Arco da Vila, Faro

he "City Archway" or "The Gate to the Old Town" was erected at the beginning of the 19th century on a medieval entrance portal by order of Bishop D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar. The construction plan comes from the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri.
In a niche above the portal you can see Saint Thomas Aquinas, who is said to have saved the city from the plague. The Italian Marble Statue is a representative example of Italian Neoclassicism in the Algarve.
Inside is the Islamic portal, which was part of the original Moorish city wall. Due to its well-preserved condition, it is one of the unique examples of Islamic architecture in Portugal.
With the »Arco do Repouso« and the »Porta Nova« there are two other entrances to the city.

A landmark of Faro ... the stork nests in the old town

The Arco da Vila is a Monumento Nacional registered building in the Portuguese city of Faro. It is one of the two landmarks of the city.