Urban fence of Faro

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Faro > Faro > Faro

Location

Faro's urban wall, also known as the Walls of Faro or Faro Fortress, encloses the city's oldest heart. This fortified perimeter, with a distinctly elliptical shape, defines Faro's historic core, usually referred to as "Vila-Adentro" (Inside the Town) or "Cidade Velha" (Old City). It is strategically located by the Ria Formosa, with some of its sections facing directly onto the water, offering a unique perspective on the city's relationship with its natural environment.

The walls delimit the historic area, with access via wide public spaces, and their layout still reflects the original plan of the ancient Roman city, with its main axes converging towards the gates of the fortified city.

Memories of a Millennial Past

Faro's walls are a testament to the city's long and rich history, with vestiges dating back to the Iron Age. Their foundations and structure reveal layers of occupation and construction throughout the centuries. From the first Roman fortifications, through important reconstruction and expansion works during the Byzantine and Visigothic periods, to significant interventions during Islamic rule.

It was under Islamic influence that much of the wall's current appearance was consolidated, with the construction of the alcazaba and the reinforcement of the walls. After the Christian reconquest in the 13th century, and throughout the subsequent centuries, the fortress continued to be adapted to the military needs of the time, including reinforcements for artillery, before progressively losing its defensive function and being partially integrated into the city's urban fabric.

Distinct Architectural Elements

The urban wall is composed of curtain walls, some with adarves (wall-walks) still visible and battlements in certain sections. It is punctuated by a variety of towers of different plans, semi-circular, quadrangular, and multifaceted, some of which were built with stone blocks repurposed from ancient structures. Three main gates still allow access to the interior of the fortified perimeter, each with unique characteristics.

The Arco da Vila (Town Arch), the northern gate, is one of Faro's icons, notable for its 19th-century neoclassical facade. Inside, it conceals a rare 11th-century horseshoe arch, one of the few in situ examples in the Algarve region, which points to a primitive elbow-shaped entrance. The Porta do Repouso (Gate of Rest), to the east, is defended by two barbican towers and features a small 18th-century hermitage integrated within it. The Porta Nova (New Gate), to the west, is more modest and was opened in the 17th century.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt