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Iberian Peninsula: Spain and Portugal
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Occupied by both Spain and Portugal, the Iberian Peninsula lies in southwestern Europe. Its name is derived from its ancient inhabitants, whom the Greeks called Iberians. This name probably comes from the Ebro (Iberus), the peninsula's second longest river after the Tagus.
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Focus on one country or combine Spain and Portugal into the same trip, either way you are going to discover the Iberian Peninsula is home to an excellent selection of some of Europe's most impressive golf courses. For a few suggested itineraries, click here.
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The Andalusian horse originated in the Iberian Peninsula near the Spanish province of Andalusia. Its ancestors are the Spanish Barb and Jennet, which eventually became the Iberian horses of Spain and Portugal. The distinction was made between an Andalusian and a Lusitano horses less than 60 years ago. The Spanish now refer to their horses as Pura Raza Espanola (Pure Spanish Horse or PRE) and keep their own studbook. In much of the world, this horse is now referred to as the Andalusian. The Portuguese horse is called Lusitano, taking its name from the ancient Roman name for Portugal, Lusitania.
Archaeological investigations carried out in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula during recent years have contributed to the identification of the cultural characteristics of its ancient populations, called Keltikoi or Celtici by Ephorus, Herodotus, Strabo and Pliny. From a detailed analysis of the types and distribution of the material culture, references in the Classical sources, epigraphic evidence, contemporary observations, and the presence of an individual decorative style of hand-made pottery, it is now possible to record the specific cultural traits of those native populations that occupied, at least from the end of the fifth century BC, the basins of the Sado and Guadiana Rivers in both Spain and Portugal. This context represents a new combination of cultural and ethnic traits that could be due to the incorporation of foreign elements, the closest parallels of which, based on style, philology and beliefs, are located in the central Douro River basin, the land of the Vaccei and Ulteriores Celtiberi peoples. In this way, it is possible to comprehend the historical migrations described by Strabo and Pliny as the origin of these Celtic peoples of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula.
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