Visits and Discoveries of Faro
“Top 10 places to visit in Faro”
Guide to places to see in the Algarve
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Faro
Faro, the capital ofAlgarve, has a much more Portuguese character than most tourist towns on the coast. All those who are just passing through, due to the airport, are depriving themselves of a truly pleasant stopover.
Conquered by the Moors in 713 CE, Faro, then known as Ossónoba, was part of the Caliphate of Cordoba and then the Taifa of Seville, before being reconquered by the Christian King Alfonso III in 1249.
Hard hit by the British fleet in the 16th century, and by two great earthquakes, including that of 1755 devastating the entire city, Faro offers a tasty mix of architectural styles.
Its picturesque Cidade Velha (Old Town) and its medieval walls, its winding cobbled pedestrian streets, its attractive marina, its well-kept parks and squares, its museums, its churches are all good reasons to visit Faro and discover this unknown city.
We will now review the 16 most beautiful places to see absolutely in Faro and its surroundings, and discover indications on how to get to Faro, how to get around and of course when are the best times to visit. Faro.
Little tip:if you came to Faro by car, the free car park next to the church is a quiet and perfect place to leave your vehicle while you visit Faro!
1. Igreja de Sao Francisco
The church is located in Largo de São Francisco, next to the convent of the same name. In 1679 the first stone of the church was laid by the Dean of the Third Order of Carmo, D. Manuel Guerreiro Camacho, inside the enclosure of the Convent of São Francisco.
The primitive portal served as a model for that of the current chapel of Notre Dame du Repos. The primitive building has undergone extensive renovation works, with particular emphasis on the participation in these works of Diogo Tavares and Ataíde, the most prestigious master mason in the Algarve of the 18th century. This work lasted until the end of the 17th century.
Inside, the main altarpieces and the side altars, the carved lining of the dome of the cruise and the tiles that cover the dome of the ousia stand out, as well as the four Italian paintings commissioned by the bishop of Algarve D. Francisco Gomes do Avelar, in 1792, and in particular “A Morte S. Francisco” painted in Rome by Marcello Leopardi.
2. Palace Belmarco
The Belmarço Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Faro. Originally the residence of the wealthy merchant Manuel de Jesus Belmarço, built in 1912 by Manuel Joaquim Norte Júnior, the prominent architect of the time, it now houses the city's administrative services.
You can admire many Art Nouveau motifs of the time: the crested tower and its wrought iron balconies, the decorative elements in carved stone, the head of a woman's sphinx in limestone flanking the door and the two panes of tiles representing Portuguese monuments and landscapes such as the Tower of Belém or the Palace of Pena.
3.Vila-Adentro
The Vila-Adentro is the intramural sector, and includes many points of interest.
The Arco de Repouso, or gate of rest, allows you to enter or leave the Cidade Velha. Some of the oldest sections of the walls, improvements made by Afonso III to the Moorish defences, are found around this gate.
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The Municipal Museum of Faro
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The Sé Catedral de Faro
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Porta Nova
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Faro Castle
4.Municipal Museum of Faro
HISTORIC CITY
PRICE: €€
Museums and Palaces
Infant D. Henrique Archaeological and Lapidary Museum
The Infant D. Henrique Archaeological and Lapidary Museum is housed in the former convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Inactive after the extinction of the religious orders in 1834, the convent was used as a factory in Liège during the 20th century. In 1960 work began to adapt it to a museum.
The main collection of this museum is composed by an archaeological set, ranging from the prehistoric period to the medieval period, but with a distinction for the Roman period. From the Roman collection stand out pieces from the Ruins of Milreu: the mosaic of the ocean, two stones with inscriptions referring to Ossonoba and the busts of the emperors Agripina, Adriano and Galiano.
A collection of sacred art, with religious paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, some pieces of azulejos and various decorative objects, exhibited in the Ferreira de Almeida room, is also part of the set.
The chapel that was part of the convent retains its original structure but is currently used as an auditorium, only open to the public during events.
To do
Winter – October/May: Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 10.30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Summer – June/September: Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 11.30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed: Monday and public holidays.
5.Sé Catedral de Faro
Schedule
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Monday 10:00–18:00
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Tuesday 10:00–18:00
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Wednesday 10:00–18:00
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Thursday 10:00–18:00
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Friday 10:00–18:00
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Sat. 10:00–18:00
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Closed Sunday
TYPICAL CITY
PRICE: €€
Faro Cathedral, completed in 1251, was badly damaged by the earthquake of 1755. Today it has a mix of Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque architectural features. It is an essential place to visit. A set of richly decorated chapels with many details. Adjoining the garden in a chapel outside you can observe bones. Access to the top of the tower offers a panorama of the Ria Formosa and its historic center. The bells with their mechanism are to be observed. The museum with religious objects and characters are interesting.
Do not hesitate to climb the tower to enjoy the splendid view of the Ria Formosa and the walled city.
A visit in several parts with the cathedral which has chapels with very different and amazing styles. You can go upstairs to admire the organ. In the courtyard, there is a chapel made up of bones. Finally, you can climb the tower to enjoy a nice view of the city.
In March, the many storks give life to this beautiful place.
6.Igreja da Misericordia
MONUMENTS
PRICE: €
Church of Mercy in Faro
In 1499, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit was built here, integrated into the restructuring of the city promoted by King Manuel I. At the end of the 16th century, Bishop Afonso Castelo Branco (1581-85) took the initiative of replacing the chapel with the current Church of Mercy, annexing a hospital to it. One of the most interesting aspects of its structure is that it is the only church in the Algarve with a Greek cross plan.
The earthquake of 1755 caused great devastation, which prompted Bishop Franscisco Gomes (1795-1815) to renovate the facade and build a new hospital, according to the project of the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri, to whom we also owe the route of the Arc du Bourg, located on the other side of the square.
Inside, note the high altar with an interesting Mannerist altarpiece from the early 17th century. The triumphal arch, profusely decorated in sculpted wood in the "rococo" style, connects with the altarpieces of two side altars. The church also has a valuable set of images from the 18th century.
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To do
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Have a drink at the Colombus café next to the church
7.Jardim Manuel Bivar
GARDENS
PRICE: €
It is one of the oldest and most emblematic places in the city, since it was already a place at the beginning of the Christian occupation.
The Manuel Bivar Garden is considered the center of the city, a space surrounded by important buildings, such as the Hospital and the Church of Misericórdia, present before the 17th century.
Customs and civil government buildings joined them in the 17th and 19th centuries. In particular, you can admire the superb facade of the Bank of Portugal.
The garden was established at the end of the 19th century, and was originally called the Jardim do Bacalhau (cod garden) because of its shape. In summer, fairs and cultural events are held here.