hether you follow in Roman footsteps, go trekking through one of Europe’s greatest wetlands, book car hire and travel around or attend a match at a Euro 2004 stadium, you won’t find yourself bored in Faro. The administrational centre of the Algarve region has a population of just 50,000 and they are blessed with great weather, with the sun shining for several hours every day and the Sierra des Monchique mountains functioning as a rain shield.
What to see?
The Old Town is the typical picturesque Portuguese seaside town, featuring old churches, small alleys, and charming squares. The town hall and the Carmelite church stand out among the sights, as does Sé Catedral de Faro, featuring 12th century wood carvings and a baroque altar.
The perfect place to watch the sunset is the old harbour where you can nibble some bread and wine while sailing boats float back into their home marina.
To learn about the origins and history of Faro visit the museum for archeology and mine-ralogy which can be easily reached in your car hire. The exhibitions cover anything from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, though most items illustrate Faro’s early golden age: the city under the Romans. A fish mosaic and busts of emperors Hadrian, Gallienus, and Agrippa represent the town of Ossobonensis, Faro’s Roman name. It wasn’t until the 16th century that Faro would regain its importance when it emerged as a trade centre and was granted town privileges.
Should the archeological museum have tickled your appetite for learning also check out the Centre of Living Science, an interactive science exhibition popular among kids and grown-ups alike.
Something special for football fans
Football fans will remember that Faro staged a few Euro 2004 matches. The stadium seats 30,000 and local matches are a blast not to be missed by any sports enthusiast.
Should football not be your thing you might be interested in the motorcycle festival, an annual event which is supposed to be one of the biggest in Europe.
Having sufficiently explored the city you should take a closer look at the surrounding countryside as well- this can be easily achieved in your car hire. Just outside Faro the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a 60 km (42 mi) long patch of wetlands, canals, islands, and swamp. Tour boats, formerly used to hunt for tuna, take visitors through the park and to the best bird watching spots. A remnant of the fishing traditions of the past is the water hound, once bred to fetch fish that were tangled in the nets.
