The city of Lagos is a famous seaport in the south of Portugal. It is located on the shores of the bay of the same name, not far from the place where the Bensafrin River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Lagos and Lisbon are 184 km away.
A bit of history
The history of this city in Portugal has more than two thousand years. Initially, the Carthaginians lived here, united with the Celts during the Punic Wars. After the colonization of the settlement by the Romans, Lagos (Portugal) became part of the Roman region of Lusitania. Traces of this period of history are still found not only in the city, but also in the surrounding villages.
From the sixth century, Lagos passed from the Visigoths to the Byzantines, then to the Moors. It was then that the oldest church of St. John the Baptist appeared in the Algarve district today.
Lagos passed from the Moors under the rule of King Athos III only in 1241. In 1361, the city acquired a new status and became legally independent. And after King Joao I in Lagos harbor assembled a fleet to conquer Ceuta in the early 15th century, the city became an important maritime harbor. Lagos (Portugal) reached particular importance during the Great Geographical Discoveries (early 15th century - 17th century). It was from here that the son of João I directed many expeditions to the western coast of Africa and to Morocco, and the famous navigator Zhil Eanesh made a swim for Cape Bohador, refuting the theory that it is the end of the world.
Lagos today
Today, Lagos (Portugal) is a famous resort that attracts travelers from all over the world with its pristine architectural decoration, pristine sandy beaches and an unusual atmosphere. In this beautiful city, you can stroll along the tranquil streets with stunning architecture, ride a bicycle, moped or even ride a horse, swim along the coast by boat, get to the fort, dine in cozy restaurants, try local pastry masterpieces, visit famous museums and much more.
Climatic features
The weather in Portugal, namely in this area, is largely determined by the currents of the Atlantic Ocean. In Lagos, the air temperature is always several degrees lower than in other regions. The Canary currents, which differ in cold, also influence this.
In summer, the weather in Lagos pleases with warmth. For three months, the air temperature is kept at 25-30 degrees, and water - 20-22 degrees. Drought alternates with rainy days. In autumn, the air temperature drops to around 20 degrees. In the winter months, it is almost never lower than 12 degrees.
Architectural Attractions
Many architectural sights of Lagos were destroyed by a powerful earthquake and tsunami in 1755. Nevertheless, today there are still a lot of interesting places that are mandatory points of the city excursion program:
- Lagos Castle. It is considered the main attraction and striking with huge walls, many corridors and rooms, where a large number of secrets and secrets are hidden. The history of the castle begins in 1174. During this time, he survived several warriors and a powerful earthquake. After 1755, the castle was subjected to several cosmetic repairs and comprehensive restoration of the walls.
- Monastery of Nossa Senhora do Carmo. It was erected in the 13th century. At the end of the 18th century, the library and the church connecting the monastery and the Santa Teresa temple were severely damaged by an earthquake and fire. Part of the building was restored only at the beginning of the 20th century. The rear is built in the Baroque style, but in the exterior decoration there are small elements of Gothic and classic. Inside the monastery there are a large number of wood and gold items.
- Fort Meia Praia. It is built in the mannerism style and reflects the trends of military architecture. The earthquake destroyed the Fort completely, but by 1796 the local authorities completely restored it, and in 2009 the attraction was included in the list of official monuments of the country.
- Church of San Sebastian. One of the oldest architectural structures. In addition to the three naves, separated by Doric columns, and a stunning altar, the ancient plan of Lagos can be found inside the church. Changes affected him only at the end of the 19th century. Then a new structure was added to the plan - a tower with bells.
Natural monuments
- The divine corner is a cape with a view of the rocks. The beach here strikes with clear water.
- Golden Grottoes.
- Laguna de Alvor. Here you can make a swim in a boat.
- Baran de São João National Forest.
Beaches
Beaches are the pride of this city. There are not only a lot of them, but each has its own peculiarity. All Lagos beaches can be divided into two categories: open elongated along the coast or closed bays of unusual shapes. What unites them is that almost everyone has a developed infrastructure and is well equipped with amenities for people with disabilities.
Popular beaches include the following:
- Meia Praia is the largest and largest. From all sides the beach is surrounded by gentle slopes, so there are practically no winds here. In Maya Praia provides everything for outdoor activities: water skiing, catamarans, various attractions and so on.
- Donna Maria is an ideal beach where you can retire.
- Donna Ana. It is considered the most beautiful beach, near which is one of the most popular hotels. It offers stunning views of the cliffs. Nearby are two hotels.
- Sweet potato is small and picturesque. It is sandwiched between a rock, but despite this there are always a lot of people.
- Solarium, like the beach mentioned above, is very close to the city center. But on the other hand, it pleases with size. It provides sunbeds, umbrellas and rental of various sports equipment.
- Praia to Carvalho. It is a very small beach sandwiched between rocks. Here you can rent a boat to visit the picturesque grottoes and caves located nearby.
- Praia to Amado. It is considered an ideal place for surfers: the wave is good here, but there are not so many people. Both experienced athletes and beginners will like it, because there are several surf schools on the beach.
- Praia de Marinha is a beach for a relaxing holiday. There is no influx of tourists and you can not only soak up the golden sand, but also have a good swim with a snorkel and a mask.
Other entertainment Lagos
Lagos (Portugal) is famous for its ceramics, the products of which are sold here for various purposes, shapes and colors. Also in this area there are a large number of shops where you can buy small souvenirs from cork: key rings, coasters for glasses and mugs, hats and even shoes. As for shopping, sometimes near the church, which is located in the harbor, a fair unfolds, where you can buy unique items of clothing, everyday life and various souvenirs.
In addition to shopping and excursions in the city, you can visit:
- a large golf center;
- zoological garden, where they offer not only to watch various animals, but also take a walk through the green territory;
- Spa;
- night clubs.
Reviews about the rest in Lagos
As mentioned above, Lagos is a resort town, so there are almost always a lot of tourists. English tourists, for example, spend a lot of free time in Lagos. Someone enjoys the cleanest beaches with blue water and golden sand, someone admires the local attractions.
Judging by the reviews, five days is enough for a good rest. During this time, you can plenty of fun at each beach, go on a water excursion and enjoy the view of the rocks, evaluate the architecture of the city. Also, vacationers recommend trying the local cuisine. Small cafes and cozy restaurants serve a variety of fresh seafood dishes.
As for transport, tourists who want to actively explore the area are advised to rent cars. And for small walks, you can rent bicycles and mopeds.
According to vacationers, Lagos is also a good place to relax with children. True, not all beaches are suitable for this purpose, since some have no entertainment at all and they will be bored.
How to get there
The nearest airport is 67 km from Lagos - Faro. A large number of flights from major European cities regularly land there. You can get from Faro to Lagos and back by bus or diesel train.
You can get from Lisbon thanks to the bus companies Rede Expressos and EVA Transportes. The trip will take about 3.5-4 hours. You can also get to Lagos by train, but you will have to change trains in Tunes. Travel time will take as much as in the case of the bus.
Traveling around the city and to the hotel is offered on foot, by private car, bike or moped. There is no other transport here.