Lagos is a city from a book. It was here that the Carthaginians formed an alliance with the Celts against the Romans and the Moors held out in the Algarve after liberating the rest of Portugal. From here, the ships of the great explorers set sail to the edge of the world. All this in a setting of magnificent nature and a fertile climate. No wonder Lagos attracts travelers and vacationers of all kinds.
The municipality of Lagos is made up of several districts, each with its own flavor. Despite a common episode in the history of many Portuguese cities – a devastating earthquake in the XVIII century – there are many old buildings and landmarks. The most famous tourist area is Santa Maria. Here you can see the ruins of a fortress that protected the city from pirates, but was powerless before the earthquake. The Cape Bandeira Fort pleases the eye with its picturesque turrets and white walls. It is also worth visiting the Carmelite Monastery, the old arsenal building and the site of the first slave market in Europe. San Sebastian, with its churches and the Roman Empire dam, is no less eventful. Of particular interest is the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, dedicated to the soldiers who fought near Lagos at different times. Freguesia Odiashire and Luz will delight lovers of ancient architecture with temples and fortifications. And in the Bensafrin area, visitors can visit the menhir of Cabeza do Rochedo, the oldest trace of civilization in the region.
For some travelers, the city streets with their man-made attractions cannot compare to the splendor of the forests, cliffs and ocean. The natural beauties of Lagos and its surroundings are characteristically called – Divine Corner, Golden Grottoes, Alvor Lagoon. The beaches deserve special attention – without an excursion of a local guide it is not easy to choose "the one".
From Lagos, there are car and bus excursions to Cape San Vincent, where guests can watch the sun set over the Atlantic from the edge of the world. Also worth a visit is the Fortaleza de Sagrese, where Europe's first nautical school operated, graduating Columbus and a host of seafarers of the great geographical discoveries.
