are usually on Tuesdays, Thursdays and at weekends, including touring the local caves along the coastline (which are nearer to Albufeira than they are to Vilamoura). This cave tour is usually done on tour boats. The area also has two companies which operate trains-on-wheels for travel between resorts. For the avid historians there is a preserved Roman site and museum providing an insight to the area's past. Originally a Roman fishing town, the ruins include baths in which the fishermen used to bathe. The marina will be extended with Cidade Lacustre, the new project that Lusort will be developing in Vilamoura in the next few years. Nature An area with 271 hectares in the western part of Vilamoura is listed by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area, as it is an important site for Porphyrio porphyrio, and 20 other bird species during reproductive season, as well as an important number of transaharian passerines. References Seaside resorts in Portugal Towns in Portugal Tourist attractions in Portugal Marinas in Portugal Loulé Birdwatching sites in Portugal Important Bird Areas of Portugal