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Lagoa in western Algarve Portugal, Lagao is one of those Towns ( it Does have City Status) that can easily be missed due to the fact the EN125 runs through it on approaching the Town from the East, you first come across the traffic lights with its decorative traffic island with statues and water features, on the left you will see the Parque Municipal this is the large exhibitions park where many events are held each year including the largest for the Algarve, that of the Fatacil fair held every August over a Ten day period if you take the road to the right this will take you to the Towns centre and the road to Silves. The Town is a lot Larger than it looks with many small alleyways and cobblestone narrow roads, there are many little garden areas with seating , they include a shrine to Our Lady ( Lady of the Light ),there is another garden area with the Large pink Granite carved War memorial, you will also find just opposite the Main Church ( Igreja Matriz) is the small records Museum Arqivo (Portuguese word for File ) with it impressive class frontage with a large handmade tile decoration from the nearby Porches Pottery. There is a large pedestrian area decorated with Black and white Cobblestones with rows of shops and cafes with outside seating area leading towards another park garden with a bandstand.
Lagoa offers some of the best water parks as well as golf courses,with the Large old Adega (wine Co-operative ) just near the traffic lights towards Carveoiro it is well worth a visit to sample and buy wines of the regions, with the main town opposite and with population of around 20,000 the Town may be small but still offers heritage buildings which have been renovated for cultural uses in the town namely the Municipal Library and the Convento de São José (St. Joseph Convent) and its few small chapels the main strip in the Town has some very nice restaurant and plenty of bars-cafes to well away an hour over a coffee,you will also discover some of the gift shops selling hand painted tiles a tradition fast disappearing. Lagoa still offers a host of events each year having the Fatacil show ground (the Parque de Feiras e Exposições de Lagoa ), it holds numerous fairs and shows covering local art and crafts, to live music with traditional songs, as well known groups such as Boney M form the early 1980’s ,the larger fair will have petting animals motor shows, boats arts and crafts as well as services offered even down to making you a stained glass window or watching a cobbler making shoes, it also holds a monthly flea market and a undercover antiques fair. Just further down near the commercial park is where the main monthly market is held for foods linen, clothes. (See markets )
Just past the main traffic lights on the turn off for Carvoeiro you will find a large building with the words Adega Cooperative Lagoa this was one of the first adega building of this size to be founded in Portugal nearly 70 years ago. Whilst over the years it is not so busy as it once was, it is still a functioning working winery and now known as Unica, whilst in the past you might not have noticed it as a working adega in July 2012 it has had a facelift with a new coat of paint bring it back to its former glory, it is well worth you visiting as it has some very good wines on offer in the smaller shop that is situated to the right from the main building, with a small function room for smaller events , The adgea has functions and events throughout the year , it is free to visit and you can purchase some very good wines of the region
Pink Granite war memorial
Small museum in the centre
Lagoa Adega winery
Vintage barrels used by the adega
Hand carved stone plaques on the adega building entrance