The town gets its name from the start of the 19^th century when local fishermen sailed to inform the Prince Regent – who at that time was in exile in Rio de Janeiro – of the victory over the invading French; the prince rewarded them by naming their town Vila de Olaho da Restauracao.

Pretty much anyone who has been to the Algarve has heard of Faro, this is after all most likely where they first set foot in the region, if not the country, however not many have heard of the old Roman port of Ossonoba which became the capital of the Algarve. Ossonoba and Faro are the same place.

Faro officially became a city in 1540, only for it to be sacked by the English in 1596 who made it a goal of his to steal books from the Bishop’s Library – interestingly enough those books have been treasured by the British and they still exist in the Ashmolean Library in Oxford.

This is definitely the place to see for all those who are interested in learning about the local culture and especially the history of the place. This is where you’ll find the Algarve Regional Museums as well as the Archaeological Museum – both of which make for some very good destinations; there are also remnants of city walls built by the Romans and the Byzantines, an Italian designed horseshoe gate and a plethora of churches to name but a few of the various other historic destinations that you can visit here.

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One of the best starting places for a tour of the entire city is in fact an attraction in itself, the Praca de Dom Francisco Gomes features an obelisk erected in 1910 which commemorates the diplomat Ferreira d’Almeida, an important figure in Faro’s history.

From there, those looking for some peace and quiet can enjoy the Jardim Manuel Bivar, a garden featuring wonderful flower beds, tall palms and jacaranda trees. On the east side of the park you can see the Igreja de Misericordia, a 14^th century church.

Beyond the Jardim, you can see the Arco da Vila, which is an arched gateway, surmounted by a bell tower and a statue of Faro’s patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinus. Through the gateway you’ll see the very attractive historical centre of Faro.

The historical centre of Faro is dominated by the Cathedral, which saw most of its original Gothic look destroyed by the 1755 earthquake, however the tower and south window still remain from the initial building. It was of course later rebuilt and renovated and it now features elements of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque architecture.

The interior is very quiet and reminiscent of a basilica, definitely a must-see for those who have a thing for religious buildings.

Then there’s the Largo Se, in the square in front of the cathedral, you can see the town hall and the Bishop’s Palace.

A bit to the south of the Cathedral, on the Praca Afonso III, you’ll find the Archaeological Museum, which is housed in what used to be the convent of Nossa Senhora da Assuncao, founded in 1518.

These are still not all of the attractions in the city, but only a few, make sure you employ our Faro car hire services in order to see them and many more while on your trip there.

Situated in the eastern part of the Algarve and in the south of Portugal, it is one of the relative few inland resorts but despite this it still features a beach, thanks to the river. The city proper offers a lot of interesting features including accommodations, gastronomy and various events. The city’s surroundings are also very rich with opportunities thanks to places like the Vila Real de Santo Antonio and Castro Marim to name a few of the major ones.

This part of the region is great for those holidaymakers who are interested in the region’s history, but not exclusively, as the traditions, sights and outdoor activities can appeal to almost anyone, so this is our little Alcoutim city guide, to give you an idea of what to expect.

Alcoutim city Portugal is located at about forty kilometers distance of Vila Real de Santo Antonio and there has been some type of establishment around these parts for about four thousand years, thanks to its rich deposits of copper, iron and manganese.

The settlement grew in importance during Roman times thanks to these resources and it continued to do so during the Medieval period; the remains of a 14^th century castle which overlooks the city can be visited, they house now a small archaeological museum.

The geography in this region is very hilly, and Alcoutim is itself a hillside town. It retains many of its more Medieval characteristics, in the sense that there are small squares and cobbled streets, but there’s also a paved promenade along the river front which is in turn populated by restaurants and cafes.

The church that you can fin near the river front was initially built in the 16^th century, however it required several reconstructions throughout the intervening centuries. The river is also quite narrow here which allows for a lot of sailing boats and other river craft to float gently.

Even if you will not be staying in Alcoutim you should still consider visiting it, and thankfully there are many Alcoutim city transfer from Faro Airport available if you’re interested. Of course the other option would be to employ some Alcoutim city car hire services and just drive in and around the place at your own leisure.

The town itself is worthy of a visit, but if not for that, then at least to see the unspoilt countryside that you’ll pass through on your way here. The region as a whole is quite different from the general view of what the Algarve is, but yet it is part of the Algarve, and is part of the wide range of diversity that the south of Portugal offers its visitors. It’s a very peaceful place and the green hills make it a wonderful area to walk around. It is interesting to note how completely different it is from the south coast beach resorts, even though it is only at a bout half an hour’s drive away. The rolling, green hills create quite a different type of Algarve experience.

The places around described in this Alcoutim guide are quite interesting as well, Pereiro and Martinlongo being two of the other destinations, and the picturesque town of Mertola can all prove to be interesting places to visit.

Towards the south of the town you’ll find the historically important town of Castro Marim which features the ruins of a Moorish castle as well as those a 17^th century fort, both of which were built in order to protect the border with Spain as well as to guard the ships which used the river. The castle now offers some great views of the salt pans, the Castro Marim Nature Reserve and of course Spain.

It is clear by now that the north-eastern region of the Algarve is quite different from what the general idea bout the region is, however this doesn’t make it any less interesting or alluring; it’s a wonderful place to visit and roam around the countryside and small towns – keep in mind that a rental car might be a good idea.

The city of Faro is the administrative center of the entire Algarve region and due to this characteristic the city is oftentimes used as starting point by visitors to the region. Just like most other cities or towns in the region, Faro’s population is relatively small, barely topping fifty-five thousand, however it is one of the more larger towns in the region.

Faro – Popular Travel Locations

Algarve Faro Portugal

It is true that many visitors use Faro as a type of a gateway for the rest of the Algarve, this is likely where they’ll be landing and the city is situated in such a manner that it provides easy access to other resorts in the region, so it’s not difficult to understand this approach to Faro, but the city can be a very interesting holiday destination in itself.

Similar to the entire region’s settlements, Faro features ruins from both the Roman and the Arab eras and one of the most popular attractions of the city is its “old city” or Cidade Velha part which is still surrounded by its original 9th century protective walls.

Inside these walls, on what was once the site of the Roman Forum, you’ll find a 13th century Cathedral that faces an 18th century Episcopal Palace, and also nearby you can see the 16th century Convent which now is the home of the local Archaeological Museum.

Keeping with the theme of religious-related buildings, Faro is also home to the Nossa Senhora do Carmo church which is one of the best examples of gold-leaf woodwork in the country but it has another claim to fame, a more macabre one. Its chapel is lined with the bones of over a thousand two hundred monks who lived there during the centuries.

Faro is home to a small maritime museum which on the other hand boasts a collection of small replica boats as exhibits, so this might be an interesting place to visit for any boating enthusiasts.

A large chunk of modern Faro is made up of apartment buildings and attractive shops and eating establishments, this means that you can get a complete experience while visiting Faro, getting a sample of the old and a taste of the new.

Faro’s beach, Praia de Faro, is about seven kilometers long, yes you read that right, seven kilometers of gently sloping sand so this practically guarantees that you’ll always find a spot that is not crowded.

As mentioned earlier, Faro is usually considered the starting point for an Algarve holiday because it is surrounded by many other destinations in the region. To the North there’s the inland village of Estoi where you can see some remarkable Roman ruins of a villa which will astound you when you see the comforts that its owners enjoyed about two thousand years ago.

To the West you’ll find the well known holiday resorts of Quinta do Lago and Vale de Lobo, both of them being five star resorts featuring golf courses, tennis court, riding schools and many more things that will surely make your stay there enjoyable.

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Faro – Algarve – Portugal – Weekend trip

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, a city located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and set on seven hills, as the legend says. The city is characterized by a particular type of charm which stems mostly from it’s strong links to its past as well as the presence of water as a defining element.

A charming city… built on seven hills

Lisbon Portugal

Lisbon’s weird and wonderful mix of cultures and architecture sets it apart from most other European capitals, with its cobble-stoned pavements, narrow streets and Art Nouveau cafes almost guaranteeing that there are many hidden things waiting to be discovered.

Keeping in mind its link to the past, you’ll be astounded at the sheer number of renovated palaces and fabulous churches that you’ll encounter during your stay, not to mention the impressive castle that overlooks the city from a hilltop.

The city is also home to a large number of great museums which focus on both ancient and modern art, most prominent among them being:

• - the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum: this is where you can find an interesting assortment of Egyptian artifacts alongside paintings from masters such as Rembrandt and Renoir;
• - the National Museum of Contemporary Art;
• - the National Coach Museum: housed in what used to be the palace’s riding school, the building now houses the largest collection of coaches and royal vehicles in the world;
• - the Berardo Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art;
• - the Carmo Archaeological Museum.

We mentioned earlier that water is a defining characteristic of the city and that is so because Lisbon is one of the very few European capitals to feature both a coastline and a river, the city boasts a very long maritime history. The Maritime Museum, or Museu de Marinha, focuses on the long naval history of the city and the country as a whole, featuring model ships, uniforms and nautical instruments. Interestingly enough the museum features the polished private quarters of the 1900 UK-built royal yacht Amelia as well as a series of ornate royal barges; just as a side-note to this, the city also has a Water Museum.

However Lisbon is so much more than museums, culture and architecture, it is also a modern European capital with all the bells and whistles that come with it, such as a very vibrant nightlife on the one hand, with bars and clubs catering to the current music scene, as well as establishments which feature the melancholic traditional Portuguese music called Fado.

When you get a bit tired of visiting museums and churches, take your time and enjoy a stroll through one or more of Lisbon’s parks and gardens, whether it’s the Zoo, or the Lisbon Botanical Garden which is actually one of the oldest such gardens in Europe and most likely the first one in Portugal.

The city is also a great place for shopping opportunities, especially when you consider that you can find the Centro Commercial Colombo which is in fact the largest shopping mall in the entire Iberian Peninsula and of course you can get to experience the more local way of doing things by shopping at the local markets and especially the flea market at Campo de Santa Clara.

One has to realize that this is simply a very general look on what Lisbon has to offer its visitors, rest assured that once you are there, you will not spend one moment doing nothing.

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Travel Guide – Lisbon, Portugal