Faro is a city in the Algarve in southern Portugal. Its history goes back to the Roman city of Ossonoba, which became a trading post for not least fish, wine and oil. In 418 Visigoths came here and they called the city Santa Maria. The Moors conquered the city in 718, and it was then known as Hárune. In 1249, the Moors were defeated by the Portuguese king Afonso III, and Faro became one of the administrative capitals of the Algarve. Faro received city rights in 1540, and in 1577 the bishop’s seat was moved here from Silves. The city was besieged and attacked in 1596 by the English who looted and burned large parts of the city. After an earthquake in 1755, Faro became the capital of the region, which boosted new development.

Today, Faro is a lovely city with a cozy center where you can enjoy some nice walks. At the harbor in the city center is the Jardim Manuel Bivar park with palm trees, fine facilities and a beautiful pavement. At the park you can see the beautiful church, Igreja da Misericórdia, which was built in 1581-1585. However, the current facade dates to the time after the earthquake in 1755. Opposite the park is the Faro Marina with many yachts, and in the harbor area you can visit the maritime museum Museu Maritimo, which describes the trade and the conquests and voyages of discovery that have left a big mark on the Algarve coast over time. From the harbor you can also go out via a pier to the river Formosa.

South of Faro’s marina is the old town behind partially preserved city walls and city gates. Three of the city’s historic four entrance gates have been preserved to this day. These are Arco de Vila to the north, Arco do Repouso to the east and the small Porta Nova to the west. Arco de Vila is the largest and most beautiful of the gates. The current gate was constructed in 1812 as a replacement for an older medieval gate. Behind the walls is the square Largo da Sé as the city’s old center, and here you can see both Faro’s town hall and the city’s cathedral from the 15th century. However, the cathedral has been changed several times since then, and therefore you can see different architectural styles in the construction. In the square you can see a statue of Bishop Dom Francisco Gomes as well, who initiated the reconstruction of Faro after the 1755 earthquake.

In the old town, you can walk to the convent Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, which today serves as the city’s archaeological museum. The monastery was founded in the 16th century by King Manuel I’s queen Leonora and completed in 1543. It is one of the Algarve’s finest Renaissance buildings and at a visit you can enjoy a walk in a beautiful courtyard with archways on two floors. Outside the old town, there are several sights such as the Museu Regional do Algarve, which is a historical museum for Faro and the Algarve. Here you can e.g. see handicrafts, production methods and architecture. Close to this is Teatre Lethes, which was originally a school, but converted into a theater in 1874. You can also visit the market building Mercado Municipal and take a look at several churches such as the baroque Igreja do Carmo from 1713-1719, where you can see the well-known chapel with bones on the walls, Capela dos Ossos.