AN INTRODUCTION TO LAGOS

Lagos is one of the most ancient settlements in the Algarve; today the resort is friendly and chic with its assortment of gourmet cafés hiding in between its historical buildings. You can enjoy its outstanding beaches, take a boat ride from the magnificent marina, play a round of golf on one of the best courses in the Algarve or simply just sit and soak up the history and charm of this beautifully preserved town.

• Beautiful natural harbour.

• Town dates back to the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans.

• Starting point for many historic voyages of discovery.

• Major Algarve resort.

• Superb sandy beaches and coves.

• Many traditional buildings left intact.

• Pleasant cobbled streets.

• South Portugal's surf central.

• Local population 25,000.

Lagos is situated 17km west of Portimao, on Portugal's south-west coast. A 17th-century fort and tumbledown walls guard the harbour entrance, around which the resort is built. To the north are rolling hills and pretty villages. Lagos itself is an exciting mix of old and new Portugal - it has the classic flower-decked squares and whitewashed buildings, and a magnificent new marina.

In general, the resort is tasteful and chic with much of the development arising outside of the town centre. This means history, charm and tradition have been preserved.

Lagos has lots of restaurants, cafés, discos, shopping, markets, churches, a yachting marina, a live fishing fleet, and an auction fish market serve the city well. There are several different beaches and many things to see. Contrary to many other places in Southern Europe Lagos still derives some of its income from Agriculture and Fisheries and has a buoyant market economy.