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200 Portugal Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Portugal? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Portugal (Geography). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
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1 Lisbon was destroyed by what natural disaster in 1755?
Answer: earthquake

The entire city was razed to the ground by the earthquake on 1 November 1755. Being All-Saints day, the churches had a lot of lit candles so there was a terrible fire which was followed by a tsunami!
  From Quiz: Portugal: Europe's West Coast Part 2
2 What is the currency in Portugal?
Answer: Euro

Portugal has used the euro since 2002, along with several other countries. Financial markets began using the euro three years earlier in 1999 but the general public of Europe didn't use the currency for everyday transactions until 2002. Until 2002, Portugal used the escudo. The dollar has never been a European currency, the pound is used in the UK and the paseta used to be the currency in Spain until it also adopted the Euro in 2002.
  From Quiz: Portugal: Europe's West Coast Part 1
3 On what peninsula does Portugal lie?
Answer: Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula experiences high temperatures in the summer, low ones in the winter, and small amounts of rain. There are also five main rivers that channel water through the peninsula.

Source: questia.com
  From Quiz: Prodigious Portugal!
4 Set in the wide ocean sea Madeira has truly been described as "the _______ of the Atlantic Ocean". What is the missing word?
Answer: pearl

Madeira is a really quit a compact if not say small island measuring a mere 35 miles [57 km] in length and 13 miles [22 km] in width. Madeira lies in the north Atlantic Ocean. It is an autonomous region of Portugal. It is situated about 650 km (360 miles) west of the mainland of Africa. It is also sometimes called the "Atlantic Garden" or the "floating garden of the Atlantic".
  From Quiz: Madeira: It's More Than Just a Piece of Cake
5 On which continent is Portugal?
Answer: Europe

It's located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
    Your options: [ Africa ] [ America ] [ Asia ] [ Europe ]
  From Quiz: Portugal Facts
6 What was the bad event that happened to Portugal's capital in 1755?
Answer: Earthquake

It was the worst moment ever in Lisbon. It happened on the morning of November 1st 1755 and killed more than 60,000 people.
  From Quiz: Portugal Geography
7 As we fly into Lisbon, Portugal's largest city, I think back to the events of November 1st, 1755. What happened?
Answer: A devastating earthquake hit the city

The quake lasted between three and six minutes, followed by a tsunami tidal wave and five days of fires in the city. Ninety thousand of the population of two hundred seventy thousand died, and eighty-five per cent of the town was destroyed. It is estimated that if the means to test the Richter intensity of the quake were available, it would have registered a nine. Insult to injury is that the quake struck in the morning of All Saints Day, when many residents were in church.
  From Quiz: A Historic Tour of Portugal
8 Who officially discovered the island of Porto Santo and nearby Madeira?
Answer: Joao Goncalves Zarco and Tristao Vaz

Joao Goncalves Zarco and Tristao Vaz offially discovered the island of Porto Santo in 1418 and of nearby Madeira in 1420. After being blown by a storm off course Zarco found shelter on a small island, which he named in gratitude Porto Santo. Many believe these islands had been visited or sighted from as far back as the beginning of the Christian area.
  From Quiz: Madeira - History Of An Island
9 The Islands Desertas, part of the Madeira Archipelago, contains how many islands?
Answer: Three

Islands Desertas are composed of Ilheu Chao, Deserta Grande and Bugio, located 22 miles Southeast of Funchal. They are the last sanctuary of the monk seal, Monachus Monachus, for this reason the islands were declared protected territory by the government in 1990. Access to the islands is restricted but special authorisation can be obtained. Any fishing is forbidden.
  From Quiz: Madeira Island
10 Madeira is part of what country?
Answer: Portugal

Although Madeira is situated off the coast of Morocco, it is still a part of Portugal, though it has its own government.
  From Quiz: Madeira - A Beautiful Island
11 What is the Portuguese name for Lisbon?
Answer: Lisboa

Lisbon's ancient name was Olisipo.
  From Quiz: Lisbon, the Other City of Seven Hills
12 Lisbon is composed of how many hills?
Answer: Seven

The seven hills of Lisbon are: Castelo, Graca, Monte, Penha de Franca, S. Pedro de Alcantara, Santa Catarina and Estrela. The hills and valleys of Lisbon make it a very interesting city to visit.
  From Quiz: Lisbon
13 Portugal has a geometrical shape. This country looks like a:
Answer: rectangle

Just look on a map! Portugal together with Spain forms the Iberian peninsula.
    Your options: [ square ] [ triangle ] [ ellipse ] [ rectangle ]
  From Quiz: Portugal Geographic
14 What is the name of Portugal's second city, famous for its beautiful hills and fortified wine?
Answer: Oporto

Port wine is actually made upstream in the Douro Valley and is then sent to Oporto where the producers have their wine cellars. In the old days it would come down on boats, but later was transported by truck, just like everything else.
  From Quiz: Portugal: Europe's West Coast Part 2
15 What structure connects the center of Lisbon, Portugal to the old part of the town at the top of the hill?
Answer: Santa Justa Lift

This structure was built by Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel was the architect of Paris' famous Eiffel Tower!
  From Quiz: Prodigious Portugal!
16 Madeira and its surrounding much smaller islands are about 650 km (360 miles) west of the mainland of Africa. Despite this Madeira is an autonomous region of which European country?
Answer: Portugal

The two main islands are the Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island. They are the only inhabited islands in this archipelago. Although the archipelago is located in the African tectonic plate, some 650 km (360 mi) off the North African coast, Madeira belongs and has belonged ethnically, culturally, economically and politically to Europe for some 200 years. It is about 955 km (583 mi) from the European mainland.
    Your options: [ Portugal ] [ France ] [ Spain ] [ United Kingdom ]
  From Quiz: Madeira: It's More Than Just a Piece of Cake
17 Within the Azores there are nine major islands and eight smaller islands. What is the collective name for the eight smaller islands?
Answer: Formigas

In 1988 the Formigas were deemed a nature reserve by the Portuguese government. The word formigas means ants in Portuguese, so named because there are so many tiny islets.
  From Quiz: Azores
18 What is the approximate 2004 population of the metropolitan area of Lisbon?
Answer: About 2 million

Lisbon city has about 700,000 but the metropolitan region has more than two million people.
  From Quiz: Portuguese Geography
19 What's the Portugal currency?
Answer: Euro

The Euro has been the currency since 2002. Before that escudo was the currency for approximately one century.
  From Quiz: Portugal Geography
20 The village of Camara de Lobos has a typical drink. What is its name?
Answer: Nikita

Nikita has the following ingredients: 0,5 L white wine, 0,5 L beer, 3 scoops vanilla ice cream, 2 slices of pineapple and sugar. Except for the beer, place everything together in a blender for a couple of minutes. Pour everything into a jug and then carefully add the beer. Bottoms up!
  From Quiz: Madeira Island
21 What is the capital of Madeira?
Answer: Funchal

Funchal is the capital of the island, Santa Cruz is where the airport is located, Porto Moniz is on the other end of the island and Santana is known for its typical Santana-houses.
  From Quiz: Madeira - A Beautiful Island
22 Lisbon is on the northern bank of which river?
Answer: Tagus

The River Tagus (Tejo) in Portugese has its source in the Sierra De Cuenca in Spain and runs through most of the Iberian Peninsula, before it broadens and enters the Atlantic Ocean by Lisbon.
    Your options: [ Xarrama ] [ Douro ] [ Tagus ] [ Guadiana ]
  From Quiz: Lisbon, the Other City of Seven Hills
23 In which Portuguese city can you find a bridge built by Eiffel?
Answer: Oporto and Gaia

It is named Ponte D Luis.
    Your options: [ Lisbon and Almada ] [ Oporto and Gaia ] [ Coimbra ] [ Regua ]
  From Quiz: Portugal
24 Lisbon is famous for its _________________ sidewalks?
Answer: Mosaic

The black and white mosaic sidewalks are made of three inch cubes of cream colored limestone and dark grey basalt stones.
  From Quiz: Lisbon
25 The most western point of Europe's mainland is a cape in Portugal. Which one is it?
Answer: Cape of Roca
    Your options: [ Cape Espichel ] [ Cape of Santa Maria ] [ Cape of Sao Vicente ] [ Cape of Roca ]
  From Quiz: Portugal Geographic
26 Many tourists visit Portugal every year to play what sport?
Answer: Golf

There are not very many native golf players in Portugal, as it is still considered a rich man's sport. There are, however, hundreds of courses because of the visitors and the great weather.
  From Quiz: Portugal: Europe's West Coast Part 2
27 Portugal expelled which occupier in the 10th century?
Answer: Moors

The French never occupied the entire country (thanks to Wellington). The Spanish came and went, and the British never permanently stayed there.
    Your options: [ French ] [ Spanish ] [ English ] [ Moors ]
  From Quiz: Portugal: Europe's West Coast Part 1
28 What is the highest point in mainland Portugal?
Answer: Serra da Estrela

The Serra da Estrela mountain range lies near Covilhã. It is 6,537 ft. tall. Ponta do Pico is the highest spot on the Azores, which is a Portuguese territory (but not part of the mainland).
  From Quiz: Prodigious Portugal!
29 Early written records relating to which country or empire support the hypothesis that mariners from this culture were the first to visit and chart the Madeira island group?
Answer: Roman

There are several written references which either directly describe the existence of the Madeira archipelago or imply its location. For instance Pliny describes a cluster of islands he called the 'Purple islands' when talking about the discovery of the 'Fortunate' or 'Canary' islands. Plutarch in his 'Lives' refers to the activities of Sertorius and the description he obtained from sailors who described the twin nature of the Madeira islands and their location of about 10,000 furlongs from the west African coast. These sailors referred to Madeira as the 'Isles of the Blessed'. If you have visited Madeira you will know this to be an apt description.
    Your options: [ Roman ] [ Moroccan ] [ Spanish ] [ Portuguese ]
  From Quiz: Madeira: It's More Than Just a Piece of Cake
30 Along with the Azores, what other archipelago is considered an Autonomous Region of Portugal?
Answer: Madeira

The Portuguese Republic consists of Continental Portugal, the Azores and Madeira. Madeira was given autonomous status on July 1, 1976.
  From Quiz: Azores
31 Here's an example of the Portuguese language. What does "estás bem?" mean?
Answer: Are you all right?

"Are you ready?", means "estás pronto?". "Are you sick?", means "estás doente?", and "Are you bad?", means "és mau?".
  From Quiz: Portugal Facts
32 What is the second largest city in Portugal in terms of population?
Answer: Porto

Porto is 300 kms north of Lisbon. Lisbon is the biggest city of Portugal. Porto is often known is Oporto in English speaking countries.
  From Quiz: Portuguese Geography
33 What's the main language in Brazil?
Answer: Portuguese

Portuguese also spoken in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde Islands, Sao Tome Principe, Guiné Bissau, East Timor and certainly Portugal.
  From Quiz: Portugal Geography
34 As we drive around sightseeing, everyone tells us to see the "barcos rabelos". What are these?
Answer: Sailing vessels that carry port

These single sail vessels are moored along the banks of the river Duoro, primarily for historical interest, since the future wine now arrives in huge stainless steel tanks by truck. So much for the romance of winemaking.
  From Quiz: A Historic Tour of Portugal
35 Who attacked Madeira in the 16th-century?
Answer: French pirates

Madeira suffered attacks from French pirates in the 16th-century. And Porto Santo was also constantly under threat from Algerian, Moorish, French and English pirates.
  From Quiz: Madeira - History Of An Island
36 What is true about the Pico do Arieiro?
Answer: It is one of the highest mountains on Madeira at 1.818 m

This Pico do Arieiro is the second highest peak on the island. Passing through mist and sometimes rain to emerge on a sunlit landschape of volcanic rocks. At the top awaits a view of clouds in the valleys and dramatic mountain ridges.
  From Quiz: Madeira Island
37 What other islands are part of the Madeira Archipelago?
Answer: Porto Santo, Islands Selvages, Islands Desertas

The Madeira Archipelago is made up of the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of Selvages and Desertas.
  From Quiz: Madeira - A Beautiful Island
38 Lisbon's old quarters are dominated by a castle, can you name it?
Answer: Sao Jorge

This medieval fortress crowns one of Lisbon's oldest quarters, Alfama.
  From Quiz: Lisbon, the Other City of Seven Hills
39 The _________, Lower Town, in the flat area next to the harbor, is Lisbon's old business district?
Answer: Baixa

The Baixa consists of a grid of small streets between the river and Rossio, the city's main square. It is a very popular shopping district.
  From Quiz: Lisbon
40 Do you know how many islands are in the Azores?
Answer: nine

Azores is an archipelago formed by three groups of islands: the western group, the central group and the eastern group. There are people who say that the nine islands of Azores belong truly to the Atlantic Ocean since their nature, history and climate all derive from their position in mid-Atlantic.
  From Quiz: Portugal Geographic
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