Faro Old Town

Faro’s old town (Cidade Velha) is a compact walled enclosure entered through the Arco da Vila, with cobblestone streets, orange trees, the Se Cathedral (free entry to nave), and the curious Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones, small fee). Free to walk. Most tourists pass through Faro on the way to Algarve beaches and miss the old town entirely. Budget travelers spend a morning inside the walls and discover that the Algarve’s capital has more character than its reputation suggests.