PORTUGAL TRAVEL - FARO

your source for travel in faro, portugal
your source for travel in faro, portugal

portugal info
PORTUGAL info


Portugal > Travel > Algarve > Faro
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Algarve Towns

Albufeira
Almancil
Alvor
Armação de Pera
Carvoeiro
Faro
Lagoa
Lagos
Loulé
Monchique
Olhão
Portimão
Praia da Luz
Quarteira
Quinta do Lago
Sagres
Silves
Tavira
Vale do Lobo
Vilamoura
Vila Real de Santo António

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Faro Accommodation
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Faro Accommodation - Pousada
Estoi

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Faro Golf
www.algarvegolf.net

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Faro Wines
Algarve Wines


Faro - History
Faro is the administrative centre for the whole of the Algarve region with a population in excess of 55.000 people. The city has both Arab and Roman ruins but most of the present attractive older buildings were constructed after the disastrous earthquake of both 1755 and 1532. The Moors who occupied the town in the 8th Century originally gave the city it's name of Ossónoba and developed it into a trading port until 1249. They were then defeated by the forces of Dom Afonso III. With the decline of the importance of the city of Silves this town took over the role of administration of the Algarve area. The Earl of Essex sacked the town in 1596 with his fellow crusaders on their journey to the Holy Land and the collection of books taken from the palace of the Bishop of Faro became an important part of the Bodleian Library in Oxford, England. Another interesting point is that during the 500 years of Moorish occupation there were some Jewish inhabitants in Faro who were kept busy printing copies of the Old Testament. (Visit - Portugal History)

Faro - Description
Particularly attractive is the old part of the city surrounded still by the Roman walls which date back to the 9th. Inside a spacious open square that was once the site of the Roman Forum is a 13th Century Cathedral that faces the 18th Century Episcopal palace. An interesting building is the neighbouring 16th Century Convent that is now turned into the home of the city’s archaeological museum. Within it is a section devoted to the Arab occupation. The "golden" church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo is claimed to be the best example of gold-leaf woodwork in southern Portugal. It also contains the macabre spectacle of a chapel lined with the bones from over 1.200 monks! Next to the small boat basin bordering the Praça de Dom Francisco Gomes is a small Naval Museum composed of scale model boats and galleons showing the maritime history of the coast. There is also the Faro Jewish Heritage Centre which consists of a cemetery and a small museum. Much of the city is now composed of apartments and there are attractive shops and a particularly artistic theatre. Faro is also the home of the Ria Formosa lagoon, a nature reserve of over 17.000 hectares and a stopping place for hundreds of different birds during the spring and autumn migratory periods.

The beach is almost 7 Kms distant from the city and is a long sandy spit reached by crossing a bridge not far from the International Airport. The municipal council has an active cultural department organizing different and various events during the year.

Faro - Nearby Locations
Near to Faro is the small town of Almancil where nearby can be found the church of São Lourenço de Matos renown for its 18th Century blue tiles.

To the north of Faro at the inland village of Estói there are some notable roman ruins of Milreu depicting a 3rd Century Roman home that enjoyed more comforts than some of the newly built villas in today’s world. The Parish Church was built in the 16th century on the site of a previous chapel. The attractive Manor House know as Palácio de Estoi has been converted into a Pousada. Further to the north is the town of Santa Barbára de Nexe with a Bronze Age hilltop fort nearby.

The well-known developments of Quinta do Lago and Vale de Lobo, both five star holiday areas are located west of Faro. Together they provide 7 top quality golf courses, tennis centres, riding schools, hotels, holiday resorts and villas.

Faro Weather (detailed)
Detailed Faro weather conditions
Detailed Ria de Faro weather conditions

Faro Photographs
View from Castle · Town Centre · Boat Marina · Monastery · Church Dome · Church

Faro Events

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Traditional Burial Procession March
Feira de Arte e Artenasanato (Art & Handicrafts) June
Concentração Internacional de Motos (Motorbikes) July
Town Holiday 7th September
Feira de Santa Iria October
Car Boot Sale - (Parque das Cidades) 1st & 3rd Sundays

Faro Telephone Numbers

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Town Hall 289 870 870
Airport
 - British Airways
 - Easy Jet
 - GB Airways
 - Monarch/Servisair
289 800 800
 - 289 800 800
 - 217 803 820
 - 0034 952 827 000
 - 289 800 800
Ambulance 289 822 122
Emergency Treatment 289 823 680
Fire Brigade 289 822 122
Hospital 289 891 100
Police 289 887 600
Railways (CP) - www.cp.pt 808 208 208
SOS 112
Support to Tourists 800 296 296
Transit Police 289 803 700
Tourist Board (Airport) 289 818 582
Tourist Board (Algarve) 289 800 500
Tourist Office (Faro) 289 803 604
Tourist Office (São Brás de Alportel) 289 843 165

Useful Faro Facts

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Postal Code 8000
Inhabitants 39.700

Distances between each Tourist Town in Kms.
Distances in Kms.

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Algarve Towns
Albufeira · Almancil · Alvor · Armação de Pera · Carvoeiro · Lagoa · Lagos · Loulé · Monchique · Olhão · Portimão · Quarteira · Quinta do Lago · Sagres · Silves · Tavira · Vale do Lobo · Vilamoura · Vila Real de Santo António


Faro View from Castle

Faro Town Centre

Faro Boat Marina

Faro Monastery

Faro Church Dome

Faro Church




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