Faro Cathedral

About this place

Consecrated in the late 13th century, this church became the seat of the Algarve's bishopric in 1540. Destruction and rebuilding left it with several architectural layers. Look for the relationship between the medieval structure and later decoration as a record of Faro's changing fortunes. The cathedral replaced Silves as the seat of the bishopric, marking Faro's growing regional importance. It also suffered destruction during the English attack of 1596, adding another episode to its long reconstruction history. These changes connect the building with both local shifts in authority and conflicts reaching beyond the Algarve.