Faro is the capital of the Algarve region and a popular base for tourists relaxing on the surrounding beaches. It is important primarily as a holiday tourism center, but also hides many interesting monuments located in the area of the old town.
The city is the most important center in the south of Portugal, and is also home to an international airport. Faro lies on the shallow Ria Formosa lagoon, which is separated from the ocean by numerous islands and islets. Many of them have sandy beaches, appreciated by tourists. The most famous are Ilha de Faro, Ilha Deserta, Ilha Culatra and Ilha da Armona. The beaches can be reached by ferries departing from the Port of Faro, which is close to the center.
While the beaches surrounding Faro are the biggest tourist attraction, there are also many interesting places to visit. The history of the city begins in Phoenician times. The convenient location on the lagoon meant that there was an important commercial port here and even the fall of the Roman Empire did not interrupt the prosperity of the area. After the expulsion of the Moors in the 13th century, sea salt was mined in the area, and soon Jews settled in Faro. They created a thriving community with great cultural and scientific potential, which resulted, among others, in the fact that it was in Faro that the first book in Portugal was printed.
Faro today has an old town worth visiting, surrounded by the remains of Faro's medieval walls. Among the greatest historical attractions are the Cathedral of Faro, the Carmo Church, the Church of Saint Peter and the Arch of Vila. The buildings in this part of the city are very atmospheric with small squares and cobbled streets. There are many restaurants and souvenir shops here. Faro also offers tourists many museums, such as Almirante Ramalha Ortigao Maritime Museum, Algarve Regional Museum, Faro City Museum or Algarve Science Center.
