Praia da Luz (also referred to as Luz de Lagos, Villa de Luz, or just Luz) is a small town and resort in the Western Algarve 6 km west of Lagos. It was a small fishing village that has been transformed by several holiday-villa complexes into a tourist area.
Understand
.jpg/220px-Praia_da_Luz_(4000954897).jpg)
The town is known for the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, a British child who has not been found, and the "most heavily reported missing-person case in modern history".
The once-dominant fishing industry is now only found in isolated enclaves to the west.
Get in
Get around
Follow the E125 from Lagos in the direction of Sagres, it's the next beach 6 km away; it has 2 entrances.
See
.jpg/220px-Praia_da_Luz_(5044049632).jpg)
- The Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Luz (Church of Our Lady of the Light) is at the bottom of the Rua 25 de Abril near the beach. This church can also be seen from the sea on a boat. This medieval church was built around 1521, and was routinely sacked in the 15th and 16th centuries, resulting in the construction of protective walls and defences. During the 1755 Lisbon earthquake it was badly damaged, and its restoration (1874) was funded by local contributions. In the 20th century, two events (a violent storm and the 1969 earthquake) caused similar damage to the church body.
- The visitor to Luz encounters many façades with Manueline-era architectural motifs. There are many habitational structures that correspond to the estilo chão ("ground style") typical of the rural buildings that date back to the end of the 18th century. In the first half of the 19th century, many of the more official homes and buildings began to appear in the Algarvian Neo-baroque style. Meanwhile, the period was also marked by simple single-storey homes, covered in tiled roofs, typical of Luz.
- Mr. Biller's Garden (Jardim de Mr. Biller)
- Roman Archaeological Site of Praia da Luz: located on a promontory overlooking the village, there are few visible signs of this archaeological discovery, which consists of a small Roman bath complex located alongside the main parochial church[7]
- Atalaia Tower (Portuguese: Torre de Atalaia)
- Castle of Senhora da Luz (Castelo da Senhora da Luz/Fortaleza de Nossa senhora da Luz), is a 17th-century military stronghold, constructed to support the defence of the southern Algarve, located along the Ponta da Calheta.
Do
The beach is a Blue Flag beach meeting all the standards of excellent (regarding sand and water quality as well as all the extra facilities). It's a wonderful beach with calm and warm seas perfect for families. The Black Rock formation sits the end of the beach.
Climbing the rockside to the geodesic sign, great for a workout and for the fantastic view of the whole town.
Attend the festivities during the summer months, especially the Lady of Light celebration in the beginning of September and the traditional Midnight Swim on 29 August. You can check all the events in the Praia da Luz Facebook Page.