Faro

In Faro, we went to the "old town" known as the "Vila Adentro" which is the oldest part of the city and is completely surrounded by stone walls and has 3 different Arch entrances to the inner city. One of the gates is called the Arch of Rest and the most grande entrance is a two towered gate inaugurated in 1812 at an original Arab entrance to the town. The original fortification was built in 713 AD by the Arabs who occupied the area at that time. Cars are restricted to people that live and work within the walls. There was a police precinct, the town offices, museum, restaurants and residential dwellings in the walled city. How cool would it be to live in a place that was established in 713.

This fountain is outside the old town by the public parking lot.
This is a view of the walled city of Faro. The tiny little truck is pretty neat too!

This is Cathedral Square, said to be one of the most beautiful in Europe and a pic of the Cathedral tower.
Inside the Cathedral.
The chapel of bones inside the Cathedral grounds. Actual bones and skulls.

A small boat marina outside the walls of the old town. Not overly scenic.
One of the narrow streets inside the walls of the old town, "Vila Adentro".

On the cathedral tower overlooking the Faro marina and Cathedral Square.

The highlight of our afternoon of sight seeing was stopping for lunch at this quaint little restaurant inside the old town. The food was incredible and so... reasonably priced compared to dining out in the resort areas of Vilamoura. Our meal was 12 euros total and Matt said it reminded him of Grandma Donkin's cooking. We definitely want to go back again.

Well, off to the Faro Algarve Forum Mall to see a movie....

L