Spain vs Portugal

Both Spain and Portugal are gorgeous European countries. Although both countries are very different, they share many similarities. Both countries are in Europe, and to be more specific, on the Iberian Peninsula. And of course, they border eachother. They also both have gorgeous beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, and share similar climates. The cultures of both countries are similar as well as the religions. Here are the pros about both countries.

Spain is a wonderful country! From the gorgeous Mediterranean beaches to the stunning Pyrenees Mountains. Vast plains in Andalusia, and great deserts in the south. Spain borders four different countries (Portugal, France, Andorra, and Morocco) and two seas, (the Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean). Spain, the largest country in Iberia, is a masterpiece!

Spain is home to eleven major mountain ranges. The three main ones include the Pyrenees mountains (as shown above), the Sierra Nevada, and the Cantabrian Mountains. The Pyrenees mountains host some of the largest mountains in Spain. The mountains streak the border of France and Spain, and surrounds the micro-nation of Andorra. The highest mountain in the "Spanish" Pyrenees is Mount Aneto at 11,168 feet (3,404 meters) high. Though, this is only the third tallest mountain in Spain. The tallest is Mount Teide in the Canary Islands. This mountain is 12,188 feet (3,715 meters) above sea level.

Surprisingly, Spain is home to deserts. The largest of these is the Tabernas Desert in Southern Spain. This desert is 110 sq miles (280 sq kilometers) in area. Other Spanish deserts include the Monegros, the Bardenas, and the Cabo de Gata desert.

Spain's many islands are home to hundreds of stunning beaches. These beaches are home to millions of tourists every year. The arguable best beaches apear on the islands of Ibiza (shown above) and Majorca in the Balearic Islands, and in Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The Iberian Peninsula is also home to fabulous beaches like those of the Atlantic Ocean in San Sebastian and those of the Mediterranean Sea in Barcelona and Valencia.

Many plains and river basins thrive in Spain. The largest plain in Spain is the Andalusian Plain in the southern tip of Spain. The Andalusian Plain is basically a wide river valley through which the Rio Guadalquivir flows. Another large plain in Spain is the Ebro Basin to the north.

Spain is home to many rivers. The longest river in Spain is the Tagus River at 626 miles (1,007 kilometers) in length. This mighty river starts in Spain and empties out in the Atlantic Ocean after passing through Portugal. Other long rivers include the Ebro River at 578 miles (930 kilometers) long, the Douro River at 557 miles (896 kilometers) long, and the Guadiana River at 508 miles (818 kilometers) long.

Spain is home to two major archipelagos: The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands of the coast of Morocco. The Balearic Islands are considered a province of Spain. The Balearic Islands consists of many different islands. The four largest islands are Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. Due to the stunning beaches and Mediterranean climate, the islands attract tourists from all over the world. The island of Ibiza in particular is known as a party destination. Palma is both the capital and largest city. Now, the Canary Islands, or the Canaries are in the Atlantic Ocean, and are apart of the island region of Macaronesia. The Canaries are the largest islands in this region. The islands are 62 miles (100 kilometers) west of the Moroccan coast. The Canaries have eight main islands, the largest is Tenerife. The Canary Islands are home to 2.1 milion people, and have two capitals: Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The islands atract 12 million people annually.

Barcelona's La Sagrada Familia is one of Spain's most famous landmark. The basilica was never completed. In fact at the time of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's death in 1926, the basilica was only 15-20 percent completed. In the '30s one of Gaudi's main disciple took over the construction. But, due to the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the construction had to be halted, and many of the building was destroyed. Throughout the years many architects have took over the build yet they still kept some of Gaudi's main ideas. The construction of the basilica was set to be finished by 2026, but due to the pandemic, the finishing date might be later. La Sagrada Familia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spain is home to many different kinds of food. The most common meats used in cooking includes chicken, pork, lamb, and veal. Fish and seafood are also commonly used in Mediterranean and coastal dishes. Many herbs are also commonly used such as parsley, thyme, oregano, and rosemary. Olive oil, garlic, and vegetables are also very common in Spanish dishes. One of the most famous Spanish dishes is Paella. Paella is a rice dish from the Mediterranean Spanish State of Valencia. Paella consists of rice, chicken, rabbit, shrimp, vegetables, saffron.

Madrid is Spain's largest city. Home to 6.6 million people, Madrid is the second largest city in the European Union, surpassed only by Berlin. Madrid also has the second largest GDP in the European Union. Madrid has been the capital of Spain since 1561, and lies on the Manzanares River. Madrid is home to two world famous football clubs, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid. Madrid is also home to many important and famous Spanish buildings such as the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Royal Theatre, and the National Library. Almost all people living in Madrid speak Spanish. Many also speak English as well. The most practiced religion is not surprisingly, Roman Catholicism, as most of Spain follows this religion.

Barcelona is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. Barcelona is the capital and largest city of the state of Catalonia, and is the second largest city in all of Spain. Though Barcelona isn't Spain's most populous city, it sure is the most visited and popular. Barcelona is the 12th most visited city in the world, hosting 8.2 million people in 2016. The city is known for the 1992 Summer Olympics which is said to have made the city world famous. Barcelona is home to two of the best universities in Spain, the University of Barcelona, and the Pompeu Fabra University. Barcelona is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Just like many large cities, Barcelona is very diverse. The most practiced religions include Catholicism at 49% and Muslim at 6%. The city also has the largest Jewish community in Spain. Most people in Barcelona speak Spanish and Catalan, as Catalan is the language featured on many of the street signs. English is also widely spoken.

So this wraps up the awesome country of Spain! Definitely visit if you get the chance. Click on the links below to see where I got my information!

Tabernas Desert                                          Tagus River                                        La Sagrada Familia

Paella                                                          Spanish Cuisine                                  Madrid

Barcelona                                                    Canary Islands                                    Balearic Islands

Portugal is a beautiful country, and is very high on my list of countries to visit! From tall mountains and plateaus to stunning beaches and coastlines. lakes and rivers, plains and valleys. Portugal is truly a beauty. Portugal borders only one country, (Spain of course) and one sea, (the Atlantic Ocean). This is Portugal!

Portugal is home to many mountain ranges. The Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain range in mainland Portugal. The tallest mountain in Portugal (known as Torre) is in this mountain range. Torre is 6,539 feet (1,993 meters) above sea level, and is the second tallest mountain in Portugal. The tallest mountain in Portugal isn't on the mainland. Mount Pico, at 7,713 feet (2,351 meters) high is on Pico Island in the Azores Islands. Mount Pico is classified as a sub-volcano, and its most recent eruption was in 1720.

Portugal is famous for its breathtaking beaches. Some say Portugal is home to the best beaches in Southern Europe, or even in all Europe! Some of the most popular beaches are those at Albufeira in Southern Portugal, those at Lagos also in Southern Portugal, or those at the Northern city of Porto. Many people also go to Nazare to experience and surf its large waves.

Portugal is home to a wide variety of plains and plateaus. Most of these are in Northern Portugal. Most of these plateaus range from about 2,000 to 2,600 feet (600 to 800 meters) in height, and are made from ancient Precambrian rock which is over 540 million years old.

While there are many plateaus in the northern side of the Tagus River, there are many plains in the southern side. South of the river the land is full of white plains planted with mostly figs, olive trees, and vineyards.

Portugal is home to many rivers. Most of the rivers start in Spain and empty out into the Atlantic Ocean due to Portugal being narrow. The longest river in Portugal is also the Tagus River. Like I had mentioned, the Tagus river is 626 miles (1,007 kilometers) in length, and starts in Spain and empties into the Atlantic. The Tagus River also runs through the Portuguese Capital of Lisbon. Other long rivers include the Douro River at 557 miles (896 kilometers) long which passes through Porto, the Guadiana River at 508 miles (818 kilometers) long, and the Minho River at 211 miles (340 kilometers) long.

Portugal is home to two main archipelagos: the Madeira Islands, and the Azores Islands. Unlike Spain, both of these archipelagos aren't considered provinces. Instead, they are classified as "Autonomous Regions". The Azores Islands consists of nine volcanic islands. The islands are 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) west of Lisbon and 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) northwest of Morocco. The largest city in the Azores is Ponta Delgada home to 67 thousand people as of 2021. Next, the Madeira Islands consists of eight islands. Of the eight, only two are inhabited: Madeira and Porto Santo. The remaining uninhabited islands are nature preserves. The Madeira Islands are very popular and host 1.4 milion tourists each year. Funchal is both the largest city, and capital city. The Madeira Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both the Azores, and Madeira are a part of the island region known as Macaronesia in the Atlantic.

Belem Tower is one of Portugal's most known landmarks. The tower was built in the 16th century and represents a gateway to Lisbon. This tower was built at the height of the Portuguese Renaissance and is an example of the Manueline style. The tower sits off the coast of the Tagus River. The structure was built out of lioz limestone, and composes of a 98 foot (30 meter) tower. This tower is considered to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Portugal is also home to many kinds of food. The most common meats used in cooking are Pork, Beef, Poultry, or Seafood. The most common herbs and spices are paprika, white and black pepper, parsley, oregano, and rosemary. Cinnamon, vanilla, olive oil, onion, and garlic are also commonly found in Portuguese cuisine. One of the national dishes of Portugal is Cozido a portuguesa. This dish is a Portuguese boiled meal comprising of vegetables (carrots, cabbage, beans, and potatoes), rice, meat (chicken, pork ribs, bacon), and smoked sausages.

Lisbon is the largest city and the capital city of Portugal. Lisbon is home to around 2.9 million people which represents 27% of the country's population. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and is the only one that borders the Atlantic Ocean. Lisbon is one of the oldest  cities in the world, and is the second oldest European one after Athens. Lisbon is one the westernmost point in all of mainland Europe. Lisbon is recognized as an alpha-level global city because of its importance in trade, finance, entertainment, arts, and media. Like many European cities, Lisbon is famous for its architecture. Some designs include Romanesque, Gothic, and Manueline. The National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon features one of largest art collections in the world. The most predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, and the most spoken language is Portuguese. English is also commonly spoken there.

Serra da Estrela                                           Mount Pico                                   Plateaus and Plains

Madeira Islands                                            Azores Islands                             Belem Tower

Portuguese Cuisine                                      Conzido a portuguesa                  Lisbon

Based on what I told you, which country do you choose? Write down in the comments which country you think is better. I hope you enjoyed this blog! Adios!

Please vote for more! The four options are: The USA vs Canada, Austria vs Switzerland, Poland vs Germany, or Italy vs Greece.