Leisure Programme

The Portuguese are sociable people, and most recreational activities take place in the company of others. The Portuguese love to gather with neighbours for a game of cards or dominoes, with friends at a bar for a drink, and enthusiastically attend folkloric festivals. Although social activities within the community are important, the Portuguese are family-oriented people and spend most of their spare time with close family and relatives. At weekends, families visit restaurants, shopping centres and beaches or nature parks outside town.

Beaches

Algrave Beach, South of Portugal

With a coastline of nearly 1,800km, it is not shocking that beaches are an important leisure destination for the Portuguese. Every weekend during the summer large crowds descend on Portugal's beautiful beaches in search of their own spot in the sand and sun. Children build sandcastles, adults sunbathe, read or listen to radios under umbrellas and surfers ride the waves along Portugal's coast. The Portuguese also prefer to frequent the beaches closest to home.

Sports

As mentioned, football is not only a sport, but has become a part of the culture of the Portuguese. Click to read more: http://tourism-culture-society.blogspot.com/2010/11/culture-of-portugal.html

Water sports are also popular among the Portuguese. Many coastal towns, especially in the Algarve, have marinas with dozens of moored boats. surfing is also a popular sport all along the coast. The popular surf spots are the Estremadura coast near Peniche. Windsurfing is also popular in the estuaries and protected areas along the coast, especially in the Eastern Algarve.

Bicycle racing in Portugal is fairly popular as well, and Portugal hosts the annual Volta a Portugal (Tour of Portugal), which attracts a large number of international participants.

Although not nearly as common as in neighbouring Spain, bullfighting is still a popular spectacle in Portugal's cattle-raising regions such as Ribatejo. Over one million spectators watch bullfights in Portugal's arenas every year, making it the most popular spectator sport after football. For more information, click here: http://tourism-culture-society.blogspot.com/2010/11/culture-of-portugal.html

The Performing Arts

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal contains the most lively performing arts scene, and there are numerous performance venues all over the city. Among the most notable are the Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II (theatre productions), the Teatro Nacional São Carlos (concerts and operas), the Centro Cultural de Belém(a varied programme of music, dance, exhibits, and theatre) and the Coliseu dos Recreios (regular concerts of national and international stars)

Above picture:Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II

Above picture: Teatro Nacional São Carlos

Above picture: Centro Cultural de Belém

Above picture:Coliseu dos Recreios

Mode of Education

During most of Portugal's history, education was a privilege of the nobility and clergy. It was not until after the 1974revolution that basic education was extended to include a larger percentage of the population.

Basic Education

Portugal's education system can be summarised in the following diagram (click to enlarge):

Higher education:

At present, higher education in Portugal is divided into two subsystems: university education and non-university higher education (polytechnic education), and it is provided in public and private universities and non-university higher education institutions (both public and private).The Portuguese Catholic University was instituted by decree of the Holy See and is recognized by the State of Portugal. Private higher education institutions cannot operate if they are not recognized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Access is regulated by the same procedures as those for state higher education institutions. The two systems of higher education (university and polytechnic) are linked and it is possible to transfer from one to the other. It is also possible to transfer from a public institution to a private one and vice-versa.