Surroundings of Faro
Image gallery of the surrounding places of Faro - Almancil, Ilha da Culatra, Loulé, Olhão, Quinta do Lago, São Brás de Alportel, Vale de Lobo, Vilamoura
Faro: Ria Formosa and Airport
View over the Ria Formosa towards the nearby Faro International Airport. On board of a plane you can enjoy great views of this unique lagoon landscape.
Ilha de Faro: Bridge
A one lane bridge is connecting the island with the mainland near the airport.
Ilha de Faro
View over the lagoon towards the International Faro Airport opposite the island.
Ilha de Faro: Cottages
View to the western part of the island and the lagoon of the Ria Formosa. In the background you can see Quinta do Lago.
Ilha da Culatra: Praia do Farol
The lighthouse (port. farol) marks the passage between the island and the neighbouring Ilha da Barreta, the only way through for boats to Faro. The light can be seen by afar at hight. This part of the island is also called "Ilha do Farol", and the name of the popular beach on the sea side is Praia do Farol.
Ilha da Culatra
On the left side you can see the small harbour and the landing stage of for the ferry boat. On the opposite side the small sandy stripe of the sea side beach Praia da Culatra-Mar comes into view.
Ria Formosa: Ilha de Faro
View over the lagoon near Quinta do Lago to the Ilha de Faro. This is a popular area for locals to collect mussels during the tidal flat.
Quinta do Lago: Bridge
The wooden bridge over the lagoon of the Ria Formosa to the beach Praia da Quinta do Lago is one of the area's landmarks.
Quinta do Lago
The outer part of the name-giving lake (port. lago) of the world famous golf and holiday resort.
Vale do Lobo Resort
Vale do Lobo was founded in 1963 as one of the first developments at the Algarve and since then evolved into one of the finest golf and holiday resorts in Europe. Conveniently situated on the Algarve coast and only 20 km from Faro airport, it is located in the so called Golden Triangle of the Algarve between Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura.
Vale do Lobo: Royal Course
Hole 16 of the Royal Course with a spectacular drive over the cliffs is said to be one of the Algarve’s most photographed motifs.
Vilamoura Marina
The golf courses and the international marina are the economic and social centre of this resort, located in the Golden Triangle of the Algarve, next to Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago. At the upper right corner you can see the beach Praia de Vilamoura, stretching from the marina to the neighbouring town Quarteira.
Vilamoura: Victoria Golf Course
This PGA golf course is one of sex 18 holes golf courses in Vilamoura. Is has already been several times the venue for the Portugal Masters, a member of the European Tour.
Sta. Barbara de Nexe: Church
Santa Bárbara de Nexe is a small village north-east of Faro, just a few miles above the A22 motorway between Loulé and Estoi. Set high on the hill slope, magnificent views of Faro, the Ria Formosa and the Atlantic Ocean are to be seen.
Milreu: Roman Villa
Situated only a few kilometres from Faro, close to Estói, Milreu Ruins are amongst the most important remains of the Roman presence in the Algarve and now form an imposing archaeological site, which has been classified as a national monument.
Estoi Palace
The palace of the viscount of Éstoi has been built at the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century . This beautiful Rokkoko building, originally used as a pleasure seat, has been transformed into a Pousada (hotel).
Pousada de Faro, Palácio de Estoi
The Pousada de Faro is situated on the outskirts of the village of Estoi, surrounded by a peaceful countryside.
Estoi
Square in front of the church
Olhão: Bom Successo
Replica of a historic boat anchored in front of the promenade. In 1808 a revolt against the troops of Napoleon started in Olhao, resulting in the end of the French occupation of the entire Algarve. 17 men from Olhao embarked on the boat Bom Successo to Brazil to inform King Joao VI that the kingdom of Algarve was restored.
Olhão: Edifício do Compromisso Marítimo
This building, erected in 1771 opposite the main church, is today hosting the municipal museum. It was originally the location of the association of the local fishermen. The name of the buildig reminds to a historical milestone in 1765, when king Joao I granted to the fishermen of Olhao the same rights as Faro.
Loulé: Market hall
The style of this well known building is reminiscent of the Moorish architecture of former times. The market hall (Mercado Municipal) is located adjacent to the Largo de Gago Coutinho, and every Saturday the weekly fair takes place in the surrounding lanes. After extensive renovations, the market re-opened in early 2007 to display its new splendour.
Loulé: Castle
Only three towers and parts of the old walls remain of this Moorish castle, reconstructed in the XIII century. It can be found near the Praça da República. The museum and archives of the town reside nearby in the former rooms of the constable (Alcaide da Vila).
Loulé: Carnival
Loulé is famous for its colourful carnival procession, which is reminiscent of Brazil’s celebrations. The Avenida José da Costa Mealha and the Largo de Gago Coutinho are the main centres for the procession, where visitors pay a moderate fee to view the parade.
Almancil: Church São Lourenço
The church, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, is situated at the eastern entry of Almancil on top of a small hill near the main road.
Concelho de Loulé: São Lourenço de Matos
Built in the first half of the 18th century, the charming Chapel of São Lourenço dos Matos provides the very best example of Algarve baroque decorative tile work, in itself sufficient to justify a visit to the town of Almancil, in the municipality of Loule.
São Brás de Alportel
The village of São Brás, a former centre of the local cork industry, is surrounded by the typical landscape of the Algarve Barrocal.
São Brás: Museum of Costumes
Behind this impressive facade of the manor house of a former "Corc Baron" the Museu de Traje s located. You can visit here an interesting collectio of local costumes as well as other objects of the rural life.
Alportel: Cork oak forest
The forests around São Brás are naturally grown, producing the highest quality of cork
Cork: A pure natural produce of Portugal
Cork factory
The bark is selected and cut by hand