Sights in Lagos
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A
Praça do Infante
Near Praça do Infante is a less-than-glorious site - where slaves were auctioned off in Portugal in the 15th century. It now houses an art gallery. Just south of Praça do Infante is a restored section of the stout town walls, built (atop earlier versions) during the reigns of both Manuel I and João III in the 16th century, when the walls were enlarged to the existing outline. They extend intermittently, with at least six bastions, for about 1.5km around the central town.
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Ponta da Piedade
Protruding south from Lagos, Ponta da Piedade (Point of Piety) is a stunning, dramatic wedge of headland. Three windswept kilometres out of town, the point is well worth a visit for its contorted, polychrome sandstone cliffs and towers, complete with lighthouse and, in spring, hundreds of nesting egrets. The surrounding area is brilliant with wild orchids in spring. On a clear day you can see east to Carvoeiro and west to Sagres.
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B
Castelo dos Governadores
Castelo dos Governadores was built by the Arabs. After the Reconquista in the 13th century, the Algarve's military government was established here in the 14th century. It's said that the ill-fated, evangelical Dom Sebastião attended an open-air Mass here and spoke to the assembled nobility from a small Manueline window in the castle, before leading them to a crushing defeat at Alcácer-Quibir (Morocco).
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C
Igreja de Santo António
The little Igreja de Santo António, bursting with 18th- and 19th-century gilded, carved wood, is a stupendous baroque extravaganza. Beaming cherubs and ripening grapes are much in evidence. The dome and azulejo panels were installed during repairs after the 1755 earthquake.
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Lagos Beaches
South of town the beaches - Batata, Pinhão, Dona Ana, Camilo and others - are smaller and more secluded, lapped by calm waters and punctuated with amazing grottoes, coves and towers of coloured sandstone. Avoid swimming at Batata and, to the east, at Ana. There's a ferry to Lagos beach.
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D
Igreja de Santa Maria
Igreja de Santa Maria dates from the 15th and 16th centuries and retains a 16th-century entrance; the rest dates largely from the mid-19th century when it was restored after fire. Don’t overlook the strange orange and purple battling angels mural behind the altar.
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E
Museu Municipal
Museu Municipal, a glorious and fascinating historic mishmash. There’s an entrancing haphazardness about it all, from Roman nails found locally and opium pipes from Macau to bits of the Berlin wall sharing a case with scary-looking surgical instruments.
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Zoo
This zoo is a shady 3-hectare kid-pleaser, with many small primates, and a children’s farm housing domestic animals. It’s near the village of Barão de São Miguel, 8km west of Lagos.
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F
Fortaleza da Ponta da Bandeira
Fortaleza da Ponta da Bandeira is a little fortress at the southern end of the avenue that was built in the 17th century to protect the port. Restored, it now houses a museum on the Portuguese discoveries.
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Fortress
This little fortress, at the southern end of the avenue, was built in the 17th century to protect the port. Restored, it now houses a museum on the Portuguese discoveries.
reviewed
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G
Rua da Barroca
Rua da Barroca once formed the boundary between the town and the sea and retains some Arabic features.
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