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Car Hire in Faro
Faro
The administrative centre of the Algarve, Faro as a city has roots going back to the Romans, but much of the city was rebuilt after the tragic earthquake of 1755. The old part of the city is still surrounded by the Roman walls, and a spacious open square houses the 13th century cathedral and the 18th century Episcopal Palace. The "golden" church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo has some superb gold-leaf woodwork For something a little different, there is the Capela d'Ossos, a 19th century chapel lined with the skulls and bones of over 1,200 monks! Further on, there is a small Naval Museum with scale models of the boats and galleons which forged the history of the port. For nightlife, go down Rua do Prior, where you will find cafes, pubs (English and others) and clubs that stay open all night. Local specialities include shellfish cooked cataplana-style and sole meuniere. Faro is ideally situated for excursions: travelling north through groves of figs, almonds and oranges, and through pine woods, you will come upon Sao Bras de Alportal, one of the most charming and least-known spots in the Algarve. The remains of the Moorish castelo are at Largo Dom Pedro, while the market town of Loule lies in the heart of the Algarve's "chimney district" - the area is famous for its fret-cut limestone chimneys and white-washed houses.