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- Destinations
- Europe
- Portugal
- Algarve
- Faro
Faro
The provincial capital of the Algarve, Faro is a modern, lively
city with attractive shopping precincts, good restaurants and a
frenetic nightlife, an exciting holiday destination. Thousands of
travellers pass through the city en route to and from the resorts
of the Algarve. Those who choose to linger awhile will find a town
full of charm and colour with an interesting history and the feel
of a true Portuguese fishing port.
There are some sightseeing opportunities while on holiday in
Faro, mostly centred in the Old Town or Cidade Velha, which is
entered through an 18th century gate and enclosed by the remnants
of medieval walls. Faro's most famous attraction is a macabre one
at the Igreja do Carmo, which features a chapel whose walls are
decorated with the bones of more than 1,200 monks disinterred from
the neighbouring cemetery.
Another worthwhile attraction near the city is the Ria Formosa
Natural Park, and a short distance to the north is the peaceful
village of Estoi, boasting a pink Roccoco palace and Roman ruins
dating from the 1st century. To enjoy the beach while on holiday in
Faro, one has to travel a few miles; a long sandy spit lies across
a bridge near the International Airport.
Information & Facts
Activities
Faro's main attraction is its quaint old town, where holiday
visitors can wander and enjoy some architectural sightseeing, and
brush up on their history. There are some worthy museums in the
town too, like the archaeological Municipal Museum housed in a
former convent and a maritime museum displaying a collection of
model ships and boats. The city offers a taste of the traditional
old Portugal for visitors making a stopover en route to an Algarve
resort. Those who want to try out the local beach will find it to
be a clean stretch of golden sand where umbrellas and sunbeds can
be hired and all sorts of watersports undertaken.
Language
Portuguese is the official language, but English is
widely spoken and understood.
Money
Portugal is a member of the European Union and its official
currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. There
are numerous banks, bureaux de change and ATMs available in main
cities and tourist destinations. Foreign currency can be exchanged
at banks, bureaux de change and automatic currency exchange
machines. Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 3pm Monday to
Friday. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers
cheques.
Negatives
Faro is a bustling, working city and not a holiday resort town,
the emphasis being on its historical attractions rather than fun in
the sun. The city can be rowdy at night with many young
revellers.
Night Life
Being a university city, Faro has a vibrant student population
who ensure that nightlife keeps pumping. It all happens along the
Rua do Prior and in the narrow alleys off of Rua Conselheiro Bivar
and Rua Infante Dom Henrique. Dance clubs get going around 11pm or
midnight, while bars are open for business any time from noon until
the early hours. The Upa Upa Café and Bar at 51 Rua Conselheiro
Bivar draws locals and tourists. The nightclub, Dux, is the place
to party until the early hours and the trendsetters should head for
the Fashion Kaffe.
Restaurants
A huge variety of restaurants and food stores line Faro's
pedestrianised Rua de Santo Antonio, catering for all tastes and
budgets. A must is to sample the local cakes and desserts,
deliciously made of juicy figs and almonds. For a fishy feast there
is Dois Irmaos, the city's oldest seafood eatery, where the fresh
catch of the day is on display. For well-priced Algarve
specialities, Adega Nova is a good bet, or Le Marquis Restaurant.
Lunch Caffe S. Pedro is popular with expats for its
reasonably-priced English food.
Shopping
Faro's main shopping area is in the heart of town along the Rua
Santo Antonio and the Rua Francisco Gomes. There is also an
interesting, colourful produce market on the Largo do Mercado open
every day where visitors on holiday can mingle with the locals.
Good holiday buys in Faro are the local handcrafts, like basketware
and embroidered goods, local wines and traditional clothing. Also
sought after are locally made ceramic tiles decorated with
traditional motifs.
Time
Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to
Saturday before last Sunday in October).