Lagos - Places to visit

Igreja de Santo Antçnio

Established before 1707 and rebuilt after being badly damaged by the devastating earthquake of 1755, this church was listed as a national monument in 1924 and is Lagos' main historical attraction.

It is worth visiting for the remarkable 18th Century blue and white glazed tiles, as well as its lovely Baroque gilt wood frames. The dome boasts a magnificent painting which features a Portuguese coat of arms from the 18th Century.

Fort da Ponta da Bandeira

This little fortress with a moat, a drawbridge and an imposing gateway was built in the 17th Century to defend the old port.

It now houses a museum on the Portuguese Discoveries and a small chapel decorated with 17th Century tiles. It is an excellent viewpoint from which to look out over the town.

Ponta da Piedade

Lagos' big geophysical attraction is a dramatic wedge of headland protruding south from the town. It is well worth seeing for its contorted sandstone cliffs and majestic rocks jutting from the sea, complete with lighthouse and hundreds of nesting Egrets. Small fishing boats will take you on a journey into the many breathtaking grottoes.

Beaches

Meia Praia, the vast expanse of sand to the east of Lagos, has sailboard rental outlets and water-skiing, as well as lots of informal restaurants and beach bars. Batata, Pinhão, Dona Ana and Camilo are smaller and more secluded, lapped by calm waters and punctuated with picturesque coves and towers of coloured sandstone.

Town Walls

Just south of Praça da Republica is a restored section of the stout town walls, built during the reigns of Manuel I and João III in the 16th Century.

Tradition has it that Dom Sebastião attended an open air Mass here and spoke to the assembled nobility from an elaborate Manueline window in the wall adjacent to the present-day hospital, before leading them to defeat at Alcacer-Quibir.

Restaurants

There is an abundance of good food in town, both Portuguese and international cuisine. Not surprisingly, many culinary delights in this area have a maritime accent. A wide range of fish is caught daily by local fishermen and served in restaurants in a variety of different ways - "grelhado", grilled on a charcoal barbecue seasoned with sea salt and garlic, "assado no forno", baked in the oven traditionally with tomatoes, onions and olive oil or "caldeirada", an array of fish stewed with layers of tomatoes, onions and green peppers. However, if it is meat that you prefer, then you will be more than adequately catered for. An excellent variety of Algarvian favourites include dishes featuring lamb, pork, beef, chicken and game.

The fig and almond trees, so abundant in the Algarve, feature strongly as ingredients in the "sobremesas", desserts so well loved by the local population.

Recommended restaurants in Lagos

Dom Sebastiao
Italia
Galeao
No Patio
O Cacto (in nearby Odišxere)
Os Arcos