Taking a Holiday in Lagos in the Algarve
July 2, 2008 – 1:03 pmEven though Lagos, Algarve has become a very important tourist destination in recent years in Portugal it still retains a lot of its history as well. Today one can wander its streets and take in many of its wonderful buildings one of which dates back to 1445. The town itself is situated at the mouth of the River Bensafrim and is situated in the Southern part of the Algarve.
But it is not only the town itself which is beautiful it has a number of wonderful beaches as well, considered to be some of the most beautiful in all of Portugal. However, be warned that they are not located close to the town itself and the nearest one is Praia de Dona Ana which if you choose to walk will take you 25 minutes to reach.
However, if you don’t feel like walking you are sure to find a taxi or local bus that can get you to this beach and others further along the coastline such as Praia do Comilo and Meia Praia. The Meia Praia beach is the furthest one along from Lagos town and stretches for 4km. Here you have the chance to enjoy the beach or take in one of the many water sport activities that are available. Plus if you can take a trip out to the sand bank on which stands Meia Praia Fort that was built in the 17th and 18th Centuries to help protect Lagos Bay.
However, although these beaches are well liked the area where most tourists tend to congregate during the summer months is at Ponta da Piedade. The reason for this is that the beach is in Lagos Bay and so is sheltered from the winds coming off the Atlantic Ocean. Certainly there are plenty of things for one to do and see when you visit this part of Lagos as the waters are clear and you can admire the caves and rocks that surround it.
Most people when they visit Lagos spend time relaxing on the beaches and soaking up a few rays of the sun. However, there are some really wonderful sights to see and places to visit. This town has a very colorful history and throughout the 15th and 16th Centuries it was a very important naval center. Plus as you will soon discover as you wander around the town’s museums and streets you will discover that from 1576 until 1756 the town was the Capital of the Algarve district.
There are still signs of when the Arabs occupied by the town, although a large part of it was damaged when the town was hit by an earthquake in 1755. Yet even so there architecture is still beautiful and retains many of the features you would expect from buildings erected during the 18th and 19th Centuries.
As you wander around the streets of Lagos, Algarve you will come across some very interesting statutes depicting famous people from the towns past. Certainly, the most controversial of all of these is the one dedicated to Dom Sebastio and which is to be found in the town’s main square directly in front of the Town Hall.
When it comes to visiting Lagos, Algarve any time of year is acceptable as the weather is generally good all year round. However, the summer months do tend to be the busiest so it is advisable to book your holiday well in advance of your dates to ensure that you get the accommodation that you want.
Tags: Travel and Leisure
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