Indulge in history
To the east of Faro marina is the oldest part of Faro, called Cidade Velha.
It boasts well-preserved medieval buildings that house museums, and cobbled streets lead to the impressively-decorated Largo de Se Faro Cathedral. Inside you’ll find intricate gilded carving, decorated tiles called azulejos, and old pieces of art. You can also scale the tower to get far-reaching views over the whole of Faro.
An intriguing place to visit, at the rear of the Igreja do Carmo church you’ll find a chapel made of human bones called Capela dos Ossos – or the bone chapel.
Built by Carmelite monks in the early 19th century, over 1000 bones of earlier monks were exhumed from the overcrowded cemetery and used on every surface. The focal point is a complete skeleton covered in gold that hangs at the front of the chapel.