Destination Faro

To see

Municipal Museum

This is also known as Arqueológico, the archaeological museum, due to its primarily archaeological discoveries. It is located within the circular wall in the former monastery Nossa Senhora da Assunção. The monastery garden dates from 1540 and with its two, beautiful colonnades, it forms the heart of the museum. One of the parts most worth seeing is a Roman floor mosaic that dates from the 4th century, with the head of the god Neptune as a focal point.
Address: Praça Dom Afonso III

Igreja do Carmo

This is Faro’s most visited church, not so much due to its fantastic gold leaf interior, but rather due to the Capela dos Ossos, the “Chapel of Bones”, which was built in the sixteenth century and is decorated with the skeletons of monks.
Address: Largo do Carmo

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa

The marshy area of Ria Formosa has been a protected nature reserve since 1987, due to its unique breeding place for marsh birds, which are threatened with extinction as a result of the increase in tourism. This animal sanctuary enabled the entire coastal strip from Faro to Cacela Velha to escape commercial development. A boat trip to one of Faro’s islands is the best way to visit Ria Formosa.

Palace and botanical garden in Estoi/Roman remains in Milreu

In the village of Estoi, to the north of Faro, lies the Palácio de Estoi, a private palace in Rococo style that was built during the second half of the 19th century. This miniature version of the Royal palace in Queluz, outside of Lisbon, is surrounded by a very beautiful garden that is open to the public. The famous Roman remains of the Algarve can be found in Milreu, just outside of Estoi.
Address: Rua do Jardim, Estoi