Portugal Map and Flag: National and Regional Symbols
Territory and national symbols
A map of Portugal must include more than the western Iberian mainland: the country also extends across the Atlantic through Madeira and the nine islands of the Azores.
The national flag brings together republican colors with much older symbols of Portuguese statehood and maritime history. This guide explains location, proportions and symbolism without replacing official cartographic or heraldic specifications.
Portugal on the map
Orientation diagram only—not an official map and not to scale.
Mainland Portugal borders Spain to the north and east and faces the Atlantic to the west and south. Madeira lies southwest of the mainland, while the Azores are much farther west in the North Atlantic. The country’s island territory gives Portugal a large maritime area and a strong Atlantic identity.
Mainland, Madeira and the Azores
Mainland Portugal
The mainland contains 18 districts and nearly all of the national land area and population. Lisbon and Porto anchor the two largest metropolitan regions.
Autonomous Region of Madeira
Madeira includes the inhabited islands of Madeira and Porto Santo and smaller uninhabited groups. Funchal is the regional capital.
Autonomous Region of the Azores
The Azores consist of nine inhabited islands organized into eastern, central and western groups. Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo and Horta share important regional functions.
Design of the Portuguese national flag
Simplified educational diagram. Use official Presidency files for accurate reproduction.
The flag is vertically divided, with dark green at the hoist and scarlet red occupying the larger fly section. Centered over the division is the national coat of arms placed on a yellow armillary sphere. The current republican design was approved after the revolution of 5 October 1910 and formally established in 1911.
What the central symbols represent
Armillary sphere
An astronomical and navigational instrument strongly associated with King Manuel I and Portugal’s maritime expansion. On the flag it surrounds the shield in yellow.
Portuguese shield
The white shield contains five blue escutcheons arranged in a cross. Their precise historical interpretation has accumulated legend, but the design is rooted in medieval royal arms.
Seven castles
A red border around the white shield carries seven yellow castles, a long-established element of the national arms connected with medieval monarchy and territorial consolidation.
Green and red
The republican commission linked the colors to the movement that overthrew the monarchy and to civic ideals. Popular later explanations often simplify or romanticize their meaning.
Official status and respectful use
Article 11 of the Constitution identifies the flag adopted by the Republic formed by the Revolution of 5 October 1910 as the national flag and names “A Portuguesa” as the national anthem. Portuguese law regulates display, precedence, condition, hours of flying and use during national mourning.
Do not recreate the flag from this page’s simplified diagram. Download the official PNG, TIFF or vector files provided by the Presidency of the Republic so colors, proportions and heraldic details are correct.
Portugal map and flag questions
Is the Azores part of Portugal?
Yes. The Azores is an autonomous region of Portugal, as is Madeira.
Why is green smaller than red on the flag?
The official design places green at the hoist and red across the larger remaining section, with the arms centered on the dividing line.
Is the armillary sphere the same as the coat of arms?
No. The flag combines the national shield and castles with an armillary sphere behind them.
Where can I download an official Portuguese flag?
The Presidency of the Republic provides official raster and vector files for screen and print use.
Use maps to plan realistic routes
Compare regional guides, driving distances and island logistics before combining mainland Portugal, Madeira or the Azores.
Explore Portugal vacation packages or contact our travel specialists.