Castelo dos Governadores

Castelo dos Governadores
The Castle of Governors, in a street parallel to the Avenida dos Descobrimentos, mantains little of its initial construction, having passed through many changes over the ages.

However, it is one of the main references of Lagos.

On the façade,there is a Manueline window from where Dom Sebastian is supposed to have attended mass before leaving for Alcácer Quibir.

On the lawns of the Jardim da Constituição, facing the window, three panels by the sculptor João Cutileiro evoke this historical battle where the Portuguese king lost his life.

A few trees offer refreshing shadows in the peak of Summer, and now and then a thirsty bird comes to drink in one of the garden´s bird-cups.

Under the arch that crosses the fortress walls, a small oratory dedicated to St.

Gonçalo, the patron saint of the city and of the fishermen, marks the place where people say his parentes lived.

Gone is the time when the saint´s image was taken aboard a trawl-boat in a pictoresque procession by sea towards the promontory of Ponta da Piedade.

On the other side of the road, in the long Avenida dos Descobrimentos, small fishermen´s boats announce trips to the caves along the nearby coast.

Following the castle´s walls and surrounding what used to be the town, remnants of the defensive fortifications (classified as a National Monument) offer various view-points of Lagos and the sea.

Far away, the high slopes of the Serra de Monchique are outlined against the horizon.