Witaj, faro

Faro’s old town is not, in fact, that old — it was burned down by English troops in 1596, later rebuilt, and then destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. Still, it remains a beautiful and pedestrian-friendly place. Next to the citadel’s ring-wall is the small harbour where the newer and livelier town stretches northeast. The gardens next to the harbour, Jardim Manuel Bivar, are a good point to start exploring. At the end of the gardens is the city’s main shopping area — a small network of pedestrian streets with all kinds of shops, cafes and restaurants. North of the shopping you will find some of Faro’s famous churches, such as Igreja do Carmo. On the west side, you will come across the hilly Avenida 5 de Outubro. At the end of the avenue, you will be rewarded with a broad vista of Faro, the wetlands of Ria Formosa, and the sea.