The peaceful town of Lagoa is the wine capital of the Algarve.
In September and October the country lanes are packed with trucks
and carts carrying freshly-picked grapes to the wine-makers.
Mostly red with a high alcohol content, Lagoa wine ages in a
solera under a film of flor yeast which lends it a nutty character
resembling a fine sherry. What to see. Lagoa's parish church has a pleasant Baroque
façade, which is further enhanced in May and June when
the surrounding jacaranda trees blossom. A war memorial nearby
pays tribute to the Lagoan soldiers who fell during the Afircan
colonial wars from 1954-74. Nearby. The beach at Carvoeiro a few kilometres south
of Lagoa is one of the most photographed and painted scenes
in the Algarve. Once a simple fishing village, the town has
grown in recent years to become a fully-fledged holiday resort
with two golf courses, a tennis complex and a riding centre
nearby. 5 km east of Lagoa lies Porches, a small town famous
for its high-quality potteries and hand-painted ceramics.
