Faro (65,000 inhabitants) is the capital of the Algarve, as well as its main city. Like many other Atlantic towns in southern Portugal, fishing has been its traditional means of economic activity. During the 60s and 70s, the first European visitors began to arrive looking for more temperate climates and infinite beaches and with that arrived what is currently the main economic activity of the region: tourism. This has greatly affected the city, as since then plenty of expats have decided Faro as their base in Portugal to enjoy the pleasures of Algarve. There is a lot of variety of residential properties which can be appealing to the international investor seeking to buy a house in Faro. He could, for example buy a small apartment in one of the narrow pedestrian streets of the city center or look for some high-end, modern complex at the outskirts of the city. In any case, you will have easy access to all the amenities of a small city, as well as the best beaches and natural assets of the Algarve region. To begin with, Faro is one of the best-connected places in the country, having the second busiest airport in Portugal after the airport of the capital, Lisboa. Therefore, if you decide to buy a house in Faro, you can be certain to keep an easy connection to your home country. Without discrediting the National Park of Doñana in the Spanish side, Faro has also one of the most fascinating Natural Parks in Southern Europe: The Ria Formosa Natural Park. The importance of this natural park lies in the fact that it is one of the migratory routes of birds that will spend the winter in warmer areas. This is an ideal place for lovers of nature and ornithology but, sure enough, also for beach and sun seekers.
And without needing to wander off, the historic city center of the city of Faro itself will surprise you with cultural richness and picturesque historical buildings. Among these, worth mentioning are the charming cathedral, the convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, the colourful Estoi Palace or the peculiar chapel built with human bones just behind the beautiful church of Carmo. And after a day of enjoying a cultural town or sprawling in its white, sandy beaches, you can rely on Faro’s great array of cafés and restaurants to provide excellent entertainment for the last hours of the evening. Faro can be a fantastic place if you want to live away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, but are not ready for the tranquility and isolation of the smaller Algarve towns. Many have already decided that Faro offers the perfect combination for life in the Algarve. Will you be the next?
