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Prehistoric and roman period |
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| The Ria Formosa lagoon attracted human occupants from the Palaeolithic age until the end of pre-history. During that time a settlement grew – Ossonoba – which was an important town during the period of Roman occupation and, according to historians, the forerunner of present-day Faro. From the 3rd century onwards and during the Visigothic period it was the site of an Episcopal see. |
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| With the advent of Moorish rule in the 8th century Ossonoba retained its status as the most important town in the southwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. In the 9th century it became the capital of a shortlived princedom and was fortified with a ring of defensive walls. The christian name Santa Maria was replaced by the name Harune, the root of the current name, Faro. The Moors were defeated by the forces of the Portuguese King Afonso III during the 13th century. |
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Christian conquest - today |
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With the decline of the importance of the city of Silves, Faro took over the administrative role for the Algarve area. In 1540 Faro was granted the privilege of being a city, and in 1585 the seat of the bishop was transferred from Silves to Faro.
The Earl of Essex ransacked the town in 1596 and seized the Bishop of Faro’s library. These books were later donated to the University of Oxford, becoming part of the Bodleian Library. After the disastrous earthquake of 1755 the governor moved from the Lagos which had suffered more destruction to to Faro, which became the capital of the kingdom of the Algarve. |
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Reference
Copy from : 11.07.2006 |
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