ESBES 2008

Faro
The history of Faro remounts to the Palaeolithic age with the growing up of a small settlement – Ossonoba – which was further an important town during the period of Roman occupation. During the Moorish rule in the 8 th century Ossonoba retained its status as the most important town in the southwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. Ossonoba was renamed Santa Maria as it was fortified with a ring of defensive walls in the 9 th century and became the capital of a Moorish princedom. In 1249 Faro became part of Portuguese territory, completing the Christian reconquest of what is now Portugal. In the centuries that followed Faro became a prosperous place, thanks to its geographical position, its safe harbour and growing trade – in salt and agricultural products from the interior of the Algarve – increased by the voyages of exploration known as the Discoveries. Faro was elevated to the status as a city in 1540. Its steady growth and its importance in the regional context were such that it was chosen as capital of the Algarve province at the time of the administrative reorganisation which took place in the 19 th century. Faro has a rich artistic heritage and many museums, hotels, restaurants and other facilities. Many attractions are offered in the surrounding area, from the long beaches of Faro to the Marina and Golf courts in Villamoura and the Roman ruins at Milreu.

How to reach Faro
By Air: Faro’s international airport is located 6 km to the west of the city, 30 min. by bus no. 14 and 16 and approx. 15 min. by taxi.

By Train: Faro railway station is in walking distance (5 min.) from the city centre. Intercity and Interregional trains from Lisbon and Porto are available. For information on train connections see www.cp.pt

By Car: Faro is connected by the National High Way net work. The journey from Lisbon is about 320 km on the A2 High Way.

How to reach the University
The university can be reached by bus from the city centre. Busses 15 and 18 take approx. 30 to 45 min. Address: Campus de Gambelas, 8000-117 Faro/P.
By taxi from the city centre or from the airport, the journey takes about 15 min. and costs approx. 10 EUR.

A shuttle bus between selected Hotels in Faro and the university campus will be provided by the ESBES 2008 organisation.

Tourist Office in Faro:
The tourist office in Faro is located in the city center (pedestrian zone), Rua da Misericordia. It is open between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., Phone no. +351 289 803 604

Venue