LAGOS, ALBUFEIRA, FARO PORTUGAL/HOLIDAY SEASON TRIP PART 3 BY BUENAG!!

Lagos is one of the most visited cities in the Algarve and Portugal, due to its variety of tourist-friendly beaches, rock formations (Ponta da Piedade), bars, restaurants and hotels, renowned for its vibrant summer nightlife and parties.[citation needed]

Yet, Lagos is also a historic centre of the Portuguese Age of Discovery, frequent home of Henry the Navigator, historical shipyard and, at one time, centre of the European slave trade.[5] In 2012, travel website TripAdvisor, classified Lagos as the number one travel destination, on a list of "15 destinations on the rise" worldwide.[6]
Lagos, Nigeria, may have been named after it, since, at the time of the 15th century, Lagos, Portugal, was the main centre of Portuguese maritime expeditions down the African coast.

The name originated from the Arab Al-buhera, which means castle of the sea, owing to its location along the coast, or alternately al-Buħayra, for the lagoon, in reference to the lagoon that formed in the lowlands. The Moors constructed strong defensive structures, making the area almost impregnable, allowing this area to remain in the hands of their forces longer than other possessions in Portugal. The development of agriculture during this period was notable, with the introduction of new techniques and plant species. The Moors used the plow and fertilizers, as well as winches for lifting the water from the wells, introducing the irrigation of fields, constructing dams and transforming uncultivated areas into gardens and orchards.

The town started to become a hub for tourism in the 1960s, and has grown to accommodate this since, growing out into the surrounding hills to accommodate thousands of the 5 million tourists who visit the Algarve region each year.[6]

Faro (/ˈfɑːroʊ/ FAR-oh, Portuguese: [ˈfaɾu] (

listen)) is a municipality, the southernmost city and seat of the district of the same name, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.

Faro is one of the most popular day trips of the central Algarve region and if you are on holiday in Albufeira, Vilamoura or Quarteira we highly recommended a visit.
Contained within Faro are numerous historical monuments. The city has a distinctive Portuguese atmosphere, and is very different to the hectic resort towns.
A typical day trip to Faro would spend half of the day exploring the Cidade Velha and half in the new city, which would also include the Bone Chapel.

Faro has no beaches which are within walking distance of the city centre, this is not a city for a beach holiday.
Faro offers history and culture, along with a varied selection of cafes, restaurants and bars. Being a major city there is decent nightlife and this tends to be aimed for Portuguese patrons, rather than foreign tourists.
By day Faro has an unhurried and calm ambience, but by night there is a surprising buzzing and social nightlife.