Sightseeing in Faro - what to see. Complete travel guide

The largest city in the Algarve province, this is a well-developed economic and cultural center. The production of common salt has played a huge role in the economic development of this place. Rich deposits of sault were discovered in Faro yet in the previous century. This fact has given rise to the appearance of numerous factories. The city remains a major industrial center even nowadays, but in recent years it has started attracting more tourists thanks to its unique nature and rich historical heritage.

Speaking of places of interest in Faro, we simply can’t fail to mention the amazing nature reserve named Ria Formosa. Here you can see the representatives of local flora and fauna; several large aquariums will demonstrate rich variety of underwater creatures to visitors. The park has areas devoted to birds and wild animals, while aquariums are full of different mussels and fish.

Among the architectural sights of the city we should definitely mention Estoi Palace and Ruins of Miller. The palace was built in the beginning of the 17th century. It is surrounded by a spacious park and is decorated with exquisite sculptures, columns and pools. In the halls of the palace you will see a collection of antique furniture, paintings and other interior items. Many years ago a beautiful castle stood on the place of Ruins of Miller. This house belonged to the Roman nobles. Nowadays only mosaics that had adorned the bottom of one of the pools survived. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Dormition of the Virgin Monastery built in 1543 is another important monument that cannot be neglected. St. Francis Church, Church of Peter and Roman-Gothic Cathedral are no less beautiful religious buildings. There are also several museums in the city. The local Museum of Natural History exhibits a collection of wonderful paintings, while the museum dedicated to Henry the Navigator is devoted to important geographical discoveries. Don’t forget to visit St. Antonio di Alto gallery that features an exhibition of photos, paintings and sculptures.

On the northern edge of the city is an interesting old church called the Chapel of Bones. It owes its name to the fact that during the construction, the skulls of 1200 monks of the Carmelite monastery were literally buried in its walls. The construction of the church took place in the 16th century. Since the foundation, it has had a rather terrifying spirit. Skull and bone fragments are found everywhere inside. It is inappropriate for easily impressed people to visit the church.

Trips to the uninhabited Desert island are very popular with guests of Faro. Beautiful sandy beaches are considered its main value. A small restaurant is the only infrastructure facility on the island. Here, you can relax in isolation, walk around the beautiful, deserted places, or arrange a romantic dinner in a restaurant and watch the sunset in the evening.

The central street of Rua do Prior is a favourite stroll for the guests of the city. You can see a lot of beautiful historic buildings, that house shops, restaurants, and various entertainment venues on their first floors. The street is framed by miniature buildings with a height of no more than three floors. It is really beautifully tiled.

The Church of St. Francis is an exceptional attraction. It was built in the 17th century and looks completely unremarkable. The main feature of the religious building is hidden inside. The church is distinguished by the interior opulence. It is adorned with skilfull blue-and-white mosaics. However, the main value of the old church is the gilded altar and the remaining wonderful frescoes by famous Italian artists.

St. Peter's Church is a bright monument in the Rococo design erected in the 16th century. Nowadays, you can enjoy beautiful sculptures, as well as a magnificent altar, called Nossa Senhora da Vitória there. One of the most visited cultural institutions in Faro is the Archaeological Museum. It contains an excellent collection of artifacts found within Algarve. Many of the exhibits belong to the times of ancient Rome. Antique mosaics and dishes are especially interesting. A part of the museum includes an art exhibition with paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries.