The Former Capital
If you go and visit the Algarve region in Portugal, you will most likely arrive at the airport of Faro, the main city of the region. Although many people go straight ahead to the south, a visit to this important city is definitely worthwhile. The city has been interesting to people ever since prehistoric times, and it used to be a city in Roman times, known as Ossonoba. The city walls would protect the city and outside the walls the rich built impressive villa’s. You can still visit the ruins of one of these villas. The Moors conquered the city later on and this occupation lasted for five centuries. The Portuguese later took over Faro again by destroying the door of the protecting walls. All over the city you can still find blue tiled tableaus that show this and other important historical scenario’s of Faro. These tables are located on the exact places where these scenarios had taken place. The city started to thrive, until the devastating earthquake in 1755 in Portugal. Devastating as it has been, new impressive buildings were built. You can still fin d the Arco de Vila, the “new” city gate from 1812, built over the ruins of the Medieval one. On the square Largo da Sé you can find the beautiful main Cathedral of the city.
You can visit the main attractions, walk through the narrow street surrounded by pintoresque white houses, or sunbathe at the beautiful beaches of Faro.
Just outside of Faro you can find a Natural Park called Ria Formosa, consisting of islands, peninsulates and a lagoon, white sand beaches and all kinds of animals and plants. Actually, this beacon of peace is one of the nature wonders of Portugal.
