Portugal Sightseeing

 

FaroThe capital of the district, with a medieval wall and a large number of monuments: Cathedral (Romanesque-Gothic origin), Nossa Senhora da Assun??o Convent (Renaissance), S?o Francisco Church (16th-18th centuries). Museums to visit: Infante Dom Henrique, Regional Ethnographic, Ramalho Ortig?o and Antoniano (next to Santo Ant?nio do Alto Chapel). Also worthwhile visiting are the beautiful churches of S?o Pedro da Miseric?rdia and Nossa Senhora do Carmo. Roman ruins of Milreu in the suburbs.

 

LagosEnclosed within 15th century walls, with its Manueline window, are the magnificent churches of S?o Sebasti?o (Renaissance portals and 17th and 18th century tiles), Santa Maria or Miseric?rdia (16th-19th centuries), Santo Ant?nio (Baroque) and the very old S?o Jo?o Chapel (8th-9th centuries). Other points of interest: Regional Museum, Governors' Palace, Pau da Bandeira Fortress and the old slave market. Charming marina.

 

MonchiqueAmongst the beautiful houses on the slope stand the mother-church (Manueline), the Miseric?rdia Church (with a Baroque retable) and the Senhor do P? da Cruz Chapel (17th century). Nearby, look for the famous thermal spa of Monchique and F?ia for (902 m high), overlooking the hills and the ocean.

 

Portim?oIn this fishermen's town, visit the mother-church (14th century, rebuilt in the 18th century), the Col?gio Church (17th century), and the Town Hall. In the suburbs, the renowned Praia da Rocha (with its Santa Catarina de Ribamar Fortress), and the Roman ruins of Abicada.

 

SilvesStones of different times and cultures overlap in this town: the castle and walls are of Arab origin; the Gothic Cathedral (having undergone several restoration works) was built on the site of an ancient mosque; the 12th century bridge was built where formerly stood a Roman bridge. The Cross of Portugal also deserves special mention (16th century religious sculpture), as well as the following examples of Manueline motifs: the Nossa Senhora dos M?rtires Chapel and the Miseric?rdia Church. The Archeology Museum is built around an almost unique Arab water cistern, dating from the Almohad period.