Faro

Faro is the Algarve’s district capital. It boasts a medieval wall and many monuments such as the Cathedral (of Roman-Gothic origin), the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Renaissance) and the São Francisco church (from the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries). It also has some museums you can visit such as the Infante Dom Henriquem the Ethnological Museum (where you can learn about the region’s traditional ways of life) and Ramalho Ortigão and Antoniano (beside the Hermitage of Santo António do Alto). The enchanting churches of São Pedro da Misericórdia and Nossa Senhora do Carmo, as well as the Roman ruins of Milreu are also worth a visit.


The small cathedral in the centre of the Largo da Sé, which dates back to the thirteenth century, was probably constructed to replace a Moorish mosque. The elegant old buildings that surround the square include an eighteenth century Episcopal palace and what is now the Town Hall.


The most lavishly adorned Faro church is Nossa Senhora do Carmo, which is also the scariest due to its ossuary (bone chapel) that guards the mortal remains of 1245 monks. An inscription over the door says: “Stop here and think of the fate that will befall you – 1816”.

Dr. J. Lúcio Chalet (Olhão)
The poet, musician and painter João Lúcio started building this chalet in 1916, but he died with a pneumonia in 1918.
Besides the several particularity of this monument, the highlights are the four entrances, arranged according the cardinal points. The entrance turned to north, in fish shape, symbolises the maritime element; the one turned to south, in guitar shape, represents the fire elements; the entrance turned to east, in violin shape, represents the ethereal; and finally the one turned to west, in serpent shape, symbolises the earth. Three floors compose this building and the last one is a Museum.

Olhão Markets (Olhão)
The Olhão Markets showed up in 1916 to assure the public supply of fresh food products.
On the 3rd of July 1998, the Olhão Markets were inaugurated after the remodelling that the autarchy made. Its recovery demanded the creation of high quality patterns and of its own image, promoting innovation and competitiveness.
Right now, this region has two of the most important food markets in all Portugal. This is the place where businessmen get together; a place prepared to face the future challenges with a new sales concept that, based on tradition, bets on modernity.

Algarvian Costume Etnographical Museum (S. Brás de Alportel)
This Museum was built under Miguel Dias Andrade command, on the 19th century. It works on the António Bentes Culture House and presents several algarvian costumes, old vehicles and pieces that go back to ancient times.
But, besides these attractions, the building own architecture justifies, for itself, a visit. Built under the Arabian style, the Culture House is composed by 16 rooms that extend around the yard.