Districts of Portugal Trivia Quiz

Answer: Coimbra

Coimbra is located in the center of Portugal, along the coast and extending inward. The two biggest cities in the district are Coimbra and Figueira da Foz, the latter of which is internationally known for its beaches and gambling. The Casino Figueira is the largest casino on the Iberian Peninsula.

Coimbra is largely a tourist destination. In addition to its beaches, Coimbra is also known for its ancient Roman ruins like that of Conimbriga and Aeminium. The city of Coimbra is also home to the Monastery of Santa Cruz and was the birthplace of a number of members of the Portuguese Royal Family, some of whom are buried in the monastery.

Answer: Viana do Castelo

The capital of Viana do Castelo is also named Viana do Castelo and is located on the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route that runs through western Europe. It was also a point of entry for Portuguese explorers returning home.

This district is not as populated or as visited as many other Portuguese districts, except by religious pilgrims. As a result, the district is home to many scenic routes that run through hilly areas and many small towns and villages are built in the valleys, such as Arcos de Valdevez (pictured) which is home to over a dozen historic churches. The town of Valenca is home to a number of ancient walls and fortresses.

Answer: Faro

Portugal is divided into regions and each region is divided into districts. However, Algarve is only has one region - Faro, which is also a city in the district. The Faro district is well known as a beach getaway for foreigners and Portuguese alike. It is said that Faro offers authentic Portuguese resorts as opposed to other resort destinations in Portugal which are said to cater more toward tourists without a Portuguese vibe.

Sagres Point is the southernmost location in mainland Portugal. The city of Albufeira was built by the ancient Romans and turned into a military base by the Moors. Today, it is a bustling beach resort and home to some of Portugal's most attended events including concerts, music festivals and nightclubs.

Carvoeiro is a city that is instantly recognizable because of its location on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Traditionally it is a small fishing village but has become an increasingly popular tourist destination for those wanting to see all of Portugal and escape from the crowds.

Answer: Porto

The Porto district is dominated by the city of Porto, though there are other large cities and urban areas there as well. The district is largely urbanized and contains a combination of baroque/classical and modern art and architecture. The bell tower at the Clerigos Church is one of Porto's most visited places. Completed in 1750, the church is considered a masterpiece of baroque architecture and a symbol of the city. Perhaps the most unusual sculpture in Port is called "She Changes" or "anemona" (sea anemone) as it is called in Portuguese. This sculpture of a net hovers above the ground courtesy of support poles. It was designed by Janet Echelman in 2005.

The city of Porto was also once a center for Portuguese explorers. In fact, Henry the Navigator, Estavo Gomes and Antonio da Silvo Porto were all born and operated there. The district is perhaps best known for its port wine that is made there. The city of Vila Nova de Gaia is well known for its port wine caves, though nearly every city and town has some form of wine cellar or cave.

Answer: Guarda

The district of Guarda is lightly populated but is a popular destination for winter sports, especially skiing, in Portugal. The Serra da Estrela range is home to a number of world-famous ski resorts including Vodafone Ski Resort at the summit. Serra da Estrela cheese is produced here.

It is a soft cheese that becomes harder as it ages. The cheese has protected status in the European Union. The highest city in mainland Portugal is also named Guarda and is home to the Se de Guarda Cathedral.

Answer: Evora

The district of Evora is known for its ancient Roman ruins. The city of Evora is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the Ancient European Towns Network. The Temple of Evora, also called the Temple of Diana, is pictured. Other ancient and prehistoric sites in Evora include city walls and Almendres Cromlech (home to many megaliths). Newer sites include the Cathedral of Evora, Prata Aqueduct and Giraldo Square.

Marble continues to be a major industry in Evora. The pink marble of Estremoz and Vila Vicosa are particularly popular, though marble of all colors are mined in the district.

Answer: Lisbon

The district of Lisbon is dominated by Portugal's capital. Lisbon is one of the oldest major cities in Europe. It was founded even before Rome and Paris. It is one of the most visited cities in the world. The Torre de Belem, a 16th century fortress, is one of the most iconic places in all of Portugal. The Torre de Belem was actually built in the Tagus River but the river shifted because of the 1755 earthquake, so the fortress is now on the shoreline. Lisbon's National Coach Museum, one of the most popular museums in the city, is home to the largest collection of royal coaches in the world and has carriages from all over Europe.

Alcantara and Alfama are two Lisbon's most famous neighborhoods. Alacantara is known for its nightlife and for its ports. It is a popular neighborhood for young people. Alfama is known for its pubs and where the popular Fado music originated and is commonly heard.

Lourinha is a very small town in the district. It is best known for its brandy but also for the many dinosaur fossils, eggs and embryos that have been uncovered. Besides Lisbon, the other notable city is Sintra. Sintra is a protected UNESCO city because of its many historic palaces. These include the Monserrate Estate, Palace of Sintra, Seteais Palace and Pena National Palace. Many of these palaces were occupied by members of the Royal Family and are now museums or privately owned.

Answer: Leiria

Obidos Castle, Batalha Monastery and Alcobaca Monastery make up nearly half of Portugal's so-called Seven Wonders. Both of the monasteries date back many centuries. Both survived relatively unscathed from the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake that toppled thousands of buildings. However, both were nearly destroyed by Napoleon when he invaded Portugal. The Obidos Castle is a medieval castle that might have been built over ancient Roman baths and gardens. Two of the four other Wonders of Portugal are in Lisbon (Torre de Belem and Jeronimos Monastery). One, the Pena National Palace, is in Sintra and the other is Castle of Guimaraes in Guimaraes.

The main city in the district is also called Leiria and its most famous site is the Leiria Castle. The castle was built on a hill overlooking the city and a royal palace was built within it for protection.

The other main city is the resort city of Peniche. Peniche is often said to have the best surf spots in Portugal and Europe because of the strong but stable winds. The world's first nature reserve on the Berlangas Islands is also located in the district.

Answer: Aveiro

The city of Aveiro is called the Venice of Portugal. Like Venice, Aveiro has many canals and boats are a common form of transportation. There are also a lot of bridges. Aveiro is one of the warmest cities in Portugal and the temperature remains more or less within a range of 50-60 degrees Celsius all year round.

Joana, Princess of Portugal is said to be the patron saint of Aveiro. Although she has not been canonized by the Catholic Church, she is titled saint locally. She is buried in the Monastery of Jesus and donated her royal estate to religious causes and funded the building of many of the city's churches and religious sites.

Ovos Moles is a candy snack that is something like a meringue. It is made primarily in the Aveiro district and popular throughout Portugal. It only has two ingredients: egg whites and sugar. It is protected under European Union laws.

Oliveria de Azemis is a city steeped in religious tradition. The city is home to a museum dedicated to Marian apparitions. It even contains the preserved finger of a would-be burglar of artifacts and relics. A guard shot at the burglar and it was considered a miracle that only his finger was injured.

Answer: Braganca

Braganca is a rural district located in the northeastern corner of Portugal. There are not many historic sites in the district. An exception would be Castle of Braganca, a 13th century castle that was an important strategic hold during the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula. The castle changed hands many times over the centuries' battle between the Spanish/Portuguese and the Moors.

Braganca's main appeal is in its landscape. The International Douro Natural Park occupies land along the Douro River that is known for its beautiful landscape and biodiversity. Montesinho Natural Park is an area of preserved hills and mounts that is home to a wide variety of mammal species.

The main industry in Braganca is agriculture and the district is well known for its cattle and olive crop, even though most people who live there are subsistence farmers. Since the start of the 21st century, the district has seen an increase in agricultural tourism.