12 funny curiosities about Portugal worth travelling for
These funny curiosities about Portugal reveal a country where bats protect books, pavements resemble waves and a saint’s name can give the wrong impression. Each fact comes with a practical tip for finding its real-life setting.
12 funny curiosities about Portugal—and tips to explore them
01Bertrand’s very long reading list
Founded in 1732, Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon’s Chiado district is recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest operating bookshop in the world. Step inside the Rua Garrett shop rather than stopping at its façade, and browse for Portuguese authors in English translation.
02Coimbra’s tiny, winged librarians
Bats inhabit the University of Coimbra’s Joanina Library and eat insects that could damage its books, while protective covers shield the tables from droppings overnight. Visit for the gilded reading rooms rather than a promised bat sighting: these helpers are nocturnal, and access follows the university’s visitor arrangements.
03Portugal grows bottle stoppers on trees
Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer, and cork is harvested from the bark of living cork oaks without cutting them down. On an Alentejo journey, look for recently stripped reddish trunks; a painted number usually marks the final digit of the harvest year.
04Belém has been selling its famous tarts since 1837
Pastéis de Belém began producing its custard tarts in 1837 beside Lisbon’s Jerónimos Monastery, and the name identifies that particular bakery’s pastries rather than every pastel de nata in Portugal. Taste the first bite without toppings, then decide whether to add the customary cinnamon or icing sugar.
05Lisbon’s iron lift is not an Eiffel creation
The Santa Justa Lift opened in 1902 and was designed by engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, not Gustave Eiffel. Approach from the Largo do Carmo side to appreciate how its upper structure connects with the hillside, and check current access arrangements before planning a viewing-platform visit.
06Pena Palace has a monastery inside it
Sintra’s colourful Pena Palace incorporates a former Hieronymite monastery that King Ferdinand II transformed and expanded in the 19th century. In the palace interiors, pause at the Manueline cloister: it makes the older religious building easier to recognise beneath the royal reinvention.
07Nazaré’s biggest attraction begins underwater
The Nazaré Canyon, a deep submarine canyon off the coast, helps amplify the Atlantic swells responsible for Praia do Norte’s enormous waves. Head to the designated viewpoints around the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo when conditions permit, and stay away from the beach edge and any closed areas during heavy surf.
08Rossio’s pavement plays tricks on your eyes
The black-and-white limestone mosaic in Lisbon’s Rossio square uses undulating bands that can make the flat ground appear to ripple. Stand near the edge of the square to see the pattern stretch into the distance, but watch your footing because polished calçada can be slippery when wet.
09Port’s geography crosses the river
Port comes from grapes grown in the Douro’s demarcated wine region, established in 1756, but many famous historic ageing lodges stand in Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river from Porto. For the classic view of Porto’s Ribeira waterfront, look back from the Gaia riverfront rather than searching for that perspective in Porto itself.
10Azulejo does not mean ‘little blue thing’
Despite its resemblance to azul, the Portuguese word for blue, azulejo derives from Arabic, and Portuguese tiles come in many colours. At Porto’s São Bento station, study the coloured frieze above the better-known blue-and-white historical panels; it is an easy detail to miss when looking around the entrance hall.
11Saint Anthony of Padua was born in Lisbon
The saint associated worldwide with the Italian city was born in Lisbon around 1195, and the city celebrates his feast day on 13 June. Visit the Igreja de Santo António near Lisbon Cathedral for the local connection, or explore Alfama during the June festivities for decorated streets and the smell of grilled sardines.
12Portugal and England have a remarkably old friendship
The Treaty of Windsor, signed in 1386, formalised the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, which remains in force today. At Batalha Monastery, seek out the joint tomb of King João I and his English queen, Philippa of Lancaster, whose 1387 marriage strengthened that relationship.
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Where to experience these Portugal facts first-hand
Lisbon: books, optical illusions and custard tarts
Chiado, Rossio and the streets around Lisbon Cathedral bring several of these curiosities into one manageable city itinerary. Start with Bertrand on Rua Garrett, compare Rossio’s wave-pattern pavement with the surrounding calçada, and continue to Santo António’s church for the story behind Lisbon’s June celebrations. Belém deserves its own unhurried stop farther west, especially if you also want to visit Jerónimos Monastery; check opening arrangements before fixing the day.
Sintra: find the older building inside the famous palace
Pena Palace is more rewarding when you look beyond its bright exterior. Choose admission that includes the palace interiors if seeing the former monastery’s cloister matters to you, and leave time for the approach through the grounds. A Lisbon–Sintra private day tour can keep the day focused rather than squeezing several palaces into a rushed circuit. Ask Portugal Magik for a personalized itinerary built around the details you most want to see.
Central Portugal: bats, royal history and Atlantic scale
Coimbra’s Joanina Library, Batalha Monastery and Nazaré make distinctive stops on a multi-day journey between Lisbon and Porto. They are not neighbouring attractions to tick off in a single hurried morning: allow time for scheduled visits and the journeys between them. At Nazaré, enjoy the headland and fishing-town setting even if the sea is calm; giant waves depend on particular conditions, not a daily timetable.
Porto and the Alentejo: choose your next chapter
In Porto, pair São Bento’s tile panels with time on Gaia’s riverfront to understand the geography behind port wine. For cork landscapes, head instead towards the Alentejo, where cork-oak woodland is part of the working countryside; observe from suitable stopping places and do not enter private land without permission.
For smaller groups on these journeys, a private Mercedes-Benz V-Class is a comfortable option, subject to availability. Portugal Magik offers private Mercedes-Benz transfers and private day or multi-day tours with an English-speaking driver, door-to-door pickup and flexible itineraries. Your Portugal Ambassador—a knowledgeable local English-speaking driver-guide from Portugal—can add context along the way; ask for a personalized route connecting your favourite curiosities.
A few Portugal travel tips before you go
Build your itinerary around two or three interests rather than all twelve facts. A reader might favour Chiado and Coimbra; an architecture enthusiast could choose Santa Justa, Pena and Batalha; someone interested in food and wine might spend longer in Belém, Porto and the Douro.
Wear shoes with a good grip for Lisbon’s and Porto’s stone paving. Check official opening times and ticket requirements for Pena Palace, the Joanina Library and monuments before travelling, and allow extra time around Lisbon’s June festivities. On the Atlantic coast, a windproof layer is useful even when the sunshine looks persuasive.
Keep the distinctions that make these stories interesting: not every custard tart is a Pastel de Belém, not every Nazaré day brings giant waves, and Coimbra’s bats are working wildlife rather than a visitor performance.
For help turning your favourites into a comfortable journey, request a personalized private tour or transfer quote from Portugal Magik. Established in 2012, the company has 1,300+ verified reviews and is consistently five-star rated—a reassuring starting point for planning Portugal travel with local context and room to linger.
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