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What would a marina have looked like in the time of Henry the Navigator? Henry financed Gil Eanes' first effort to explore the west African coast. The vessel used was a barge. It was basically unsailable and not really seaworthy. Gil Eanes was a brave man. One look at the Lagos Marina confirms support for sailing has come a long way.

The Marina was opened in 1994. It is meant for pleasure boats home-ported in Lagos and for boats coming in from sea, stopping by on their way to other destinations. It has 460 berths for mooring with support facilities. It has the Marina Club, restaurants, residences, green and recreation spaces, including the Adventure Park for children.

Lagos Marina is the homeport so to speak of the Lagos Navigators. They are an independent group of berth holders with the mission to assist visitors in enjoying their stay in Lagos. Working with the marina, the Navigators organize events throughout the year, always sharing knowledge and experience.

Gil Eanes would have loved that kind of back-up.

The statue of Gil Eanes, explorer and seafarer who sailed past Cape Bojador in 1434 in service to Henry the Navigator who did not go to sea, is not in Gil Eanes Square. The statue of the maritime hero of Portugal by Canto da Maia occupies a more modest spot in the Garden of the Constition. He seems at home there.

Gil Eanes Square is a large pedestrianized square with connections to several pedestrian-only streets. Picturesque buildings border the square. The City Hall is here. It has a tourism office on the ground floor.

In the middle of the square is the controversial statue of Dom Sebastian by sculptor Joao Cutileiro. Dom Sebastian is the king who raised Lagos to city status. It is safe to say there is nothing else like it. It is beyond modernistic and Dom Sebastian's gender is doubtful. And what is he wearing?

The old City Hall dates from the early 1800s. It has three floors and halls that are used for exhibitions. The new city hall was opened in 2019. The old hall continues in use as the Lagos Municipal Assembly.

To the right of the City Hall is the Barraca Street. Follow this street to the Meja Praja Beach. Continue on to the Lady of Grace Street to reach Infante Dom Henrique Square. Here is the Old Slave Market. The next stop for the slaves was the Americas. Sadness, shame and hope are commingled here.

Starting with the nickname "The Navigator", much of the story of Infante Dom Henrique was myth and legend. Henry did have a strong interest on cosmography and he supported and launched maritime explorations of Africa but he stayed in Portugal.

Henrique is still in Portugal. He is celebrated with statues in several places in Portugal and in other countries. In Lagos, he sits in the main square of the town. He shares the square with the Old Slave Market (there is no new one) and with the Church of Santa Maria. The pedestal is inscribed "Infante D. Enrique", not "Navigator."

The statue was made by Leopoldo de Alemeida, a famous national artist, in 1960. Henrique is sitting. He stares rather vacantly into space. Perhaps, like Antonio in "The Merchant of Venice", he is worried about his rich argosies, dodging pirates on the high seas and crashing on a lee shore. Or perhaps he's planning his next venture abroad.

This is a fort with many names. It has been called (in Portuguese), Flag's Mast Fort, Our Lady of the Stone in France Fort, Registry Fort or the Fort of Lagos. We shall call it Flag's Mast Fort. It is a simple but effective fort with a lot of names.

It was built in the 17th century and positioned at the mouth of the Bensafirm River in full view of the sea. It was able to cover the docks and quays on the river banks and establish cross-fire with the redoubts of Lagos Castle and the city gates. When it was built it was considered to be one of the most effective defenses in the area.

It was planned with artillery in mind. It is square shaped with a moat and drawbridge. The walls are thick with sentry turrets at each corner. The Algarve coast was frequently the target of pirates and corsairs. Lagos at the time was the seat of the military government of the Algarve region. It was completed in 1690.

Inside there is a small chapel devoted to Santa Barbara, patron saint of armor makers, artillery soldiers and miners. The walls of the chapel are covered with blue azulejo tiles. The fort also holds a small museum with paintings and photographs on exhibit.

Praia do Pinhão is a relatively small beach, quite calm and cozy, compared to Praia da Batata. Pinhão is also very cute – some reckon it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Lagos. Surrounded by picturesque rock formations extending into the sea, the bay is well protected from strong winds.

There are relatively few facilities on Pinhão, which also adds to its charm. The sand is a bit hard and coarse, but the water is clear and suitable for swimming, although a bit cold at times. Overall, the conditions here are excellent for diving and snorkeling, hence the number of divers gathering often. During high tide there is a spot on the left side where you can go cliff jumping. Otherwise, it is ideal to get tan in a tranquil setting.

Praia do Pinhão consists of two parts. The first part is a small strip of sand, underneath the staircase, which is completely swallowed by sea during high tide. The second part, on the other side of the rock formation, is larger and has a lot of stones in the water – placed there since the Praia da Dona Ana reconstruction in 2015. There is a tunnel in the rocks connecting both sides of Praia do Pinhão, which can be used only in low tide.

You can access Praia do Pinhão via a long staircase with a series of terraces built into the cliffs. During high tide, you can jump from the staircase straight into the sea, but beware of shallow water. Above the staircase, there is a viewpoint affording tremendous view.

Praia de Dona Ana is one of the most picturesque beaches of the Algarve. Situated some 20 minutes walk from the historic center of Lagos, this beach is tucked away amid the massive limestone cliff formations of the Ponta da Piedade headland, which are much thicker than on any other beach in Lagos. The beautiful natural setting – highly eroded cliffs revealing layers of golden strata, calm sea waters in an idyllic turquoise color, and the sands soft and inviting – prove an irresistible lure for many tourists visiting the area.

Along with its stunning scenery, there are all the expected facilities of a popular beach, including restaurants, shops and showers. As a destination, Praia de Dona Ana is ideal for those in favor of sunbathing with some cooling breaks in the ocean (which is always cold).

Given the calm ambiance, clean and placid waters, and the giant cliffs providing shelter from sea breezes on blustery days, this beach is quite comfortable for families. It is not suited for energetic activities (surfing, kite surfing, etc.) and does not attract rowdy visitors (groups, excessive drinking, loud music), subsequently being free from banana boats, jet skis and speed boats.

If you seek peace and quiet, then Dona Ana is your perfect location for a relaxing day out by the sea.

The Praia do Camilo is one of Lagos' true landmarks, located between the other two regional wonders – Praia da Dona Ana and Ponta da Piedade with its lighthouse. This is the last beach of Lagos and one of the smallest beaches of the Algarve. Secluded and characteristic, it is highly esteemed by locals, tourists and travel experts alike.

There's a path of rocks leading from the main road to the beach where immense cliffs expose ancient sea shells and stones. The beach is divided into two parts by the stone formations, but is easy to walk on through a hand-made tunnel between the rocks.

Praia do Camilo can be visited all year round and is a real paradise in winter. During summer it is particularly popular. But don't fool yourself into thinking that this is just a crowded beach surrounded by rocks.

From the top of the cliff you can overlook spectacular coastline, which makes for an incredible picture, with colorful rocks and caves (some small ones in between the sand areas are particularly breathtaking). The kids love to explore these and go on small adventures around it. Clear water makes it perfect for snorkeling and there are very nice places for cliff jumping too. A true must for nature lovers!

To get to Praia do Camilo you have to descend a long (seemingly endless from the top, but well-maintained) wooden staircase of 224 steps. But the effort is surely well worth it!

An accident happened. It happened millions of years ago in the Miocene period. The remains of that accident can be seen today near the city of Lagos. There is a cape called Piety Point (Ponta da Piedade) extending into the sea and surrounded by rocky cliffs up to 65 feet in height. Locals revere and respect it. Tourists love it.

These rocky cliffs have what every cliff should have -- caves. Caves can be explored by land from Piety Point Lighthouse via stairs carved into the cliff face. Or, they can be explored by sea. Lagos marina provides excursions to the Piety Point by sail and small boat.

While the accident went on, waters covering the area of the point receded. The promontory was exposed and the rocks eroded into huge fantastical shapes. The area is truly a paleontological treasure trove. There are fossils of corals and marine life long extinct, including formidable looking shark's teeth.

Ancient Mediterranean people always thought of the sea as a god. Piety Point has traditionally been considered a sacred place. Bronze Age artifacts continue to be collected from the cape on land. Underwater, bits of the Roman presence may be found in the form of ruins and coins.

The hermitage of Our Lady of Piety (Nossa Senhora da Piedade) was built on the cape in the 16th century. There is a ceremonial path from the city of Lagos to the point called the Via Sacra. Along the way marks of the stations of the Cross are still standing.

The importance of the cape did not escape the military. It was a point of surveillance and high ground overlooking approaches from the sea. The army installed a battery there in 1663 and it did not come down until 1821, after Napoleon's busy time had ended. The chapel was demolished in 1913 to make way for the lighthouse.

In 2015 the Huffington Post visited 10 beaches around the planet. Piety Point was chosen as the favorite, based on its natural beauty and rock formations. Lonely Planet cited it as one of the ten natural wonders of Portugal.

Why You Should Visit:
Are there any romantic, exotic places like this out your way? Are there perfect beaches, crystal clear blue waters, mysterious caves? A seaside adventure you'll never forget? No? Que lastima! Exploring by boat is recommended.

Tips:
From Lagos there are one hour boat tours. The Piety Point can also be reached by train (slow) from Lagos.