Attractions - Portugal

Attractions - Lisbon

Faro, Portugal

Faro is the capital and administrative centre of the Algarve region of Portugal. An attractive town with many points of interest, it is also the kick-off point for the numerous resorts for which the Algarve is famous. Faro has a few Moorish and Roman ruins dating from around the 13th century, but the majority of its attractive older buildings date from the second half of the 18th century, after an earthquake in 1755 devastated the town. As well as its architectural beauty, Faro offers a wealth of restaurants and cafés, fine beaches and a beautiful Italianate theatre hosting a full programme of drama, music and dance. And the area is paradise for golfers with around 19 courses on the coastal stretch between Faro and Albufeira.

Faro has a nicely shabby lived-in feel. Entering through the Renaissance Arco da Vila, which cuts through the ramparts of the old city into the spacious open square, visit the town’s 13th-century cathedral. Note the jumble of architectural styles, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque, the fine azulejos and gilded woodwork and the red chinoiserie organ to one side of the nave. Take a look at the 18th-century former Episcopal and the 16th-century convent that now houses the city’s archaeological museum. Don’t miss the best examples of gold-leaf woodwork in southern Portugal, in the golden church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo whose chapel houses the macabre collection of bones of over 1,200 monks!

The Ria Formosa lagoon lies a short distance west of Faro. It is a large nature reserve and resting place for hundreds of different migrating birds. Take a bus or a ferry from near the Arco da Porta Nova out to Praia de Farol. With miles of golden sand, this spectacular beach has ample facilities for aquatic sports like windsurfing. After a swim off the beach, head for one of the numerous cafés and restaurants that line the coast. From Faro take a day trip 10 km north to Estoi, where you will find the Palacio do Visconde de Estoi, a charming late 18th-century palace with formal gardens. A half-mile walk then takes you to the 1st-century Roman ruins at Milreu.

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