A European summer holiday with family or friends can sound like a
dream come true. However, there are more than the usual big cities or
celebrity hot spots that should be considered as the destination. Lagos
is one of those great places that gives travelers their money's worth
when visiting and would explain why many Europeans flock there on their
own summer retreats.
This is a port city found in southern Portugal and its history is so varied and interesting. It was instrumental to the Portuguese when they were exploring the world by means of the sea and would later attract many corsairs and pirates. Keeping that in mind, there are plenty of historical and architectural sites to take in during your stay. For example, St. Anthony's Church and St. Sebastian's Church are two places that shouldn't be missed. St. Anthony's, with its Baroque style, was built in 1707 to replace an even older church. St. Anthony's Church also houses the impressive Dr. Jose Formosinho Municipal Museum in an annex. The museum is broken up into several different sections covering: archaeology, sacred art, history of Lagos, ethnography of the Algarve, numismatics, mineralogy, and overseas ethnography.
St. Sebastian's Church was built in the 14th century and has a very interesting annex: a small bones chapel. If you have little ones that would be a bit traumatized by seeing skulls on the walls, either skip it or take turns watching the kids while the other goes in to view this. After touring St. Sebastian's you can either stop for some coffee or a small but delicious meal. If you want to continue exploring, visit the Governor's Castle or the Mercado de Escravos (slave market). The first was built in the 17th century and. Although it is a sad thing indeed that there was ever a slave market, it is part of the history of Lagos and Europe in general since this was the first slave market on the continent.
As always, there are lodging options for every taste and price point. If you don't want to be right in the center of town, there's always Quinta das Achadas. This is a farmhouse with 3 self-serve apartments where you can relax. When not touring Lagos ten minutes away, the pool here beckons travelers. However, if being in the center of town and the action is extremely important one can always stay at Tivoli Lagos. This four-star property allows you to explore the town and the beach. It has a free shuttle to take guests to the Duna Beach Club during their stay.
Whether you stay and explore Lagos during your entire vacation or perhaps venture out and have day trips, by the end of the holiday you'll be glad to have chosen Lagos as the destination. History, lovely beaches, and great food: the right ingredients for a fantastic time!
This is a port city found in southern Portugal and its history is so varied and interesting. It was instrumental to the Portuguese when they were exploring the world by means of the sea and would later attract many corsairs and pirates. Keeping that in mind, there are plenty of historical and architectural sites to take in during your stay. For example, St. Anthony's Church and St. Sebastian's Church are two places that shouldn't be missed. St. Anthony's, with its Baroque style, was built in 1707 to replace an even older church. St. Anthony's Church also houses the impressive Dr. Jose Formosinho Municipal Museum in an annex. The museum is broken up into several different sections covering: archaeology, sacred art, history of Lagos, ethnography of the Algarve, numismatics, mineralogy, and overseas ethnography.
St. Sebastian's Church was built in the 14th century and has a very interesting annex: a small bones chapel. If you have little ones that would be a bit traumatized by seeing skulls on the walls, either skip it or take turns watching the kids while the other goes in to view this. After touring St. Sebastian's you can either stop for some coffee or a small but delicious meal. If you want to continue exploring, visit the Governor's Castle or the Mercado de Escravos (slave market). The first was built in the 17th century and. Although it is a sad thing indeed that there was ever a slave market, it is part of the history of Lagos and Europe in general since this was the first slave market on the continent.
As always, there are lodging options for every taste and price point. If you don't want to be right in the center of town, there's always Quinta das Achadas. This is a farmhouse with 3 self-serve apartments where you can relax. When not touring Lagos ten minutes away, the pool here beckons travelers. However, if being in the center of town and the action is extremely important one can always stay at Tivoli Lagos. This four-star property allows you to explore the town and the beach. It has a free shuttle to take guests to the Duna Beach Club during their stay.
Whether you stay and explore Lagos during your entire vacation or perhaps venture out and have day trips, by the end of the holiday you'll be glad to have chosen Lagos as the destination. History, lovely beaches, and great food: the right ingredients for a fantastic time!
Sabrina Toth is a certified travel associate and owner of Toth
International. Toth International is a travel management company that
caters to the entertainment industry. For help with your travel needs
