Sports & Cultural Activities
Bird Watching; Church Services in English;
Exhibitions; Fortaleza; Museums; Sand Sculptures; Science Live!; Swimming &=
amp;
Gymnasium; Tennis; Theatre; Volleyball; Zoo
Note that those facilities marked * are closed on Mondays, while **
denotes closed Mondays and Public Holidays.
Also, many of the local authority facili=
ties
offer a discount to the over-65s. Ask, “Disconto para idade, faz
favor?” and show passport or other ID.
![3D"A](3D"Sports&Cultural.htm_files/image002.gif")
Bird
Watching & Ringing
You take a train to Mexilhoeira Grande, and then the centre is a 15 =
min.
walk from the station. It is =
open
to visitors on Thursday forenoons only.&nb=
sp;
The birds you see obviously vary with the season, but you get a clos=
e-up
view of them being ringed and checked before they are released – like=
the
Goldcrest on the right. Entry is free but as “A
Rocha” is a charity, donations are welcome.
If you would like to le=
arn
more about A Rocha and their work, and perhaps help to preserve this beauti=
ful
and fragile area, go to w=
ww.arocha.org o=
r visit their lo=
cal
web site, <=
span
lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>w=
ww.riadealvor.org
After visiting the centre, you can stroll =
down
to the estuary where there are always lots of waders and other migratory
birds. Then, if feeling energ=
etic,
you can continue on a circular route, around the old salt pans, back to the
station.
Church Services in English
Background. Portugal is a predominately Roman
Catholic country and many of the major religious festivals are celebrated as
national Public Holidays. In
addition, there are many local festivals and celebrations of a religious
nature, in almost every town.
Roman Catholic Services. The
local Catholic churches normally celebrate Mass in Portuguese, though somet=
imes
the readings may be repeated in English and/or English texts may be availab=
le
– especially in the Church of Santa Maria, on “Henry the
Navigator” Square, Lagos.
Masses there are at 1800 Saturday; 1130 and 1800 Sunday. (1830; 1130=
and
1830 over July & August)
In addition, there is norm=
ally
a Mass in English at 1900 on Saturday at “Igreja de Nossa Senhora da
Luz”, the local Parish Church in the centre of Praia da Luz. The local “A Onda” bus=
service,
Line 4, Yellow, is handy for this church.&=
nbsp;
As the English-speaking priest may not always be available, please r=
ing
Viv Kent, on 917 464 353, to confirm the details before travelling.
Anglican Services.=
Full Anglican Eucharist is also celebrated at
“Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Luz”, the local Parish Church in the
centre of Praia da Luz. Servi=
ces
are at 1000 on Thursdays; 0800 and 1200 on Sundays – with a separate
Children’s Service at the 1200 Eucharist. For any queries, please ring Joyce
Duffy, on 918 824 584. Again,=
the
“A Onda” bus service, Line 4, Yellow, is convenient
International Community Church. This is a very lively,
informal and family-centred group with a wide range of community
activities. They meet at 1030=
on
Sundays, at 5, Travessa de Santo Amaro, (just opposite a preserved windmill=
, up
from the GNR station). If you=
want
more information, contact David on 282 086 804.
Exhibitions; “Armazém”
&“Mercado dos Escravos”
Exhibitions (and sales!) of
the work of local craftsmen are frequently held in the “Regimental
Warehouse” and/or the “Slave Market”. These vary throughout the year - a=
nd you
can find some very talented work by, for example, artists, leather-workers,
jewellers, photographers, potters, sculptors. Free entry.
Fortaleza**; “Forte Ponta da
Bandeira”
A small fort, built in the
17th century as part of the city defences, it has many original features.
Museum**; “Armazém do
Espingardeiro”
Housed in a restored “Rifleman’s
Warehouse”, it uses video displays to record the development of Lagos
from the Iron Age to the present-day.
It is interesting to a student but not very entertaining for
children. (Small entry charge=
)
Museum**; “Museu Municipal”;
São Antonio Church
A fascinating mix of subje=
cts
– with some gruesome, deformed animal foetuses you might want to steer
the grand-children away from. The
models of local life and fishing are well worth seeing. The route round the museum ends in
“The Golden Chapel” - it’s an amazing sight! (Small entry charge)
Museum; “Termas Romanas da
Luz”
The "Roman Bath-house
Ruins” are in the near=
-by
town of Praia da Luz. (Take t=
he
“A Onda Bus, Line 4”.) The ruins are beside the shore at =
the
west end of the town centre. =
The
bath-house complex was built and developed over the 2nd and 3
![3DDSC01779.JPG](3D"Sports&Cultural.htm_files/image004.jpg")
Sand
Sculptures; FIESA; Pera; c. 20 km. east of Lagos.
A car is needed for th=
e trip
to Junction 8 on the A22 motorway, from where the site is signposted. Entry=
is
c. €8 but discount vouchers are available in the town.
Normally open from May to October, every day from 10:00 to 22:00.
The exhibition covers a huge area – over 15,000 square
metres. Some 30,000 tonnes of=
sand
is sculpted by world-famous sand artists.&=
nbsp;
Each year a different theme is chosen – “Hollywood”
and “Mythologies” were recent ones.
Science Live*; “Centro
Ciência Viva”
This exhibition is located
above the Mercado Municipal is well worth a visit – especially when
Swimming Pool, Sports Centre & Gymnasium =
The recently completed “Complex Desportivo” is at the
north of the town. It is a
comprehensive facility with first class equipment and staff. Note that it c=
loses on
Sundays, Public Holidays and all of August. Entry is charged, but as the centr=
e is
run by the council, the costs are very reasonable. See our web site for full details.
Tennis; Rua Vasco da Gama
The local club has courts =
of a
high standard and regularly hosts tournaments up to National Level. Nevertheless, they do allow guests=
to
hire the courts and racquets and balls.&nb=
sp;
It’s easy to find.
From “River” roundabout at the top of the Avenida, turn =
left
and go to “Cámara”, turn right and it is just past the
school on your left.
Theatre & Exhibitions; “Ce=
ntro
Cultural de Lagos” (CCL)
There is an excellent,
comfortable theatre (c. 200 seats), which hosts a range of events including
classical and jazz concerts; plays and operas; demonstrations of traditional
and national music; song and dance shows. There are also exhibitions of pai=
nting
and sculpture – which change frequently. Exhibitions are usually free to en=
ter
– but theatre shows will charge from €5 to €10, depending=
on
the artists. The local custom=
is
for most shows to start at 2130. The “CCL” is closed on
Sundays.
Volleyball; Meia Praia Beach; Bar Li=
nda
There is a volleyball cour=
t,
with net, marked out on the sand in front of Bar Linda. Follow the road past Sopromar and =
you
can’t miss it. The bar =
is
handy for “a ![3D"Web](3D"Sports&Cultural.htm_files/image006.jpg")
wee refreshment” after your exertions.
Zoo; “Parque
Zoológico”; Barão de São João
Take the “A Onda Bus, Line 6” to reach this relatively s=
mall
zoo.
It is very attractively laid out with lots of birds and a big collec=
tion
of primates – but no, they don’t allow you to trade-in your
grand-children!
Entry is about €10 – but discount vouchers are often
available around the town and in Tourist Magazines.