Explore Activities at Villa Zawaia B&B in Lagos, Portugal

"A little history"

Lagos is an old seaport, formerly known as Lacobriga, with over 2,000 years of history. Over the centuries, it has played host to many civilizations, including the Romans, Visigoths, Byzantines and Moors. The latter renamed it Zawaia, meaning "lake" or "lago" in Portuguese. Thanks to its rich past, the town boasts a number of historic sites that are well worth a visit.
Situated on the banks of the River Bensafrim, it is one of the most visited towns on the west coast of the Algarve. About an hour from Faro airport.

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"A little history"

Lagos is an old seaport, formerly known as Lacobriga, with over 2,000 years of history. Over the centuries, it has played host to many civilizations, including the Romans, Visigoths, Byzantines and Moors. The latter renamed it Zawaia, meaning "lake" or "lago" in Portuguese. Thanks to its rich past, the town boasts a number of historic sites that are well worth a visit.
Situated on the banks of the River Bensafrim, it is one of the most visited towns on the west coast of the Algarve. About an hour from Faro airport.

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tourist attractions

The slave market

In the early 15th century, the Portuguese reached the coast of Africa. In 1444, Lagos saw its first African slaves. The Mercado dos Escravos, also known as the Slave Market Museum, offers an instructive look at this dark and solemn period in Western history. Built in the 17th century, the building, which today houses the museum, once served as the office of the royal overseer.

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Lagos Castle

The castle walls surround the historic center of Lagos.
The Castelo dos Governadores (or Governors' Castle) was built in Roman times and enlarged in the 16th century to protect the growing city. It is not a castle in the true sense of the word, but rather a fortification.

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La Ponta da Bandeira

Nossa Senhora da Penha de França, built in the 17th century outside the city walls, this fortification once protected the entrance to Lagos from the ocean. To enter the fort, you must cross a drawbridge over a moat. Inside, a chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara is decorated with 18th-century earthenware mosaics.

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Church of Santa Maria - Lagos

Built in the 15th century, it comprises a single rectangular nave, a raised main chapel, a baptistery and a choir. On the side, directly communicating with the nave, is an ashlar door dating from the early 16th century. The high altar is surprisingly painted with luminous chromaticism and biblical scenes.
Considered by the locals to have replaced the Church of Sainte-Marie de Grâce, destroyed by fire in the 1755 earthquake, the church was rebuilt at the end of the 19th century.

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the beaches

Lagos boasts some of the finest beaches in southern Portugal. Four superb beaches are just a few minutes' walk from the town.

Meia Praia beach is the largest in the region, and consists of a vast stretch of sand stretching 3 km in length.

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Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Pinhão are splendid beaches where visitors can bathe in rock-clear waters, surrounded by superb sandstone cliffs

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The surf beaches of Sagres are just a short bus ride from Lagos and can be visited on a day trip.

Lagos is a fantastic city with sumptuous beaches, a charming historic center and a lively nightlife. All these ingredients combine to make it an ideal destination for tourists wishing to enjoy more than just the beach and good weather during their vacation.

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