Old Town Lagos, Medieval district in Lagos, Portugal.
The Old Town is a historic district in coastal Lagos with narrow cobblestone streets and whitewashed buildings featuring traditional tile work and wrought iron balconies. The buildings descend toward fortified coastal walls that overlook the ocean.
In the 15th century, Prince Henry the Navigator established his maritime base here, making Lagos a key port for Portuguese voyages of discovery. The town walls from the 16th century blended Roman and Moorish fortification techniques from earlier periods of conquest.
The Church of Saint Anthony displays elaborate Brazilian gold decorations inside, reflecting wealth Portugal gained during its colonial expansion. These ornaments tell the story of the long economic ties between Portugal and Brazil.
The area is easy to explore on foot, with stairs and sloped streets climbing from the harbor into the old district that make orientation straightforward. Restaurants serving local seafood are scattered across several squares and along the streets, many with outdoor seating.
The fortification walls reveal visible layers of earlier cultures embedded in the stonework, with materials and techniques from Roman and Moorish periods stacked on top of each other. Walking along the walls or examining the old gates up close shows these historical strata clearly.
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