have obtained the social designation of towns (), although they administratively govern a disperse region of rural-urban agglomerations. Economy Lagoa is one of the most important tourist areas of the Algarve. There are various factors which have contributed to its popularity, namely the variety of offerings to visitors (the beauty of its beaches, modern tourist accommodation, its golf courses and cultural heritage), orderly planning of land use within the municipality area (council area), its social stability, and the friendliness of its citizens. The city continues to improve facilities and organize events of interest to tourists. Each summer it hosts a large exhibition of craft products at the Parque de Feiras e Exposições de Lagoa (Fair and Exhibition Grounds of Lagoa), known by its official name's acronym FATACIL. Certain heritage buildings have been renovated for cultural uses in the city, notably the Municipal Library and the Convento de São José (St. Joseph Convent) – the Cultural Centre of the City of Lagoa – where various shows and a variety of exhibitions take place. Similarly the Municipal Auditorium hosts numerous shows and other events each week. Many cultural activities take place at the Parque Municipal de Fontes, north of Estômbar, all year round, including theatre, dances, and traditional folk-songs. In the 2000s and 2010s, Lagoa registered one of the highest levels of economic development in the Algarve. It has nowadays numerous supermarkets (ALDI, Auchan, Apolónia, Intermarché and Pingo Doce), medical offices, educational (elementary, secondary, music, art) institutions as well as sports, leisure and tourism facilities. Lagoa DOC is a Portuguese wine region centered around Lagoa municipality. Architecture Civic Congress Centre of Arade () Lighthouse of Alfanzina () Lighthouse of Ponta do Altar () Railway Station of Lagoa () Military Castle of Estômbar / Castle of Abenabece () Fort of Our Lady of the Incarnation () Fort of Our Lady of the Rock (), a medieval castle is situated in the civil parish of Porches, overlooking the cliffs of the parish; inside the fort is the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, of uncertain date. Castle of Saint John of Arade / Fort of Saint John of Arade () Religious Church of Our Lady of Light () Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel () Convent of Saint Joseph () Convent of Saint Francis () Church of Saint James the Great () Church of Our Lady of Incarnation (), the 16th century church