Albufeira-Algarve Travel Guide

Museums & Galleries

Municipal Museum Dr Jose Formosinho: this interesting Municipal Museum in Lagos is worth a visit with a range of displays including ceramics, weapons, 16th and 17th century artefacts, paintings and many more curious items. There is a good archaeological area with Roman mosaics and Neolithic remains found in excavations in the Algarve. One of the most bizarre displays is that of an eight-legged calf.
Rua General Alberto Carlos Silveira, Lagos. Open: 09:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Sunday.

Albufeira Archaeological Museum: this museum has a relatively small but interesting collection and also offers some great views out to the sea. There is a range of Roman, Moorish and Stone Age artefacts that reveals plenty about the history of the Algarve. Of the most impressive items here the Arab silo from the 10th century is high up the list.
Praca da Republica, Albufeira. Open: 14:30 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday.

Archaeologists here have uncovered a range of items not native to the area that have gone a long way to proving that Cerro da Vila was in the trading network of the Roman Empire. Today you’ll find an interesting local history museum with an excellent display of Moorish, Gothic and Roman artefacts.
Cerro da Vila, Vilamoura. Open: 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 21:00, daily.

Faro Archaeological Museum: this museum located in the cloister of Nossa Senhora da Assuncao, formerly a 16th century convent, is one the most interesting and impressive in the Algarve region. The highlights include a range of Italian art dating to the 16th century, a vast Roman mosaic and the fragments of a Moorish bowl in an area of the museum dedicated to the Arab occupation.
Largo Dom Afonso III. Open: 10:00 to 18:00, Tuesday and Friday; 14:30 to 18:00, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Museu da Cortica, Silves: this rates as one of the more unusual museums, dedicated to cork and includes a history of the bark emphasising the impact cork has had on the local community with some historical photographs. There are also some examples of some of the machines that were used in the factories at the turn of the 20th century.
Rua Gregorio Mascarenhas. Open: 09:30 to 12:45 and 14:00 to 21:45, daily.