Mercado de Escravos – Museu

Mercado de Escravos – Museu, in Lagos’ old town, stands on the site of Europe’s first slave market (1444). This compact museum traces Portugal’s role in the Atlantic slave trade through documents, artifacts, and clear interpretive panels, linking West African capture, Middle Passage routes, and Algarve commerce. Restored cells and archaeological finds give sobering context to Lagos’s maritime prosperity. Visits are typically short (30–45 minutes) but emotionally weighty, best for travelers interested in honest, well-sourced history. Central location and multilingual displays make it easy to add to a Lagos itinerary while deepening understanding of the city’s past.