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Activities in the Alvor area
- Canoeing on Ria de Alvor: contact 'Outdoor Tours', Tel: 916 736 226
- Dolphin watching: contact 'Sea Life' Tel: 919 919 966
- Horse riding - 'Vidigal Novo' in Mexilhoeira Grande. Tel: 282 471 188
'Vale Ferro' in Mexilhoeira Grande. Tel: 282 968 444
- Fishing trips and sightseeing cruises, 'Novo Alvor', Tel: 966 807 621
- Alvor Sports Complex for swimming and tennis. Pool times: Monday to Friday - 09.00h to13.00h and 15.00h to 21.30h
Saturday: 09.00h to 12.00h and 15.00h to 18.00h. You will need a swimming cap and flipflops for poolside use, and of course, a swimsuit!
- Golf - 'Alto', 'Penina', 'Palmares' and 'Morgado' are all close to Alvor
- Sailing lessons - 'Algarve Sailing' (Lagos), Tel: 282 792 681
- Parque Zoológico de Lagos (Zoo Lagos) - a beautiful zoo, just on the outskirts of Lagos. It is a fantastic day out for all ages, with lots of lovely animals.
Open all year round, 7 days a week.
Winter (from the 1st of October to the 31st of March) 10.00am – 5.00pm
Summer (from the 1st April to the 30th September) 10.00am – 7.00pm
Quinta Figueiras – Sítio do Medronhal
Barão de S.João
8600-013
Tel: 282 680 100. More information about Zoo Lagos
- Aqualand (The Big One): Water park near Alcantarilha. Open from 26th May to 12th September (2008) 10.00h to 18.00h.
- Wine tasting tours:
Adega Cooperativa de Lagoa
09:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 18:00.
Contact details : E.N. 125, Lagoa 8400-901.
Tel. +351 282 342 181
Fax +351 282 342 369
Churches in the Alvor area
- Alvor Church 16th century which overlooks the harbour (the doorway is Manueline)
- Mexilhoeira Grande parish church - 16th century
- Igreja de Santo António on Rua Silva Lopes, Lagos (recognisable by it's two bell towers of different heights.)
Adult entrance fee: €2,20 (January 2007)
The Church is often known as 'The Golden Church' because the walls and the altar are decorated in the gilded intricately carved baroque style. It was rebuilt in 1769. Entrance is through the Regional Museum adjoining it.
- Igreja de Misericórdia (or Santa Maria), Lagos - beside Praça D.Henrique and originates from the 15th /16th centuries, but was largely rebuilt in the 18th/19th centuries.
- Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Lagos - was part of a 16th century former monastery.
- Igreja de São Sebastião, Lagos - originates from the 14th /16th centuries.
- Hermitage of St. John the Baptist, Lagos- near the 'ship' roundabout at the entrance to Lagos and originates from the 15th/16th centuries and rebuilt during the 18th
- Portimão church - originally 14th century but as with so many buildings in the Algarve it had to be rebuilt after the earthquake in 1755.
- The Old Jesuit College in Praça da República, Portimão - was built in the middle of the 17th century. The church occupies the centre of the building and has areas decorated with the baroque style gilded woodwork (talha dourada).
Galleries and Museums in the Alvor area
- Núcleo Etnográfico - at the old railway station in Mexilhoeira Grande - with exhibits showing the rural way of life around the Alvor estuary.
- Regional Museum of Lagos, Museu Municipal Dr. José Formosinho adjoining Igreja de Santo António. Visitors can see collections of archeological finds that date back to the pre-Roman era, as well as collections of religious art and numismatics (coins, banknotes, medals, etc.). The gallery boasts some fascinating 17th and 18th centuries paintings, including a tall portrait of a man, which when you stand to one side of him, focus on him and then move across to the other side of him whilst still holding his stare, he appears to follow you with his eyes and body!
- Municipal museum: Antiga Fábrica Feu, Rua D. Carlos I, Portimão.
- Casa - Museu Manuel Teixeira Gomes: Rua Júdice Biker, Portimão. Now converted to a museum it is the former home of Portimão's most famous son - he was president of Portugal in 1923.
Opening hours: 11.00h to 13.00h and 15.00h to 19.00h
- EMARP gallery: Rua José António Marques, 17, Portimão.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 08.30h to 17.00h. (closed weekends and holidays).
- Museu Digo Gonçalves: Avenida São João de Deus, Portimão. - exhibitions of paintings and sculptures. The museum is in the old Jesuit College building.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09.30h to 12.30h and 14.00h to 17.30h. (Closed weekends and holidays).
Historical remains in the Alvor area
- Neolithic burial site at Alcalar- signposted from EN125 towards Lagos.
The Information centre is open
09.30h to 12.30h and 14.00h to 18.00h (April to September), 14.00h to 17.00h (October to March). Closed Mondays and Good Friday, Easter Sunday, 1st May and Christmas Day.
- Roman remains of Vila Abicada dating from the 4th century - signposted from the EN125 between Alvor and Lagos.
- The Slave market in Lagos - a reminder of the times when slaves brought back from Africa during the 15th century were sold. It is the opposite side of Praça D.Henrique from the Misericórdia Church.
- Lagos city walls - still surround the older part of Lagos give a real feeling of history as you follow them around the town. Opposite the fort on the water front are the twin watchtowers either side of St. Gonçalo's gate. The walls date from the 16th century and have bulwarks at intervals that allowed the use of artillery . There are gateways through at various points. The best way to see them is to walk around the outside - there are landscaped gardens and paths to enjoy while you walk.
- The Governors Castle (Lagos) - just along from St. Gonçalo's gate, is of Arab construction, but has been altered many times since.
- Fortaleza de Santa Catarina (Praia da Rocha) - at the end of Tomás Cabreira avenue: Built in the early 17th century and overlooking the mouth of the river Arade. It is a fantastic viewpoint as you can see across to Ferragudo in one direction, all along Praia da Rocha in the other direction and the modern Portimão marina just below it.
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