After the overthrow of the monarchy in 1910, a democratic but unstable republic was established that was then replaced by the "Estado Novo" dictatorship. After the Portuguese Colonial War and the Carnation Revolution in 1974, the democracy was restored and the country handed over its last overseas provinces most prominently Angola and Mozambique in Africa; the last overseas territory, Macau, was handed over to China in 1999. It’s worth making a beeline for a Portuguese festival, particularly Carnaval in February or March, and Holy Week the week before Easter in March or April. Dates vary annually, so check with a turismo tourist information office. By the 5th century, when the Roman Empire had all but collapsed, Portugal’s inhabitants had been under Roman rule for 600 years. So what did the Romans ever do for them? Most usefully, they built roads and bridges. Some in the service industry, like waiters and baristas, may insist on showing off their English skills, despite your attempts to stick to Portuguese. Among older folk and in the countryside, English speakers are rare. Oporto is also known for its characteristic sailboats, the "Barcos Rabelos", which used to ship Port downstream from the vineyards. Formerly the trip was actually quite dangerous, however the introduction of the Port train in the late 1800's, the Barcos Rabelos continued to be used for transporting Port until the 1960's. If you would like to ensure that your entry is properly documented, you may need to request a stamp at an official point of entry, or download a “declaracão de entrada” from the Portuguese Immigration Service’s (SEF) website, and submit it to a local SEF office or police station within 3 days of entry. Professional educational teaching and management courses for corporate clients and individuals by
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