1. Portugal has often changed capital
Portugal has often changed capital

Portugal has often changed capital

In the course of its history, the country has designated 5 different cities as its capital.

Lisbon has not always been the capital of Portugal. In all, five different cities have had this role over the centuries, due to their political and economic importance.

The first Portuguese capital was Guimarães, located in the north of the country. This is not surprising since the city is considered the cradle of the Portuguese nation.

Later, in the 13th century, there was Coimbra, before it was the turn of Lisbon where the Royal Court settled and made the city prosper.

More surprisingly, Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, was also the capital of Portugal. We are at the beginning of the 19th century when the Napoleonic army tries to invade the country. The royal family decided to flee to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, to a territory that was still a colony of the kingdom.  

Finally, another overseas city, Angra Do Heroísmo in the Azores, was capital twice, in the 16th and 19th centuries, for political reasons.

Comments
Be the first to post a comment
Log-in or Sign up to comment

Articles that might interest you