Lagos is a municipality and a city situated at the mouth of the Bensafrim River. It also lies beside the Atlantic Ocean, in the area of Algarve, in Algarve’s Barlavento, Southern Portugal. The city itself has a populace of about 18,000 and the municipality has a total population of more than 27,000 inhabitants. It is both a well-loved tourist destination and a historic city. Most of the residents here live near the coastal lines and work in services and tourism.More about Lagos
The inland area is sparsely inhabited and most of the inhabitants work in forestry and agriculture. Lagos is situated roughly 35 kilometers east of Sagres Point. Sagres Point is the south-westernmost spot of Europe.
History of Lagos
Lagos is an old maritime town with over 2,000 years of history. It first became a settlement for the Carthaginians, who employed Celtic tribesmen in their war against the Romans during the Punic Wars. Later on, Lagos was colonized by the Romans, and became part of a Roman province called Lusitania.
Several Roman remains can still be found in Lagos and its surrounding countryside. A Roman rebellious general, Quintus Sertorius, who was aided by the Lusitanians of Lacobriga, engaged successfully in a battle against the Roman Army of Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius, presumably at Lagos’ neighbor, Monte Moliao. The name Lagos has Celtic origins and was derived from the word “Lacobriga”.
The town was conquered in the 6th century by the Visigoths from the Kingdom of Toledo, and later by the Byzantines. The Moors arrived during the eighth century, renamed the town Zawaia, fortified the town, and established significant trade links. In the year 1174, the local Wali allowed the construction of the St. John the Baptist Church beyond the walls of the town. This is considered as the most ancient church in Algarve.
At a time when King Afonso Henriques was re-conquering Portugal, or the Reconquista, the southern part, which included Alentejo and Algarve, remained under Moorish rule. Algarve was eventually conquered by King Afonso III of Portugal in the year 1241. After its total conquest in the year 1249, the king named himself “King of Portugal and Algarve”, but emphasized that Algarve was not part of Portugal.
Lagos was declared an independent jurisdiction under the reign of King Pedro I in the year 1361. King Joao I put his forces together at the port of Lagos, before sailing for the conquest of the city of Ceuta in the year 1415. This was the initial step in opening the Arabian world to medieval Europe, which subsequently led to the Age of Discovery, when Portuguese discoverers began sailing across the world.
Lagos became significant during the Portuguese explorations in the 15th century. The third son of King Joao I, Prince Henry the Navigator, resided mostly in Lagos. From Lagos, he directed a journey to Morocco and the western shores of Africa, sailing in caravel lateen-rigged ships.
The earliest to sail beyond Cape Bojador was Gil Eanes, and Lagos became his home port. Cape Bojador was then believed to be the end of the world but Lagos later became a stepping stone for the Portuguese exploration of Africa. Lagos was, at least, as significant during the Age of Discovery as the Cape Canaveral was during the early years of space exploration. Nigeria’s former capital, Lagos, was possibly named after this Portuguese town.
Economy and Culture
Like several coastal towns in Portugal, Lagos’ main industry had always been fishing until the year 1960, when Lagos embraced tourism. Tourism has since become its most significant economic activity.
Lagos has a good climate, beautiful beaches with the sea as its historical patrimony, and a scenic coastline. Lagos also has plenty of night life entertainment and cultural venues. Several local traditions are celebrated, ranging from gastronomy to architecture and handicrafts.
In gastronomy, there are local specialties: morgados cookies and Dom rodrigos based on local products like eggs, almonds, and figs. Lagos is also a wine-producing area and is known for its muscatel wine and aguardente de medronho, which is a strong alcoholic spirit made of berries from the strawberry tree.
Lagos Attractions
There are several interesting monuments and statues that have been erected for popular past figures. These are affiliated with the town’s history. Connected to the gold church of San Antonio in Lagos, you will find a small museum containing regional items. The currently assembled Marina in Lagos offers pretty picturesque sights and the port is the first thing tourists will see.
Traveling to the beaches in Lagos provides tourists with several of the most attractive shores in the world. A highly regarded beach in Lagos is the Ponta de Piedade. It shelters the magnificently transparent waters of the bay with its caves and rocks. The sandiest beaches are situated along the west shores of Algarve. This is where you will find the biggest waves.
Lagos also offers tours to the beaches where you can enjoy many fine water sports and beachside activities. You will also love the clear waters of Algarve. You can build sand castles, throw Frisbee around, or just enjoy a refreshing swim. No matter what you choose to do on the beach, there will always be a beach to suit your needs. This is evidence that traveling to Lagos can guarantee an enjoyable time on its sandy shores.
Igreja de Sao Sebastiao is a charming church found on Praia Luis de Camoes. It is another point of interest for the promotion of tourism in Lagos. A chapter house was built adjacent to the church in the 15th century.
Palacio dos Governadores is an attractive place which is partially formed from the old town wall. Another attraction to visit during your travel to Lagos is the Museu de Municipal de Lagos. Here, tourists can view archaeological artifacts, traditional azulejo tiles, and several interesting religious exhibits.
The climate of Lagos, especially during the summer can be warm and dry with extended times of sunshine. There are irregular summer rains but the months of June, July, and August are usually the driest.