| Lagos is a bustling, unspoiled port town, which has a rich historical past connected with the great age of Portuguese discovery in the 15th Century. At various times the town was occupied by Celts, Carthiginians, Pheonicians, Romans, Arabs, Visigoths and now hosts tourists.It was the capital of the Algarve from 1576 to 1756 and one of the centres of the Discoveries. From the port, many of the maritime expeditions set out in search of new worlds. Prince Henry the Navigator, the visionary behind the Discoveries, lived, worked and died here. It was the birthplace of the navigator Gil Eanes who rounded Cape Bojador in 1434. There are still some traces of this period to be found, primarily in the remains of the market where slaves from Africa were sold.Many monuments and statues in Lagos hark back to the golden era , when the town became the centre for the first European slave market. It has an excellent little museum with some unusual items and the altar of the Chapel of St Anthony next door, a Baroque masterpiece in carved wood and gilt, which should not be missed. There are many good restaurants. Don't miss a look at the Ponta da Piedade, a striking rock formation on the local cliff-backed beach. |
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