The city of Lagos, in the Algarve, was elevated to city status in 1573 by King Sebastian and played an extremely important role in Portuguese maritime discoveries in the 15th century, due to its strategic location between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In the following centuries, fishing became predominant among the population, until the 1960s when tourism began to grow and transformed the city into one of the most tourist-friendly in the Algarve and the country.
The author, Miguel Xavier Sequeira, proposes several changes to improve the city. The main suggestion is to close Avenida dos Descobrimentos to traffic, making it an iconic location with spaces for pedestrians, bicycles, a garden, and monuments related to the discoveries. The author warns that several serious pedestrian accidents have already occurred at this location due to the high volume of traffic and pedestrians.
Other improvements are also suggested, such as extending the boardwalk at Meia Praia to the harbor mouth area for the benefit of the population's health and well-being, changing the location of the Fire Station building to prevent ambulances from traveling along the dangerous Avenida dos Descobrimentos, and building a parking lot at Porto de Mós beach and a roundabout at an intersection considered extremely dangerous.
Regarding housing and residents, the author argues that parking should be free for local inhabitants, the Municipal Property Tax should be substantially reduced, and affordable homes should be built for the local middle class through partnerships between the City Council and construction companies. The author concludes that deep reflection is needed to make Lagos more attractive for tourists and safer and more organized for residents.
