The provincial capital of the Algarve, Faro is a modern, lively
city with attractive shopping precincts, good restaurants and a
frenetic nightlife. Thousands of travellers pass through the city
en route to and from the resorts of the Algarve. Those who choose
to linger awhile will find a town full of charm and colour with an
interesting history and the feel of a true Portuguese fishing port.
There are some sightseeing opportunities, mostly centred in the Old
Town or Cidade Velha, which is entered through an 18th century gate
and enclosed by the remnants of medieval walls. Faro's most famous
attraction is a macabre one at the Igreja do Carmo, which features
a chapel whose walls are decorated with the bones of more than
1,200 monks disinterred from the neighbouring cemetery. Another
worthwhile attraction near the city is the Ria Formosa Natural
Park, and a short distance to the north is the peaceful village of
Estoi, boasting a pink Roccoco palace and Roman ruins dating from
the 1st century. For the beach, one has to travel a few miles. A
long sandy spit lies across a bridge near the International
Airport.
