Travel in Lagos - Portugal - History

Lagos - History

PALMARES-Golf Court

This course is laid out on the side of a south-facing hill overlooking the Bay of Lagos. It is questionably the most attractive location of all the golf courses in the Algarve.

The views as you play your round are quite breathtaking. Five of the holes are placed on the sand dunes with the fifth, a par-5 of 550 metres making a real challenge. At present there are no villas clustering the fairways so the feeling of openness as you play is very refreshing.

Of all the Algarves towns perhaps none has so much to offer as the historic city of Lagos .

When the Arabs from Morocco ruled the Algarve, Lagos was their capital city. Parts of the spectacular Lagos city walls date from those times. Later the massive square towers and the fort on the Lagos avenida were added to defend against Spain.

It was from the port of Lagos that the ancient mariners set out to discover the coasts of Africa, America, South America and the route to Asia. It was not for glory or science that those men sailed small ships from Lagos to beyond the edge of the known world. Trade made Portugal and Lagos rich, and no trade richer than that in slaves.

Today the ancient slave market at Lagos displays nothing more sinister than art and sculpture.
A different kind of boat visits Lagos today. Lagos marina attracts cruising yachts on passage to and from the Mediterranean. Lagos is also a popular centre for golf with nearby Palmeiras golf course on Meia Praia.

This historic town has played an important part in the story of Europe. It was the capital of the Algarve from 1576 until 1756 and there still stand many ancient buildings to testify to its historic glory. From its port maritime expeditions were embarked to discover the world at the orders of Prince Henry the Navigator. It was from this very harbour that Vasco da Gama sailed in 1499 on his historic discovery voyage.

Essentially now an important tourist town there are still many architectural signs of its ancient past, even a building dating back to this period that is recorded as being Europe’s first slave-market. The walls of the town are in most parts remaining after areas of restoration. Attached to the famous 18th century "gold" church of Santo António there is a small museum of regional items, some of which are quite odd! There are several interesting statues erected to the famous past figures that are associated with the history of this town. A small shrine commemorates the Algarve’s only saint, São Gonçalo de Lagos who was born in 1360. The more recently constructed Marina presents a lovely picture. It is usually full of boats on their way to and from the Mediterranean. The municipal council has constructed a Cultural Centre in which various exhibitions and culturally related events are held during the year.

In days gone by, the Bay of Lagos sheltered Phoenician, Greek and Carthaginian boats which came here for commercial trade. It was called Lacóbriga by the Romans, Zawai by the Arabs and became Lagos after being conquered by D. Afonso III. The historic patrimony is greatly represented in ecclesiastic buildings and sacred motifs, which are patent in the Santo António, São Sebastião, Misericórdia and Carmo Churches. The Town walls were built in the 16th century and completely encircle the Town. Besides this, Lagos also offers the Slave Market, the 17th century Fort of Ponta da Bandeira which defended the entrance to the port, and the Lagos Municipal Museum, which holds an enviable archaeological and ethnographic collection as well as objects of sacred art and paintings.

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