Description

Arco da Vila is an iconic neoclassical archway and one of the entrances to the old walled city of Faro. Built in the 19th century on the remains of an original medieval gate, it connects the modern part of Faro to the historic center, known as Vila-Adentro. The arch was designed by Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri under the orders of Bishop Dom Francisco Gomes de Avelar, and its facade blends classical and baroque elements. Above the arch is a niche holding a statue of St. Thomas Aquinas, and visitors can also see remnants of the original Moorish wall inside.