The streets of this small picturesque city in the very south of Portugal are paved with ancient tiles depicting traditional patterns and the national coat of arms, making Faro attractive for curious travelers from all over the world. Some people are attracted to this land by kilometers of white sand beaches and fragrant orange groves, others – by a salty gusty wind and wild waves of the Atlantic Ocean, and still others – by architectural landmarks dating back to the time of the ancient Romans, Arab conquerors, and the Age of Discovery.

Although the entire city of Faro is filled with medieval buildings, the historical center named the Old Town deserves special attention. Narrow winding streets and quaintly shaped old squares are decorated with whitewashed houses with red-tiled roofs. The majestic castle and the solemn episcopal palace rise above all this splendor. Once, the treasures of the ancient city were guarded by an unusual oval fortress wall with several gates that were the only entrance to Faro. Although the wall isn`t well preserved, the stone gate is still the entrance to the Old Town and the hallmark of Faro.

A tall and thin arch called the Arco da Vila was erected in 1812 by order of Bishop Francisco Gomes de Avelar. The design of the structure in the neoclassical style was made by the famous Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri. He decorated the delightful architectural landmark with two ancient Greek columns and a marble statue of the great Italian philosopher Thomas Aquinas and crowned it with an elegant gable with a bell turret. The wonderful sounds of the bells still wake up sleepy citizens every morning. Besides, beautiful storks, permanent inhabitants of Faro since ancient times, built a huge nest at the top of the arch.

The road from the Arco da Vila leads to the very heart of the Old Town, the Cathedral of Faro, which represents a magnificent combination of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. Do not forget to come inside the cathedral and listen to the ancient organ of the 17th century.