[ Sta Bárbara de Nexe, Estói, Conceição,
Faro (S.Pedro e Sé), Montenegro ]
This Roman town called Ossonoba became a Bishop's seat in the 4th century
and kept it even after the Visigoth occupation in the 5th century. The
Arabs occupied Faro in the 8th century and rebuilt the city wall. Later
Faro became the capital of an independent Arabian kingdom, ruled by the
family Harun. The Portuguese King Afonso III conquered faro in 1249 and
integrated in Portuguese territory. In this time the most important part
of the town was still the Inner town, surrounded by the wall, where the
church of Santa Maria, now a Cathedral was built. Faro became once more
bishop's seat in 1577. From the 16th Century, we have the Convent of
Nossa Senhora da Assunção and the Bishop´s palace.
In the 17th century Faro continued to grow as several religious buildings
were built as well as a new defensive wall known as "Cerca Seisentista".
In the 18th Century two beautiful baroque churches were built: the church
of São Francisco and the Carmo church. Unfortunately, the earthquake
of 1755 destroyed many buildings, which were rebuilt afterwards. Faro
is the capital of the Algarve since 1756. Some of the most important
infrastructures of Faro are the International Airport, University of
the Algarve - 8000 students and the District Hospital.
2. Culture
- Church -
We suggest that you visit the garden "Jardim Manuel Bivar" - near the
harbor and walk through the town's gate "Arco da Vila", which was rebuilt
after the earthquake of 1755 on the site of the medieval archway. Take
note of the statue St Thomas Aquinas, the Patron Saint of Faro, above
the gate. Entering the gate, where you can see a horseshoe arch on the
right side,
- Arco da Vila -
100 mts further you will arrive at the "Largo da Sé, the main
square, bordered by the Town Hall (19th century) on the left the bishop's
palace, the seminary on the right and the cathedral in front. The Cathedral
has some beautiful chapels decorated with gilt carved wood, tiles and
paintings and an impressive baroque organ from the 17th century. Another
place to visit is the Art Galleries "Trem" and "Arco" with remarkable
exhibitions. The next important square is the "Praça Afonso III" where
the statue of the Portuguese king stands. On the southern side of the
square is the Archeological Museum, whose building is a two-story cloister,
was the Convent of Nossa Senhora ad Assumpção, which was
built in the 16th century. Leaving the Old Town through the "Arco do
Repouso", you can easily access the shopping streets, noted for quality
goods and a wide range of handicrafts.
-
Churches and Museums -
Other churches and museums to see is the Church of São Francisco,
the Carmo church, with some of themost beautiful gilt carved
woodworksin the Algarve and the Bones Chapel, the Maritime Museum and
the Ethnographical Museum. The Ria Formosa Natural Park has the Atlantic
Ocean and beaches on one side, and the Ria on the other - salt-water
lagoons, sand-split islands, peninsulas, marshes, islets and channels.
We recommend you the visit of the "Praia de Faro". As there is a bridge
to this island, it is possible to reach it by car or by bus. The other
beaches of Faro - Farol, Culatra and Deserta can be reached only by boat
from Faro or Olhão.
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- Estói Palace -
8km from Faro. This beautiful palace was built in the second half
of the 19th century and is the best example of the Romantic architecture
in the Algarve. The palace is closed for restoration, but it is possible
to visit it from outside and take some beautiful photos. The set
has three levels: The upper with the palace and the front gardens,
the middle level with a larch fountain and the lower level with the
so-called 3 Graces, Venus and Diana. At the sides of the lower level
there are the statues of the last German Emperor and his wife.
- Ruins of Milreu -
7km from Faro. The plan of the ruins shows the characteristic form
of a Roman villa with courtyard surrounded by a gallery of columns (peristyle).
There were several rooms built around this central area, some of them
still with beautiful mosaics, which represent geometric and fish motives.
At the west of the peristyle one finds a large Roman bath divided in
several compartments as "apoditerium" (changing-room) recognized as the
large room with contouring benches supported by ranges of arches, "frigidarium" (cold
bath), "caldarium" (warm bath), tepiarium and laconicum (sauna). Particularly
outstanding, is the brick building situated at the south side of the
ruins, which was the water sanctuary (nympheum) of late Roman period
and was converted later into a Christian Basilica. There are beautiful
mosaics at the surrounding walls near the staircase of the temple.
