Things to do
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Lagos 365 holiday appartment in the Portugese Algarve
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 Holiday apartment in
Lagos
'the jewel in the Algarve crown'
  Sightseeing

  
 
Fort
  
     
 
Lagos
 Tourist office: Rua Vasco da Gama Tel: 282 763031 Open daily 9:30am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 5pm. Closed weekends in winter.

 
  The main square in Lagos contains a statue to Henry the Navigator, sextant in hand, facing out to sea. Henry was a famous Portugese prince who in the fourteenth century captured parts of Africa and helped the development of the Lusitanian empire. The town, which was badly destroyed by an earthquake in 1755 has a fort and a number of historic churches.
 
  The town Mercado dos Escravos

Need a slave? This was where to buy one. Now the Lagos customs house this was the site of the only slave market in Portugal. Its arches now have a happier time as an open air art gallery.

Museu Muncipal

Small museum devoted to archaeology and ethnography. Displays Roman coins and mosaics, Algarvian lobster pots and a two-headed cat!! Rua General Alberto de Silveria Open Tue - Sun. There is a charge.

 
  Seafront Igreja de Santa Maria
16c church restored in 19c features wooden statues, including one of Sao Goncalo the patron saint of Lagos. Praca de Republica. Open 9am to noon and 3pm to 6pm.

Igreja de Santo Antonio
A church that survived the earthquake, although the painted vaulted ceiling was rebuit. It has loads of carved and guilded woodwork in the 'golden chapel'. Rue Alberto de Silveiro. Tue to Sun 9am to 12-30pm and 2pm to 5pm. Closed Bank Holidays.


 
The marina Marina
The town’s has recently had constructed a beautiful marina and this harbour is practically the first sight a visitor has of Lagos. Besides permanently moored boats there plenty of visiting yachts. At the harbour entrance is the "Forte da Bandeira" which was constructed in the 17th Century.
       
 
Monchique

Monchique is a small market town in the Monchique mountains which is famed for dramatic views and handicrafts. In particular cross-shaped chairs are made whose design is said to go back to Roman times.

There are spectacular walks through orange groves and pines with altitudes going up to 1500 feet. This is a really rural part of Portugal and the mountain range is famous for its wild varied plant life, as well as for spas with medicinal waters.

  
Monchique
       
 
Sagres
 34km from Lagos.
The Sagres peninsula is wild and windy. Turbulent seas beat against the cliffs and this is where the Portugese Prince Henry the Navigator set up a School of Navigation. Today Sagres is a fishing village of white houses. The sea in the area provides excellent fishing and the busy place is the harbour when the lobster boats arrive . You can hire a boat to go fishing yourself.
  
  Sagres fishermen On the southern tip of the peninsula is a fort, which is on a huge cliff with dramatic sea below it. Sir Frances Drake came here in 1578 and wrecked the original buildings. A white-domed church survives from Henry's time and there is now a museum of navigation.

  
       
 
Silves
 Tourist office: Rua 25 de Abril tel: 282 442 255 Open Mon to Thur 9am to 8pm, Fri to Sun and winter 9:30am to 5pm. 31km from Lagos.  
  Gentlemen in Main Sq Silves A sleepy inland backwater of a town that once was an important Moorish stronghold. It used to be a city full of citrus orchards, mosques and bazaars. The river has now silted up and boats cannot come up from the sea.

Silves is dominated by the shell of a large Moorish fort, which looks down on the steep cobbled streets of the town. Away from the main streets you will see Portugese rural life.

  
  Silves view from fort Castelo
A circuit of walls, which are reached through a steep walk from the town. Great views from the battlements of the surronding countryside and, dependent on the time of year, a colourful mass of orange and lemon orchards. Below to the south can be seen the town's last cork factory.
Open daily 9am to 6pm. There is a charge.

 
  Cathedral clock Silves Museu Municipal de Arqueologia
New museum opened in the 1990s has as its focus a Moorish well. Lots of local exhibits. Rua das Portas de Loule 14 Tel: 282444832. Open Mon - Sat 10am to 12:30pm, 2:30pm to 6pm. There is a charge.

Se de Santa Maria

Cathedral lying under the castle walls. Impressive with lofty aisles and tombs. Largo de Se Open 9am to 6pm. Different times in winter. Free but a request for a voluntary contribution.

 
 
Please note opening times and information given to provide help.
Please check details before visiting any attraction.