Moorish influences, maritime legends, and ghostly tales intertwine in Faro’s ancient Old Town. On this walking tour around the capital city of Portugal’s Algarve region, you’ll learn about Faro’s resilience in the face of natural disasters, wars, and changing empires while you wander down winding streets and past striking monuments that reveal the city’s rich and often dark history.

The tour starts in front of the Arco da Vila where you’ll hear how this medieval gateway has stood witness to centuries of invasions and intrigue. As you walk through the charming Old Town, you’ll explore Sé Cathedral, built on the site of a former mosque, where echoes of the past still linger. You’ll discover why Faro was once the target of English pirates and hear about what lies beneath its cobbled streets.

This tour isn’t just about history, it’s also about atmosphere. You’ll pass lively plazas where locals gather, linger by the shimmering Ria Formosa lagoon, and hear stories of sailors, smugglers, and spirits who refuse to be forgotten. The tour ends in front of Faro’s Chapel of Bones where I’ll tell who the Carmelite monks were and why they created the chapel.

On this 45-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Hear the heroic story of the Second World War American bomber that crashed 12 miles out at sea whilst looking for German U-boats
• Walk through Largo da Sé, an atmospheric square surrounded by historic architecture
• Discover the stories behind Igreja de São Pedro, one of Faro’s most beloved churches
• Stroll along Faro Marina waterfront and hear tales of Faro’s maritime past
• Learn how the Earl of Essex raided and burned Faro in 1596
• Encounter the eerie tales and superstitions hidden in Faro’s past
• See the Arco do Repouso (Arch of Rest) where, legend has it, King Afonso III rested after recapturing the city from the Moors in 1249
• Take in Comur Faro, a fish canning company that produces about thirty varieties of tinned goods, painstakingly prepared by the experienced hands of over a hundred women

This tour blends history, mystery, and stunning sights, offering an unforgettable journey through Faro’s streets!