The small inland Portuguese town of Lagoa, in the southern Algarve, hosts one of the most unique and most

Instagrammable

events in the world

. It is Sand City, the Algarve International Sand Sculpture Festival that has been held since 2003, a space of about 15,000 square meters in which the largest sand sculptures on the planet are located. Some reach 12 meters in height and represent in detail everything from pop stars, Hollywood divas and protagonists of children's films to iconic monuments.

Some 60 tons of sand shape more than 90 different works of art, designed and sculpted by dozens of national and international artists, including cartoon characters, such as the Simpsons;

mythological figures, such as werewolves, fauns and mermaids, and superheroes from the Marvel universe, such as the Hulk and Batman, or famous characters such as the soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, Pope Francis at the wheel of an iconic Vespa or the imposing King Neptune observing his kingdom from above. high from his throne.

Illuminated sculptures.

The event, which can be enjoyed until after summer and at night (entrance: 11.90 euros; see schedules and reservations, here), has become a real attraction for tourists, who come to the area in search from the spectacular beaches that are only a few kilometers away.

Towns and beaches

The Lagoa region has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Algarve, especially the coastal ones.

About 10 km away is

Ferragudo

, a charming fishing village, whose origin dates back to the fourteenth century, formed by a set of typical white houses on the banks of a river that joins the sea.

The boats anchored in the estuary offer unbeatable photos.

A little further on is

Benagil

, another fishing village, mainly known for its incredible cave sculpted by the sea.

It is located right next to the beach but can only be reached by sea: by boat, board ...

The town of Portimao.

Portimao

(about 13 km) is another of the towns that deserves a visit. Its historic center is full of shops of all kinds, as well as monumental sites of interest, such as the Santa Catarina Fortress, built in the 17th century to guarantee the defense of the Arade River.

But what the municipality of Lagoa is famous for, especially in summer, is for its spectacular beaches.

It has a coastal strip of about 17 km and there are some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, such as

Playa de la Marina

, which is accessed by a steep 115-step staircase.

With calm turquoise waters, it is surrounded by reddish limestone cliffs.

Due to its location, it is not very popular even in the high summer season.

Another beautiful beach is

Carvoeiro

, belonging to the town of the same name.

It is a popular destination for families, as it is protected by the cliffs on both sides that are home to an intricate landscape of caves and ledges.

To take into account are also the beach of Senhora da Rocha and that of Cova Redonda.

Carvoeiro beach.

Where to sleep

Quinta Dos Oliveiras

(Sítio do Passarinho, 428, Lagoa, Algarve; telephone: +35 1 282 343 175).

Quiet hotel in a rural villa 7 km from La Marina beach (from 80 euros).

You can book here *.

Hotel Carvoeiro Plaza

(Largo da Praia 1, Carvoeiro, Portugal; Telephone: +35 1 282 357 301).

Quiet hotel one minute from the beach, from its rooms you can see the sea (from 120 euros).

You can book here *.

Where to eat

Grilled meat and fish, as well as the typical Algarve dish,

the cataplana

, a steamed stew made from fish and vegetables, made in a small closed metal pot, are the highlight of the local gastronomy, washed down with wines of the area (Lagoa is a wine village).

The region has a restaurant with a Michelin star:

Ocean

.

Avant-garde cuisine in which the protagonist is the sea, both in the dishes and in the views (menu: 210 euros).

Sea and mountains mix in

Bon Bon

, an elegant restaurant in Carvoeiro, also with a star.

Our Lady of Rocha beach.

* By reserving these accommodations through our website, readers will not get additional discounts or benefits, but they will help METRÓPOLI obtain a commission for each reservation as an affiliate of the Booking.com program.

The inclusion of links does not influence the editorial independence of this medium: the editors select and analyze the products freely, according to their criteria and specialized knowledge.

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