Page 329 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

8
Lagos
STAY ! D7 £ @ n Praça Gil Did You Know?
Eanes; 282 763 031 "Lagos" means "lakes"
Hotel Eva Set on a large bay, Lagos is in Portuguese and the
With rooms facing the an attrac tive, bustling town. city earns its water-
marina, this hotel has a In the 8th century it was con­ based name.
rooftop bar and pool. quered by the Arabs, who left
! E7 ⌂ Avenida da behind fortifications. A well­
República 1, Faro preserved section and arch­
∑ hotel-eva- way can be seen near Rua do the rest in carved, gilded and
faro.h-rez.com
Castelo dos Governadores, painted woodwork, an inspira­
¡¡¡ where there is a monument tional and riotous example of
to the navigator Gil Eanes. Baroque carving. Cherubs,
Martinhal Beach The discoveries of the beasts, flowers and scenes of
Resort 15th century, pion eered by hunting and fishing surround
Henry the Navigator, whose eight panel paintings of mira­
Family-friendly resort, statue gazes scowlingly out cles performed by St Antony.
with sports facilities, to sea, turned Lagos into an Near the altar is the grave of
facing a lovely beach. important naval centre. At the Hugh Beatty, an Irish colo nel
! D7 ⌂ Quinta do same time a most deplor able who commanded the Lagos
Martinhal, Martinhal period of history began, with regi ment during the 17th­
∑ martinhal.com the first slaves brought back century wars with Spain. He
from the Sahara in 1441 by died here in 1709 and his
¡¡¡
Henry’s explorer Nuno Tristão. motto Non vi sed arte (“Not
The site of the first slave with force but with skill”)
Pousada Convento market in Europe is marked adorns the tomb. The church
da Graça
Sumptuously converted by a plaque under the arcades forms part of the neighbouring
museum Museu Municipal
on Rua da Senhora da Graça.
16th-century convent Ex tensive damage was Dr José Formosinho.
with pool and bar. caused by the earth quake
! F7 ⌂ Rua D Paio Peres of 1755, so today the centre Santo António
Correia, Tavira consists primarily of pretty ⌂ Rua General Alberto
∑ pousadas.pt 18th­ and 19th­century Silveira § 282 762 301
buildings. The citizens of Lagos # 10am–12:30pm, 2–5:30pm
¡¡¡
continue to make their living Tue–Sun ¢ Public hols
from fishing, which helps the
town to retain a character
indepen dent of the tourist
Since the 15th century, Cabo trade. The smart marina on
de São Vicente has been an the east side of town is the
important reference point for first safe place for anchorage
shipping, and its present light­ on the south coast for boats
house has a 95­km (60­mile) coming in from the Atlantic.
range, said to be the most On the seafront stands the
powerful in Europe. For even 17th­century fortress which
longer it has had religious defended the entrance to the
associations, and its name harbour. Its imposing ramparts
arises from the legend that afford far­reaching views over
the body of St Vincent was the town and the bay.
washed ashore here in the The 18th­century church of
4th century. Santo António is an Algarvian
Since 1988, the coast from jewel. The lower section of
Sines in the north (p313) to the walls is covered in
Burgau in the east has been blue­and­white azulejos,
made a nature reserve, provid­
ing important nesting grounds
for Bonelli’s eagle, kestrel,
white stork, heron and numer­ Statue of Henry the
ous other bird species. There Navigator in Lagos
is also a colony of sea otters. town square

328-329_EW_Portugal.indd 329 20/09/2018 10:42