Local Area Overview

Boa Vista apartments are a short drive away from the pretty coastal town of Lagos. Historically important during the Age of Discovery, Lagos was home to Henry the Navigator and the site of his ship building for the voyages of discovery. Legend has it that the first time Columbus set foot in the Iberian Peninsular was when the inhabitants of Lagos saved his sailors from shipwreck. Lagos is a former capital of the Algarve, and still has many architectural signs of its ancient past, including a building dating from 1445 said to be the site of the first slave market in Europe. There are a number of interesting statues including a sculpture of Dom Sebastiao standing in the main square in front of the town hall. Apart from its illustrious past, Lagos has much to offer the modern traveller. There are a number of beautiful beaches close by including Meia Praia to the east, a very long sandy beach which is sheltered to the north. To the west is the fishing village of Praia da Luz with one of the prettiest beaches in the area. The beach here is has plenty of family waterfront activities and a delightful seafront with cafes and shops. Also dotted along the coastline are a number of other little coves to be explored, including Burgau, and further west Salema. The town itself is a maze of old cobbled streets and picturesque squares lined with open air restaurants, giving the impression of a delightful holiday destination. There are a wealth of restaurants to choose from both in the old town, and surrounding the new yacht marina, so there is something to suite everyone. There is also a central square where street entertainers gather in the evening, a local tradition not to be missed.