Portugal

List of the Vegetarian Societies

Centro Vegetariano, R. Josefina Fonseca, 25, P-3400-107 Oliveira do Hospital
+351-964-671 561 (french speaker), +351-965-734 237 (english speaker), Fax: -
cristina@centrovegetariano.org, www.centrovegetariano.org/


Associação Vegetariana Portuguesa (AVP), AVP-Apartado 1085, P-1050-001 Lisboa
+351-93 34 68 986, Fax: -
info@avp.org.pt, www.avp.pt.vu/


Sociedade Portuguesa de Naturlogia, Rua do Alecrim 38-3°, P-1200-018 Lisboa
+351-1-346 3335


Other useful addresses

List of vegetarian and vegetarian friendly restaurants, hotels etc.

Brought to you by the EVU: EVU-restaurant-list

If there are no contact addresses available in this country, how about to be a condensation nucleus? -> webmaster

Vegetarianism in Portugal

Vegetarianism in Portugal is growing fast, with many vegetarian restaurants opening and other traditional ones serving vegetarian options. Specially in rural zones, though, in this small country of kind and warm people, you must be prepared to deny too often a nice offer to taste some home-made ham or similar  piece of meat. Out of the big cities it's hard to find a restaurant with a vegetarian option in the menu, and when you say the waiter you're vegetarian don't be surprised if (s)he asks whether you "can eat fish" or not. And, of course, if you say you're vegan, then you will, probably, have to explain what "a vegan is".
Anyway, things are changing fast and for better. In the last decade of the 20th century many ecologists and animal rights organisations started campaigns to inform people about the advantages of a vegetarian or vegan diet. Those campaigns were mostly focused on young people, and were somehow efective. Many students became, not only vegetarians or vegans, but also activists.
Another fact that led many people to look for more information on vegetarianism was the sudden appearence of lots of vegetarian and vegan restaurants. In less than ten years the main cities (Lisbon and Oporto) went from sparse or null offer to an offer that is, probably, superior to the needs. Canteens in the most important Universities are also offering, at least, one vegetarian option.
Although there were some people very involved in activism in the main cities, and some personal homepages, it was not before 2001 that good websites for portuguese people appeared online. galaxia-alfa.com and veganismo.net were the pioneers. The latter is already extinct, but galaxia-alfa.com continues, maintained by old and new volunteers. It publishes new articles and recipes on a regular basis, and a newsletter is sent every two weeks. By occasion of its fourth anniversary, though, Galáxia Alfa changed its name to Vegetarian Center, which seemed more appropriate to its goal. Portuguese Vegetarian Centre is a member of EVU, and the older and more consistent organisation operating in Portugal spreading Vegetarianism. In its website you will find, among other resources, hundreds of articles, recipes, a calendar of vegetarian events, a nutrient calculator, free e-books and a vegan shop.
More recently, Associação Vegetariana Portuguesa has been created in Lisbon. This very recent project is expected to fill a gap, spreading information in this area of the country.

Vegetarianism in Portugal: a century of history (en)

Vegetarianismo em Portugal: um século de história (pt)

References:
Centro Vegetariano - Portuguese Vegetarian Center.
Associação Vegetariana Portuguesa - Portuguese Vegetarian Association.