Page 359 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

POR TUGAL  357

The lively center of modern
Faro, along the Rua de
Santo António, is stylish and
pedestrianized, full of stores,
bars, and restaurants. A little to
the north is Faro’s parish church,
the Baroque and Italianate São
Pedro. In the nearby Largo do
Carmo is the impressive Igreja
do Carmo. Its magnificent
facade and richly decorated
interior are in sharp contrast to
its somber Capela dos Ossos
(Chapel of Bones), built in 1816.
At the far northeast corner of
the town is the Cemitério dos
Judeus. The Jewish cemetery
served from 1838 until 1932; Ocher sandstone rocks sheltering the Praia de Dona Ana beach, Lagos
there is no Jewish community e Lagos
in Faro today. eroded ocher rocks. East of
Albufeira, Vilamoura is set * 16,000. £ @ n Praça Gil
E Museu Municipal to become one of Europe’s Eanes (282-763 031). ( first Sat
Largo Dom Afonso III. Tel 289-870 827. largest leisure complexes. It has of month.
Open Tue–Sun. Closed public hols. & a large marina with lively cafés,
stores, and restaurants. Lagos is set on one of the
Algarve’s largest bays; it
w Portimão was the region’s capital from
1576–1756. The town suffered
* 40,000. £ @ n Avda Tomás badly in the 1755 earthquake,
Cabreira, Praia da Rocha (282-419 132). so as a result, most of the
( first Mon of month. buildings date from the late
18th and 19th centuries.
The Romans were attracted to In the 15th century, Lagos
Portimão by its natural harbor. became an important naval
It is still a flourishing fishing center, unfortunately also
port and one of the largest becoming the site of the first
towns in the Algarve. slave market in Europe.
The town center, around Lagos’s parish church is
the pedestrianized Rua Vasco the 16th-century Santa Maria.
da Gama, dates mainly from The 18th-century Santo
Yachts and powerboats at the Vilamoura the 18th century, since it António is worth a visit for its
marina, east of Albufeira was rebuilt after the 1755 Baroque azulejos and carving.
earthquake. The 14th-century The statue of St. Anthony, kept
q Albufeira origins of the church of Nossa in the church, accompanied
* 31,000. £ @ n Rua 5 de Senhora da Conceição are the local regiment during the
Outubro (289-585 279). ( 1st & 3rd revealed in its portico. The Peninsular War (1807–11).
Tue of month. interior contains 17th- and
18th-century azulejo panels. Environs
This charming fishing port has The promontory, Ponta da
become the tourist capital of Environs Piedade, shelters the bay of
the Algarve. The Romans built a Just 3 km (2 miles) south of Lagos and should not be
castle here and under the Arabs Portimão is Praia da Rocha, missed. Praia de Dona Ana
the town prospered from trade a series of fabulous sandy beach is 25 minutes’ walk from
with North Africa. The oldest coves. At its east end is the the town center, but Praia do
part of the town, around Rua 16th-century castle, Fortaleza Camilo may be less crowded.
da Igreja Velha, retains some de Santa Catarina, with a Meia Praia, east of Lagos,
original Moorish arches. superb view of the beach stretches for 4 km (2 miles).
and cliffs – and a swathe of Lying 10 km (6 miles) north
Environs high-rise hotels. Inland from is the peaceful Barragem de
From Praia de São Rafael, Portimão is the town of Silves, Bravura reservoir. Another
1 mile (2 km) west of Albu feira, once the Moorish capital, Xelb. popular excursion is south-
to Praia da Oura due east, the It has an impressive castle west to Sagres and the
area is punctuated by small and picturesque groves of rocky headland of Cabo
sandy coves set between orange and lemon trees. de São Vicente.

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