Faro Things to Do

This huge building is located on the northern side of the cathedral in the Old Town and dates from 1585 although most of the original building was trashed by British troops in 1596. It serves as the headquarters to the Diocese of the Algarve.

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This square lies outside the entrance of the cathedral, and as well as the cathedral, is dominated by the Bishops Palace (built in 1585) on its northern side and the Episcopal Seminary (built in 1789) on its western side. The statue facing the cathedral is that of Bishop Francisco Gomes de Avelar (1736-1816) who devoted his life and fortune to the improvement of Faro, largely through the construction of monuments and other buildings of public interest.

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Located in the centre of the Old Town, this strange looking building is dominated by its strange bell tower which is the only part left to survive from the original Romanesque-Gothic structure when it was built in 1251. It is believed that the cathedral was built on the site of a Roman temple, then a Visigoth cathedral and then a Moorish mosque before being built just two years after the Christian reconquest of the city. The cathedral was then handed over to the Order of St James before being enlarged from 1321 during the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325). It was then changed again in the 15th century before being plundered and burned by the British troops of the 2nd Earl of Essex in 1596. The cathedral was then rebuilt with a rebuilt chancel around 1640 and its organ was installed in 1715. Earthquakes in 1722 and, of course, the big one in 1755 damaged the cathedral yet again yet it still remains a remarkable building.

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Along with Faro's Cathedral, this magnificent archway is one of the city's landmarks. It is the main archway into the north of the Old Town and built over one of the medieval gates of the ramparts. It was built in the 19th century by the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri by the request of the Bishop of the Algarve, D. Francisco Gomes do Avelar.

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Located just to the north of the Old Town opposite the Jardim Manuel Bivar, this church was built in 1581 on the site of the former Hermitage of the Holy Ghost which had existed since the reign of King Manuel I (late 15th century). The church is built according to a centralised plan of a Greek cross and is said to feature some magnificent altarpieces inside but it was closed when I visited. The Mercy Hospital was built beside the church in the 19th century but this has since been closed down.

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Surrounding the Old Town of Faro, the city walls date back to the late Roman period although most of the walls date from the 9th century when the city was under Moorish control. The Moors were defeated by the forces of the Portuguese King Afonso III in 1249 and the walls were re-strengthened. The walls are best viewed from outside the old town on the southern and eastern sides as there's a thin strip of green grass and trees that separate the walls from the large car park.

A desert beach in Algarve is something from the 19th century, but the beach in Ilha de Faro, has long sections with few people, giving you the sensation of freedom, impossible in the overcrowded beaches.

Ideal for boating, picking shells, or fishing, "Ilha de Faro", about 10 KM from the city, is also a paradise for children, combining well with the strong difference of the ocean coast, just a few meters distant.

The show of planes arriving and departing in the nearby airport are an extra attraction for the kids.