Ponta da Piedade

South of Lagos, the Ponta da Piedade is a headland of golden limestone carved by the sea into cliffs, arches, caves and isolated stacks. The colours of the rock and the clear water make it one of the most photographed landscapes in the Algarve.

Cliffs carved by the sea

Centuries of erosion have cut the soft limestone into a maze of pinnacles and hidden coves, reached by stairways from the clifftop or by boat from Lagos. A lighthouse stands at the point, and the whole headland is a protected landscape.

What to see and do

• The viewpoints along the clifftop, with views over the sea stacks.
• The stairways down to the small beaches among the rocks.
• Boat trips from Lagos, which pass beneath the cliffs and into the caves.
• The lighthouse and the coastal path towards Lagos.

Visiting Ponta da Piedade

The headland is about three kilometres from the centre of Lagos, in the Algarve. Access to the viewpoints is free; boat trips run from Lagos marina, weather permitting, so check locally before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-lagos.pt.

Image credit: Ponta da Piedade, Lagos, by Tony Bowden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.