Travel Tuesday: Perfect Portugal
Melissa Griffin • April 16, 2025
Faro is picture perfect
Faro, Algarve, Portugal is a magical place as the capital of the Algarve state in southern Portugal. Located at the very south of the Iberian Peninsula, this town has a rich history to share for anyone who takes the time to listen. The town offers multiple shopping, historical, and entertainment options. You can see all sorts of unusual things. Starting out your unusual journey, there is the Bone Chapel at the Catedral de Faro. The chapel is made of the bones and skulls of 1200 monks. The Catedral itself is a marvel, built in 1599, it was destroyed and took 100 years to rebuild. If you're looking for some interesting sights while you sip and shop, you can head down to Old Town Faro. The streets are paved in mosaic tiles that make up geometric patterns, and have canopies overhead to block out the hot summer sun. Speaking of sun...Faro has a beautiful beach on the Atlantic coast. You can take a train along the coast, where the train tracks are almost right in the water. You can use it to travel to multiple towns in the Algarve state.
Ready for your history? Head over to the Forum Algarve to get a good feel for what Roman life would have been like when they occupied that part of the world. You can feel the history all around you as you explore the historical buildings. Algarve also has a rich wine presence in the country. Its warm temperate climates makes grape growing ideal. You can sip wine and eat Tapas (small bites or sharing plates) at one of the local wine shops, hit up the bars in town to dance on the rooftops if you want to see the stars over the sea.
Whether you see yourselves in Portugal or somewhere else exotic, the world is a huge place and we will pack up and check it out together. Keep your passport handy, your spirits bright, and your sense of adventure readily available.