Lagos Museum

  • Lagos Museum entrance
    Lagos Museum
    Notafly CC BY-SA
  • Museu Municipal Dr. Jose Formosinho - Lagos
    Museu Municipal Lagos
    Georges Jansoone CC BY-SA
  • Museu Regional de Lagos
    Museu Regional de Lagos
    Georges Jansoone CC BY-SA
  •  Museu Regional de Lagos
    Museu Regional de Lagos
    Notafly CC BY-SA

Museu Municipal Dr. José Formosinho

Founded in 1932 and named after its founder, the Museu Dr. Jose Formosinho, to give it its full name, is Lagos's main museum. This is without doubt the best museum in the Algarve and whatever it is you're interested in, you'll probably find it here.

As you wander through the museum's many rooms you'll see displays connected to the local history, Portuguese coinage, military hardware from the Age of Discoveries, artworks and more. The archaeological finds here include a collection of Moorish pottery and an eclectic mix of findings going back to Neolithic times. A town charter awarded in 1504 is also on display.

Of particular note are the robes worn by King Sebastiao, the boy king, at a church ceremony held before he led 17,000 men on a disastrous invasion of Morocco in 1578. He and many of his army were to perish in the fighting.

The exit from the museum leads through the stunning interior of the small, Baroque Church of Santo Antonio, where almost everything you can see, apart from the pretty azulejo tiles, is painted in gold leaf. There are some interesting scenes from the life of Saint Anthony, with explanatory signs in English as well as in Portuguese.

Address

Rua General Alberto da Silveira
Lagos
8600-594

Phone

+351 282 762 301

Attraction type

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Lagos travel guide »

One of the most popular tourist destinations on the Algarve and certainly one of my favourites, Lagos is a bustling town full of activity, nightlife and modern attractions. However, it is also a town full of history and the monuments and architecture which take us back to the many different peoples who have settled here and the many maritime adventure which have started in Lagos' impressive…