Lagos: History, Beaches and Discoveries in the Algarve

🌊 Lagos – History, Sea and Charm in the Algarve

Lagos is one of the most vibrant cities in the Algarve and a living portrait of Portugal's long relationship with the ocean. With about 25 thousand inhabitants, it has a beautiful natural port that was once valued by Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, and which became the starting point for many of the voyages of the Age of Discovery.

🏰 Heritage and History

The cobblestone streets and traditional buildings keep the memory of centuries alive. It was from here that Henry the Navigator launched many of the ships that explored the African coast in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

• Slave Market: first in Europe, today a museum that recalls the arrival of African slaves in 1444.

• Wax Museum of the Discoveries: inaugurated in 2014, it features historical figures such as Vasco da Gama, Bartolomeu Dias and Luís de Camões.

• Governors' Castle: of Arab origin, reinforced after the Reconquest, it was the scene of the famous farewell of D. Sebastião before the disastrous battle of Alcácer-Quibir.

• Church of Santo António and Municipal Museum: artistic and archaeological treasures that resisted the earthquake of 1755.

• Ponta da Bandeira Fort: small but imposing, it defended the entrance to the port in the seventeenth century.

🏖️ Beaches and Nature

Lagos is also a seaside paradise, known as the "Central Surf" of southern Portugal.

• Meia Praia: 4 km of golden sand to the east of the city.

• Dona Ana Beach, Camilo Beach and Pinhão Beach: small idyllic coves, accessible on foot, by boat or kayak.

• Ponta da Piedade: dramatic cliffs and sea caves, one of the most photographed scenery in the Algarve.

• Praia da Luz: quiet resort 10 km away, with a half-moon bay.

• Burgau: fishing village transformed into a resort, maintaining the Algarve charm.

🐬 Experiences and Leisure

• Boat trips and dolphin watching from Marina de Lagos.

• Diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and biking or horseback riding.

• Lagos Zoo, 8 km away, with exotic birds and wildlife.

• Bravura Dam, surrounded by forest, ideal for hiking and contact with nature.

• Proximity to the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, perfect for exploring wild landscapes and quieter resorts.

✨ Conclusion: Lagos is a city that combines stunning beaches, historical heritage, unique museums and intense cultural life. A destination that combines adventure, rest and authenticity, keeping alive the memory of the Discoveries and Portugal's eternal love affair with the sea