Faro, the Capital of Algarve

History

Algarve and Faro, its Capital, was the last part of the Portuguese territory conquered to the moors in 1249, one century after the creation of the Portugal Nation by the King Afonso Henriques. After the conquest, the King Afonso III was named the King of Portugal and the Algarve, which illustrates the difference of this territory from the rest of the country.

Due to this, you will find much more traces of the moors, the agriculture techniques and products, the architecture, the names of the places.

In this city you have many monuments you can visit, museums, churches, the old part of the city and the new part. In the old part you have the cathedral, the Arco da Vila, Walls and Towers, the Paço Episcopal, São Francisco Church, among others. In the new part you can visit the Maritimum Museum, the Capela de Ossos (Bones Chapel), Ilha the Faro (Faro Island), Theatre of Lethes, Palácio dos Bivar and Ermida de Santo António do Alte.

As you can see in the Street Map, there are pedestrian streets where you can enjoy the esplanades in the sun and shops, if you like, or just to walk enjoying the local environment.

Places to Visit

Near you have many places you can visit and discover whether you like a more cultural visit or just relaxing.

Ilha de Faro

Just opposite the airport of Faro, you have the Ilha de Faro, which means Island of Faro. This, in fact is not an island but it seams so. To get there you have to cross a bridge over Ria Formosa.

It has many fishermen houses and you can find there very good restaurants, some with esplanade with a view to the Natural Park Ria Formosa or if you prefer, the long beach of Faro.

Resorts

Very near you have probably the best resorts of Algarve. In Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo you will find beautiful houses in a beautiful place in the middle of nature. Quinta do Lago has a small shopping center, several golf courses, a nice club and the beautiful beach of Quinta do Lago. In Vale do Lobo the scenario is similar, you have several beautiful golf courses, a beautiful club in front of Vale do Lobo beach.

Beaches

Although these are beautiful places, you have other beaches like Ilha Deserta or Ilha da Culatra, Ancao Ancao and Garrao where you can have a very relaxed day.

Near by at a few Kilometres you have the Caldeirão mountains where you can enjoy beautiful landscapes and visit the little villages that still keep the same habits and culture as many years ago.

Culture

If you rather prefer to visit the near local towns, you can visit Loule, and its picturesque market, or Estói which has a beautiful palace restored and converted in a very nice Pousada.

Other Activities

Playing Golf

If you like to play Golf, the this is the best area for you to stay because is where you have the biggest concentration of top golf courses in Algarve. In Quinta do Lago you have Quinta do Lago North, Quinta do Lago South, Pinheiros Altos and San Lorenzo Golf Courses. The latter is probably the best of Algarve.

In Vale do Lobo you have the Royal and Ocean Golf Courses and in the touristic centerVilamoura, you have five Golf Courses, these are Vila Sol, Millennium, Laguna, Old Course, Victoria and Pinhal Golf Courses.

Having fun in a Park

Specially if you are going for holidays with children you must have a family visit to the AquaPark in Quarteira, near Vilamoura, where they can swim in artificial waves and incredible slides.

Shopping

You can also take a break in your holidays for doing some shopping in Faro. You have Forum Algarve shopping centre, a little shopping in Quinta do Lago or the center of Vilamoura near the Marina.

Accommodation

The Capital of the Algarve has many options where you can stay. Some of the best quality options you can find are Quinta do Lago Hotel, Ria Park & SPA Hotel and Le Meridien Dona Filipa, all located near Quinta do Lago Resort. You can also check other available hotels.

Weather

In Central Algarve, where the capital is located, the weather is hotter than Western Algarve and a bit cooler than Eastern Algarve . The same happens with the water temperature. Check the average Algarve temperatures.

Get There

The city has an international airport where many airline companies operate. Check there airline companies and if there is a direct regular flight from your city.