2-376-831 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

A watchtower of the Forte da Ponta da Bandeira, Lagos, Portugal, 2009. The Forte de Ponta da Bandeira is on the waterfront near the entrance to the harbour. The stone inscription over the main door indicates that it was originally dedicated to Santa Virgem Senhora da Penha de Franca. Lagos is a Portuguese city at the mouth of the river Bensafrim on the Atlantic coast. The name Lagos is of Celtic origin and is derived from the word Lacobriga. Lagos first became a settlement of the Carthaginians, who recruited Celtic tribesmen in their war against the Romans (the Punic Wars). Later it became colonised by the Romans, becoming part of the Roman province Lusitania. Some Roman remains can still be found in Lagos and the surrounding countryside.