The City of Faro

The capital of southern Portugal`s beautiful Algarve region, Faro city has a population of just under 42,000. Like the rest of the Algarve, Faro enjoys a temperate, sunny climate, with temperatures hovering at around 28 degrees in the summer months and rarely dipping below eight degrees in winter. Spring and autumn can be good times to visit Faro, when tourism is lower and the fresher climate makes sightseeing a pleasure.

The history of Faro can be traced back as far as Roman times, while the architecture has a strong Arab influence as a result of 500 years of Moorish rule. When the Moors were defeatured by Portuguese forces in 1272, Faro became the main seat of power for the Algarve region. By 1577 Lagos had become captital of the region, but was badly damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake - whose impact caused a tsunami that damaged almost all the Algarve`s coastal towns save for Faro, protected by the banks of the Ria Formosa lagoon.
Logically, Faro once again became the administrative seat of the region once again, and has remained so ever since. The city has seen an growth in tourism in recent years, with budget airlines offering flights from the UK and other European countries to the international airport. As well as the main point of entry for tourists heading for the Algarve`s beach resorts and fishing villages, Faro is a solid attraction in itself, with some fascinating architecure and a rich cultural heritage. Surrounded by a medieval city wall, Faro boasts a number of sights well worth seeing - of particular note is the Roman-Gothic cathedral, as well as the Sгo Francisco Church, and the renaissance-era convent of Nossa Senhora da Assuncao. There are a number of good museums to visit in the city as well, such as the Museu Infante Dom Henrique. The city`s marina is a pleasant place to stroll around, watching the ships bobbing up and down, and there are any number of places to enjoy a plate of seafood and a glass of wine or beer and watch the world go by.

Faro International Airport is well-linked to the UK and the rest of Europe, and the city enjoys good transport connections to the Algarve and Portugal. Inter-regional buses link the city with resorts and towns throughout the country, as do the trains that run from the city`s railway station. Taxis are widely available and relatively inexpensive, and car hire can be easily arranged. Indeed, independent travellers may find that hiring a car is the best way to get off the beaten track and see the best of this beautiful and very diverse region. Information on car hire is available at car">href="http://www.comparecarhire.co.uk/180563.html">car hire at Faro airport