Praia da Luz
Located near the seaside town of Lagos in the Algarve region of Portugal is
the relatively small but attractive resort village called Praia da Luz ("Beach
of Light"). The place has retained much of its charm from its fishing village
days despite the significant number of tourist-centered developments that have
cropped up in the area in recent years. One reason for this could be that the
developments are mostly low-rise buildings. This is, of course, aside from the
fact that it has managed to keep its natural beauty, the cleanliness of the
beach and even some of its historical landmarks throughout the years.
Getting accommodations in Praia da Luz is recommended if you are traveling to
Algarve. It is less than an hour's drive from the Faro airport, and so close to
Lagos, which is great to visit for its nightlife and beaches. Not that Praia da
Luz is lacking its own tourist attractions.
For one, the stretch of the Praia da Luz shore is blessed with soft,
gold-colored sand and clean waters, which have gotten it its EU Blue Flag.
Marking the landscape is the massive black rock called Rocha Negra, a remarkable
by-product of pre-historic volcanic activity. Other cliffs made of multi-colored
rocks also shelter the beach.
For sightseeing, you can visit the restored church of Nossa Senhora da Luz or
Our Lady of the Light, which was greatly damaged in an earthquake centuries ago.
The praia was named after the patron saint of this church. An excursion to the
old Roman archaeological site is also recommended for visitors of Praia da Luz.
The village has a main walkway that leads to several establishments on the
waterfront. Cafés, restaurants, shops, and art and souvenir stalls line this
cobbled promenade, which also gives unexpected access to some ancient Roman bath
ruins.
Praia da Luz is a resort for everyone and is particularly ideal for family
vacations. Apartments and villas for rent in the area offer a range of
options—from the number of bedrooms to the available facilities and services.
Mostly anything you'll need is available in the local shops, and in any case,
the supermercados of Lagos are only minutes away.
Eating out is also quite an experience in Praia da Luz. If you are traveling
with kids, the restaurants you should try include The Duke, Valentino's, City
Sol (Chinese), and Pashmina (Indian), which all have children's menus. There are
also a number of English restaurants such as Chaplins and The Plough and the
Harrow, plus one Irish bar called the Irish Legend.
Several establishments also offer authentic local cuisine, typically involving
fresh seafood. You will find that a lot of restaurants and bars in Praia da Luz
offer entertainment in the form of some live shows, TVs, quiz nights, video
games, karaoke, as well as bar games like darts and pool. But if you are going
for a more elegant dining experience and finer cuisine, you can try places like
Amici or Atlantico. Fortaleza da Luz is among the most interesting places to
dine in, too—as the restaurant has been renovated from a 16th century fort.
At night, you can dance away the remaining hours at Prive, the only disco in
Praia da Luz. |
