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and The largest city countries. 570 thousand people live in it. It is located on the right bank of the Tagus River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its history goes back about 20 centuries. Lisbon was built on seven hills, like Rome and Moscow. Just like Moscow, Lisbon is patronized by George the Victorious. The city became the capital of the state in 1147 after the liberation from Arab colonization. Lisbon owes this to the first king of Portugal, Alfonso Henriquez. The main city of the country was founded by the Phoenicians as a stop at the crossroads of sea routes and named Alis Ubbo - a blessed bay. The city was under the control of the Roman Empire, the Moors, the Spaniards.

We begin our acquaintance with the center of Lisbon - one of the main attractions. In the 18th century, bullfights and public executions took place here. We visit the park of Edward VII and the monument to the Marquis de Pombal. This is a large green meadow with neatly trimmed bushes of the correct geometric shape.

Lisbon - modern European city, located on 15 hills. Walking on it you have to constantly go up and down from the hills. We climb one of the hills, where with the help of a guide we get acquainted with the Moorish fortress of Sant Jorge. Once upon a time, Portuguese kings lived here, and now only a shell with pine groves inside. But this is the highest point of Lisbon and the views from here are appropriate. From the fortress walls you can see a strange structure - openwork frames of arches sticking into the sky. In order to capture the views of the Tagus River and the ancient Alfama district of Lisbon, we walked along the esplanade and climbed the ramparts of the old fortress. The fortress of San Jorge (St. George) has been a fortification covering the mouth of the Tagus River since ancient times. In 1147, King Alphonse Enriques converted the fortress into a royal residence. In 1511, King Manuel I built himself a palace outside the fortress, and here he placed an armory and a prison. During the earthquake of 1755, the fortress was very badly damaged, and only in 1938, under Salazar, the ruins were restored, and only a few details remained, reminiscent of the original Moorish Alcasava, later the royal residence, where Vasco da Gama celebrated the success of his trip to India with pomp. The fortress walls have been restored and now you can walk around them old quarter Santa Cruz. Various exhibitions are arranged in the fortress towers, telling about the history of the fortress and the whole city. The viewpoints offer a magnificent view of Lisbon.

Picturesque streets with houses covered with painted tiles scatter from the fortress in different directions. Benches are carefully placed in the middle of each lift. Most of streets leads to Alfama - the most old quarter Lisbon, which, being built on rocky ground, survived the earthquake without much damage. Here once was the center of the Roman city, and later - the center of the Moorish city. Jews also lived in Alfama until their expulsion in the 16th century. ABOUT metropolitan city it doesn’t remind you of anything: Alfama is more like a fishing village, where the housewives clean fish right on the street and scribble on antediluvian sewing machines, and ropes with linen are tied to orange trees growing right on the steps. Going for a walk in Alfama, tune in to the fact that, most likely, you will get lost - this intricacies of streets practically defies logic.

We go down from the castle on a retro tram running along route No. 28, which resembles the transport of the beginning of the last century, and go on a tour of the city center. We pay tribute to how our tram famously climbs the hills and rushes along the narrow winding streets with a frightening rattle. At one of the moments of the trip, we easily reach the wall of a neighboring house with our hands.

We get off at the bus stop and before us opens an amazing view of the capital. In Lisbon, such observation terraces are called miradores. We found ourselves on the best of them - Miradouro de Santa Luzia. We approach the fence and freeze in admiration. No wonder Lisbon is called the “White City”: in front of us is a whole block of like toy, sun-drenched snow-white houses with orange tiled roofs.

There are many in the city interesting buildings unusual architecture.

We descend to Commerce Square, which is considered one of the beautiful squares Portugal. Before the earthquake, there was a building built in 1511 by Manuel I Royal Palace. In its center, on a high plinth, rises an equestrian statue of the reformer king José I, whose minister was the Marquis de Pombal. The majestic Arc de Triomphe, decorated with bas-reliefs and statues of famous people, connecting the square with Augusta Street, was completed in the 19th century. Then the square got its present name "Commerce Square" due to its proximity to the port, which is the main source of trade in the city. From here you have a magnificent view of the Tagus River, to which you can go down the stairs. WITH south side The square is dominated by two square towers, and on three sides the square is framed by buildings of ministries and banks.

The next point of our trip is the Belem area. Where the Tagus flows into the ocean, stands Belem (that is, Bethlehem) watch tower, and a little closer to land rises the monastery of Jeronimos - an excellent example of the main national style - Manueline, that is, Gothic mixed with Arabic script, sea knots and astrolabes. Two world-famous Portuguese are also buried here - Vasco da Gama (who set off from the Belem Tower, setting off in search of an alternative route to India) and Luis Camões. True, only one tomb remained of Camões, the poet himself died of the plague and was buried in some kind of lost common grave.

Nearby is the coffee shop Casa dos Pastéis de Belém, where they make the best sweets in the city, and perhaps in the country.

Next to the monastery is the Bethlehem Tower (Torre de Belen), built in the 16th century, the symbol of Lisbon. This is one of the best examples of the Manueline style, the tower is under the protection of UNESCO. It is decorated with lanterns, openwork Venetian balconies, stone carvings, a statue of the Madonna of the Navigators under a huge canopy and a sculpture of a rhinoceros. From the inside, the tower looks quite gloomy - there used to be a prison here. The quadrangular Belen Tower is known as a monument Portuguese Era Great Geographical Discoveries. The tower, built in 1515-1520 and designed in the Manueline style, is a classic symbol of all of Portugal. This tower was erected in honor of the glorious military and maritime past of Portugal and rises on the spot where caravels once set off to distant lands.

Not far from the Tower on the embankment of the Tagus River in the direction of the April 25 Bridge is the Monument to the Navigators.

What is Lisbon remembered for, in addition to its historical sights? First of all, original architecture that combines different styles. We fell in love with its squares and streets, lined with tiles of various configurations and colors. His numerous souvenir shops with all kinds of colored tiles and products from it did not leave indifferent. The city also has one of the largest oceanariums. With pleasure we drove along the famous tram route No. 28 along its steep streets and with no less pleasure - underground on the metro in modern cozy cars, admired the original interior of its stations.

It's time to say goodbye to hospitable Lisbon. We are passing through one of the most long bridges Europe. 45 months after the start of work (half a year ahead of schedule), on August 6, 1966, a solemn opening ceremony took place in the presence of the highest officials of the state. The structure was named "Salazar Bridge" in honor of the then dictator of Portugal. Shortly after the Carnation Revolution, the bridge was renamed in honor of the day when this event took place - the April 25 Bridge.

Royal Sintra

In the morning we leave Lisbon and head to Sintra. At 27 km from Lisbon, at the foot of the low coastal mountains of Sierra da Sintra, there is a small town of Sintra, which since 1995 has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Portuguese themselves consider it the main attraction of the country, the pearl of Portugal. Back in the 8th century, the Moors appreciated the defensive significance of this place and built a fortress here. In 1147, Afonso I Henriques drove out the Arabs and for the next 600 years the city was the summer residence of the Portuguese kings.

Among the luxurious parks, centuries-old forests, bewitching landscapes, palaces, castles, monasteries that amaze the imagination rise on the hills.

Located in the city itself National Palace Sintra, and in the adjacent mountainous and forested area on a hill - the Palacio da Pena Palace and the dilapidated Castle of the Moors.

Near the station there is a beautiful city hall.

Before climbing the mountain to the Palacio da Pena Palace, we walk with pleasure in the urban part of Sintra, built up with old mansions. The streets wind whimsically and often end with steep stairs, steps lead to observation terraces, which offer stunning views of the mountains and the ocean. Cityscape abounds green forests, exotic flowers and exquisite palaces.

In the city you can find many castles and palaces that have been preserved in their originality. These castles contain an important historical and artistic collection, which attracts Portuguese and foreign artists to the city. Interesting and original are not only castles and palaces, but also houses in this fabulous city.

The proximity of the ocean and the mountain ranges provide humid, cool and slightly windy weather, which is great for relaxing even in very hot summers. That is why, already in the 15th century, the summer residence of the royal family of Portugal became fairytale castle Palacio da Pena, which, together with its luxurious park, crowns one of the highest hills of Sintra. Located 450 meters above the city of Sintra, it is one of the most significant examples of Portuguese architecture of the Romantic period. Rising on a rocky hill, it surprisingly harmonizes with the surrounding landscapes, combining lush vegetation and rocky cliffs.

The palace was founded in 1839, when the husband of the Portuguese Queen Maria II, Ferdinand II of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1816-1885), acquired the ruins of the Jerome Monastery and began to rebuild them according to his romantic taste in order to create a summer residence here. In order to realize his fantasies, Ferdinando II turned to a German friend, Baron Eschwege, for help and appointed him the construction manager. And since in the 19th century, romantically minded architects no longer hesitated to mix different styles, then the castle, like a three-dimensional puzzle, was assembled from German and Portuguese towers, Moorish arches and courtyards, and Indian domes. And to top it off, they painted it all in bright colors, which delights not only adults, but also children. The whimsically eccentric architecture of the palace combines Moorish, Gothic and Manueline motifs and the spirit of the castles of Central Europe. The palace stands on the top of the mountain, it can be bypassed along the perimeter along a special path. Ferdinand II also built here one of the most spectacular parks in Portugal, which was designed and planted for over 4 years, starting in 1846.

This one is the most beautiful and romantic castle Portugal is jokingly called "Snow White's Palace" and is often compared to the Bavarian Neuschwanstein. Pena Palace can be reached by bus number 434 from the city center for 4.5 euros, but you can also get on the path on foot.

We climb the rock where the fortress built by the Moors between the 9th and 10th centuries is located. During the capture by the Christians, the fortress surrendered without a fight. After the 15th century, the fortress lost its strategic importance. From above, a wonderful landscape opens up: among the sea of ​​greenery, you can see the blue ocean and white-red roofs. settlements and capitals.

We go down on foot to feel the beauty of the surrounding nature more strongly. The entire slope of the mountain is littered with huge boulders, as after a collapse or rockfall. It is not clear how tall trees can grow on these stones.

I pass by the ruins of an old Moorish fortress - once life was stormy here, and now only dilapidated stone walls remind of its former greatness.

Royal Sintra will forever be remembered as one of the most harmonious places in the world, combining and beautiful scenery, created by mother nature, and man-made palaces and castles, created by talented architects. Lord George Gordon Byron, admiring the beauty of Sintra, called it a paradise, and then forever immortalized the town in the famous poem “Great Paradise”.

The resort towns of Cascais and Estoril

After lunch we head to the westernmost point of Europe - Cape Roca. The path to it runs along the "Portuguese Riviera", with a visit to the resort towns of Cascais and Estoril. Although Lisbon stands on the coast of the ocean, there are no beaches in the city and those who want to plunge into the depths of the sea or just relax on the coast, Lisbon people go to these nearby resort cities. These cities are very nice and cozy.

15 km west of Lisbon is located great resort— Estoril. It has a unique microclimate: warm and sunny summers, moderate temperatures the rest of the year. It is from the resort of Estoril that the tourism industry of Portugal originates. A little over a century ago, the amazing beauty of nature and the mild Atlantic climate attracted the world's elite and representatives of famous aristocratic families to Estoril. Gorgeous sandy beaches, the purest water and inaccessible to a mere mortal, hotels are traditionally in demand among people of considerable income. Fans of outdoor activities will enjoy an incredible variety of water sports activities, including 8 newest water parks, and excellent golf courses.

Her Majesty the Queen of England often rests in Estoril, and the notorious Linda Evangelista has chosen a villa for herself. We pass by the hotel where our first and only President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, had a rest.

Located just a few kilometers from Estoril and 20 kilometers from Lisbon, Cascais is a typical example of Portuguese architecture with brightly colored tiled roofs and white walls lined with colorful ceramic tiles.

The name Cascais comes from the word cascale - "small stone". The city has a rich historical and architectural ensemble: a museum of history, maritime museum, churches and chapels of the 15th century. On Central Square there is a monument to Don Pedro.

There are other monuments in the small town as well. We liked this sculptural warrior.

I really liked this unusual pretty bouquet.

A very attractive walk through the upper city with a well-groomed city park and the romantic castle of the Aristocrat.

If you move further from the city along the rocky coast, you will find yourself in Guinsha - the realm of wide dunes with frequent storm winds. This corner untouched nature is a real paradise for windsurfers. Here is the picturesque cliff of Boca de Infierno (“the mouth of the underworld”): the sea has washed out a hole in the rock, and now “infernal stew” is constantly boiling in these stone jaws.

capeCabo deRoca

The mountain road leads to a cliff from which a dizzying panorama of the ocean and coastal rocks. This is the westernmost point of Europe, Cape Cabo de Roca, which became a tourist attraction only in 1979. Before that, the "end of the world" on the Iberian Peninsula was considered the Spanish Cape Finisterre (lat. "end of the earth"). A rock 140 meters high, like the prow of a ship, protrudes into the ocean. Ignoring the protective barrier, I approach its edge. Standing at the very edge, I listen to the solemn music of the ocean and fill with its energy. Probably the great Portuguese navigators, standing at western coasts native continent and peering into the boundless ocean expanses, they wondered: “What is beyond these expanses?” and to find the answer to this question they went on long sea voyages.

We overcame here a difficult journey by bus through many European countries from the westernmost point of our native Ukraine, the Transcarpathian city of Chop (48º05′ N, 22º08′ E). Photographed for memory with our yellow-blue national flag next to a stone stele, on which the coordinates (38º47′ N, 9º30′ W) and the inscription “ Onde a terra acaba e o mar comeca….". Shrouded in mist or illuminated by the bright sun, this place is one and only, where, as the poet Camões said: TOthe earth ends and the ocean begins» , - this is how the words carved on a stone stele sound in translation.

This is a memorial stone.

As evidence of my presence in such a charismatic place, I acquire in service center Cape personalized certificate stating that she really was here. On reverse side in different languages, including Russian, the following words are written: “ I certify that I was at Cape Roca in Sintra, Portugal, at the most western point European continent, at the very edge of the world, “where the earth ends and the ocean begins”, where the Spirit of Faith, Love and a thirst for adventure prompted the Portuguese caravels to set off in search of a new world» .

The souvenir shop has a lot of different products about staying in the westernmost point of Europe, especially a lot of souvenirs with drawings on various ceramic products. I choose a fridge magnet in the form of a small ceramic tile with the image of a cape as a memento of visiting this unique place.

But the main thing that we take away from this place is the memories of what the westernmost point of our native European continent looks like. The turquoise smoothness of the Atlantic caresses the eye, and the menacing rocks evoke legends of tragic, unrequited love.

We have reached the extreme point our native continent, and with this I conclude my story about the journey through the Iberian Peninsula, my "Iberian Romance".

Not only a country with a wonderful climate and magnificent beaches, but also with a long glorious history. The past of Portugal is marked by many years of yoke of various conquerors, and from the beginning of the 15th century, it itself acquires the status of a colonial empire. A small state in the southwest of Europe, with a territory only twice the size of the Moscow region, owned colonies on the western and eastern coasts of Africa, in eastern India. And the largest colony was in South America - Brazil.

The foundations of maritime and colonial dominance on the West Coast of Africa were laid by the son of King Juan I, Enrique. Beginning in 1415 and until his death in 1460, he organized several expeditions, which resulted in the colonization of the coast from north Africa to the equator. In addition to capturing and exploring the lands, the Portuguese were interested in mapping and spreading Christianity.

The result was impressive - ships with gold and slaves reached the country. Enrique received a monopoly on the slave trade. At the same time, the expeditions gave impetus to the development of shipbuilding, ships were needed that could deliver a large number of cargo.

The economy of the state, as you know, determines its policy. Export of Portugal in those years was not great. The country has grown, and still grows, wheat and maize, olives and almonds, grapes and citrus fruits. But the main obstacle to active foreign trade was the geographical position of the country: it was far from the existing trade routes. The search for new trade routes was vital. And these routes were found.

Discovered by Portuguese navigators sea ​​route to india . In 1487, the expedition of Bartolomeo Dias, sailing along the west coast, discovered South coast Africa. Prior to this discovery, it was believed that Africa stretched far to the south. So the Cape of Good Hope was opened, hopes for the opportunity to find a sea route to the coveted India with its riches.

This path was found ten years later by the sailors of Vasco da Gama. At the same time, the lands of East Africa and West Coast India, now Goa.

The largest Portuguese colony, Brazil, was discovered in 1500 by the expedition of Pedro Álvares Cabral. The famous Florentine and Spanish navigator Amerigo Vespucci served in the Portuguese navy for five years, from 1500 to 1504. Having sailed to the shores of America on Spanish ships in 1499, he contributed to the exploration of Brazil by the Portuguese.

A practical confirmation of the spherical shape of the Earth was the discovery of an expedition led by the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan. In 1519, his ships, moving along the east coast of South America, found a strait between the mainland and the archipelago. Tierra del Fuego, Strait of Magellan.

The value of the great geographical discoveries of the Portuguese navigators is unusually high, their honor and glory forever belongs to Portugal.

Yuri Trifonov

Porto is one of the oldest Portuguese cities. The name of the country comes from it, formed from the merger of two words: the Latin "portus" - "port" and the Greek "kalos" - "beautiful".

This was the name of two settlements that were once located on the banks of the Douro River. Greek on the right, Roman on the left. The left and right banks of Porto are connected by six bridges. One of them was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the author of the Eiffel Tower.

Porto is the birthplace of Henry the Navigator. Thanks to this prince, Portugal in the 15th century entered the era of great geographical discoveries. Portuguese sailors opened up to Christendom lands thousands of miles from Europe, and subjugated territories many times larger than their European possessions to the Portuguese monarchs.

Porto is said by many to be the most picturesque city Portugal. And it is impossible not to agree with this. You can wander through its narrow streets for hours. And everywhere you can feel the connection of Porto with the sea. And it's not just the air saturated with the smell of iodine... Even in the city squares there are not the usual pigeons, but seagulls...

Most of the Portuguese border runs along the sea, so maritime traditions for Portugal are not an empty phrase. In this country, much is connected with the sea, in particular its name. The sea is not only naval battles, long trips, unknown countries and endless beaches. The sea is also fishing and fishermen.

Fishing has played such an important role in the life of the Portuguese for centuries that in one of the modern districts of Porto they erected a one-of-a-kind monument - a monument to the fishing net.

In recent years, Portugal catches much less fish than before - the European Union has introduced strict quotas. But this did not lead to any deficit. And in every seaside town or village there is always a market where they sell the freshest fish of today's catch.

What I couldn’t imagine was that the Portuguese fish market, in the very fish region of the Algarve, would be so quiet and calm.

The variety of assortment is amazing. The favorite local fish is dried cod, as the Portuguese say "bacalau". Strange as it sounds, they bring it from Norway. And generally always brought from the Nordic countries. The quota for cod is small, so we have to bring it in from Scandinavia.

In the morning, a kilogram of sardines costs four euros, and in the evening - already two. Poorer people come and buy everything in bulk, so that nothing is wasted.

Large fishing vessels go fishing in almost any weather - both in calm and in a storm. For owners of small boats, today's excitement means downtime. But then they had time to carefully check the gear and put them in order.

Some of the fishermen are really fiddling with gear. But the vast majority of seafarers use their unexpected leisure in a more pleasant way. They fill coastal pubs where they drink beer and cut into cards.

And the storm, by the way, has been going on for the fourth day. And all these days they probably tell their wives in the morning that they went to work. In one tavern, a fisherman advised me to definitely get acquainted with Sebastian. He is the oldest fisherman. I went to sea even under the dictator Salazar. Why Salazar - old man Sebastian, according to the stories of the same sailor, under Henry the Navigator he caught fish.

The history of Portugal is inextricably linked with the era of great discoveries. In the 15th century, having gained a foothold on land, the Portuguese also wanted to have complete dominance at sea. Attempts to explore the seas and oceans began. This era was opened by Prince Enrique, the legendary Henry the Navigator.

The youngest son of the Portuguese king João I did not accidentally get the nickname Navigator. Settling on the Sagres Peninsula, he gathered cartographers, astronomers and shipbuilders around him. And in the local fortress he opened a school of navigation.

In 1416, a long and well-organized sea expedition was launched under the leadership of Henry the Navigator. It should be noted that Henry the Navigator himself, paradoxically as it may sound, never went to sea. He was only the organizer of these campaigns.

For many years, a lighthouse built on Cape Sau Vincente, near Sagres, helped sailors not to break on the rocks. Now it's just a memorial. Its height is 61 meters, and the beam length is 90 km. This is the most big lighthouse in Europe.

Henry the Navigator admonished his captains: "No danger that you meet can be greater than the reward that awaits you." After the death of Henry, the distant expeditions that he initiated did not stop. One of them, in July 1497, went in search of a sea route to India.

The work of Henry the Navigator was continued by a young courtier of noble origin, Vasco da Gama. Only he actually took part in sea voyages. Da Gama became the first European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope and reach the shores of India. He returned to Portugal with hundreds of bags of Indian spices, which were valued in Europe more than gold.

More than five hundred years ago, on the site of the monastery of Sant Jerónimos, there was a chapel of Henry the Navigator. In it, before his sailing to India, Vasco da Gama prayed. And here, upon his return, he was met by King Manuel I. In honor of the opening of the sea route to India, this monastery was founded. Here, in the monastery of Sant Jerónimos, the remains of Vasco da Gama were eventually transferred.

The greatest poet of Portugal, Luis de Camões, who dedicated the poem "Lusiada" to the journey of the famous navigator, is buried in the same walls.
Da Gama died during his third campaign in India in 1524. He was originally buried in the city of Cochin, in the first Catholic cathedral built by the Portuguese in India. They still show his empty grave there.

Discovering new lands, Portuguese navigators declared them the property of the Portuguese crown. By the end of the 16th century, Lisbon was subject to an entire empire, stretching from Brazil in the west to the Chinese coast in the east.

Scattered throughout this space are formidable forts - like the one towering over Praia, the capital of the current Republic of Cape Verde, and until the seventies of the last century - the Portuguese colony of Cape Verde Island.

The guns of these forts helped to keep the local population in submission and repel the encroachments of other European powers, who more than once tried to lay hands on the Portuguese colonies.

Islands of Portuguese-speaking Christian culture interspersed in a strikingly foreign environment serve as a living memory of the era of great geographical discoveries and the colonial empire that arose thanks to them.

So in the Chinese Aomyn, the former Portuguese colony of Macau, there are almost more statues of the Madonna "" and Catholic saints than Buddhist statues.

In Malaysian Malacca, there is a quarter where all the signs are in Portuguese, and in the courtyards of the houses there are Catholic altars. The descendants of the Portuguese live here. However, the Portuguese blood flowing in their veins is so diluted with Malaysian that outwardly they do not differ from the indigenous population.

Brazil is a huge fragment of the Portuguese empire, both in area and in population many times greater than the former metropolis. Nevertheless, the symbol of Rio de Janeiro - the statue of Christ towering over the city - is an exact copy of the statue that adorns Lisbon.

Macau, Malacca, Cape Verde, Rio de Janeiro and many other points on the globe, where people of different races speak Portuguese, are separated from Portugal by thousands of kilometers of sea routes. The feat of the people who explored these paths is worthy of admiration. After all, they sailed on ships not much larger than the current fishing launches.