Page 29 - WDT MAGAZINE PORTUGAL

Potugal’s DNA

Veteran travelers know it’s important to grasp the and east borders push against the rugged Pyrenees
underpinnings of a country’s people and culture Mountains and Spain. Theses buffers set this small
before a visit. As we know, Europe’s nations differ country apart politically, culturally, and economically
dramatically from each other even though they've from the rest of Europe. Also, its long Atlantic coast -
shared the same borders for centuries. A look at a geographic wild card - facilitated its historic global
Portugal’s history sheds light on how this exploration, colonization, and national identity.
phenomenon occurs. Foreign invaders and occupiers were also major
Geography played a leading role in shaping influences, evident everywhere in the country.
Portugal. The country's south and west perimeters Portugal has been occupied on and off since 3000
are guarded by the Atlantic Ocean, while its north BC when the Lusitanians first settled the Douro

28 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2019