Continental Portugal

Continental Portugal or mainland Portugal (Portuguese: Portugal continental) is the colloquial term used to distinguish the portion of the Portuguese unitary state located in the Iberian Peninsula (and so in Continental Europe). Mainland Portugal is commonly referred to, by residents living in the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, as simply the continent (Portuguese: o continente) referring to both the socio-geographic and political status that exists between the islands and Lisbon. Before 1975, when the Portuguese territory also included several now-independent states in Africa, the designation metropolis (Portuguese: metrópole) was also used.

The designation mainland Portugal is used to differentiate the continental territory of Portugal from its territory. The latter comprises the archipelagos of Madeira and Azores, situated in the Atlantic Ocean. The Azores and Madeira are also commonly referred to as the autonomous regions (Portuguese: as regiões autónomas), insular Portugal (Portuguese: Portugal Insular) or, simply, the islands (Portuguese: as ilhas).

Continental Portugal is divided in 18 districts. Madeira and Azores are Autonomous Regions of Portugal.

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