Faro is the Algarve's capital and its most historically layered city — a Moorish settlement whose 18th-century rebuilding after the 1755 earthquake produced a compact walled old town (Cidade Velha) of extraordinary architectural coherence, and whose 20th-century tourism explosion left a specific coastal abandonment pattern of crisis-era resort closures, abandoned fishing infrastructure and derelict inter-war villas between the active hotel zones. The Algarve's post-2008 financial crisis hit coastal tourism infrastructure with particular force, and Faro's hinterland — the Ria Formosa lagoon system and the schist villages of the Serra do Caldeirão — holds additional dereliction invisible to beach tourists. Discover the 5 best abandoned places in Faro, selected from our Portugal Urbex Map — 210+ verified GPS locations.
Why Faro Has an Underexplored Derelict Heritage
Faro's dereliction is invisible to the beach tourist — the Algarve's capital concentrates post-earthquake heritage neglect in the Cidade Velha, crisis-era coastal resort closures east and west of the city and the extraordinary schist village abandonment of the Serra do Caldeirão hinterland immediately north.
1. Derelict Cidade Velha Building – Faro Old Town — Post-1755 Earthquake Reconstruction, 18th-Century Heritage Neglect, Walled Old Town Setting, Ria Formosa Views (Known Location)
Faro's Cidade Velha — the walled old town between the Roman walls and the waterfront — contains numerous 18th-century buildings in states of heritage neglect: post-1755 earthquake reconstruction in the specific Pombaline vernacular of the southern Algarve, with traditional lime render facades, wooden window surrounds and the distinctive Algarve roofscape visible above crumbling walls. Several Cidade Velha buildings stand derelict between restored heritage properties — the extraordinary walled old town setting and the Ria Formosa lagoon backdrop create an urbex context of unusual historical density. All GPS in our Portugal Urbex Map.
🔗 Sources: Portugal.com – Abandoned Places in Portugal | Urbex Maps – Top 10 Abandoned Portugal
2. Abandoned Algarve Resort – East of Faro — Post-2008 Crisis Closure, Coastal Tourism Infrastructure, Ria Formosa or East Algarve Setting, Pool and Terrace Frozen in Place (Known Location)
The eastern Algarve coast east of Faro — the stretch between the city and the Spanish border through Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António — saw significant coastal tourism development in the 1980s–2000s, some of which failed in the 2008 financial crisis. Several resort properties in this zone stand in full dereliction: pool infrastructure emptied, reception and restaurant wings abandoned and the eastern Algarve coastal setting unchanged. The contrast between derelict tourism infrastructure and the Ria Formosa natural park landscape immediately adjacent creates an unusually poignant coastal urbex experience.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Portugal →
3. Abandoned Schist Village – Serra do Caldeirão, Faro Hinterland — Post-War Rural Exodus, Schist Stone Construction, Mountain Setting Above the Algarve, Entirely Deserted
The Serra do Caldeirão — the schist mountain range immediately north of Faro and the Algarve coast — experienced severe rural depopulation from the 1950s to the 1980s as agricultural communities moved to the coast for tourism employment or emigrated to France and Germany. Several schist villages in the serra above Faro stand in states of near-complete dereliction: dry-stone schist construction returning to the hillside, the village church still standing and the mountain valley views toward the coast extraordinary on clear days. All GPS in our Portugal Urbex Map.
4. Abandoned Inter-War Villa – Faro or Olhão — 1920s–1940s Bourgeois Residence, Art Deco or Algarve Vernacular, Heritage Neglect, Ria Formosa Setting (On Our Map Only)
Faro and the neighbouring town of Olhão accumulated inter-war bourgeois residences during the 1920s–40s Algarve fishing wealth period — properties built by sardine canning magnates and fishing fleet owners that fell into heritage neglect as the fishing industry declined from the 1970s. Several of these inter-war villas with the specific Algarve Art Deco or vernacular style — azulejo tile chimneys, the roof terrace (açoteia), lime-rendered walls — stand in states of crisis-era or inheritance-dispute dereliction close to the Ria Formosa waterfront. GPS in our Portugal Urbex Map.
5. Abandoned Fishing Infrastructure – Faro or Olhão Waterfront — Post-Industrial Fishing Decline, Tuna Processing or Sardine Canning Facility, Ria Formosa Estuary Setting (Carte Urbex Exclusive)
Faro and Olhão were the major tuna processing and sardine canning centres of the eastern Algarve through the mid-20th century — industrial facilities that closed progressively as Mediterranean tuna stocks collapsed from the 1970s. Several abandoned canning or processing facilities near the Ria Formosa waterfront stand in significant industrial dereliction: the specific southern Portuguese industrial aesthetic of white-lime-rendered factory walls, steel loading infrastructure and the Ria Formosa lagoon immediately adjacent. Mapped exclusively in our Portugal Urbex Map.
❓ FAQ
Are there abandoned places in Faro?
Yes — the Cidade Velha holds derelict 18th-century post-earthquake buildings between restored heritage properties; the eastern Algarve coast has crisis-era resort closures; and the Serra do Caldeirão hinterland immediately north holds completely deserted schist villages. Our Portugal Urbex Map covers all verified Faro-region sites.
What are the schist villages of the Serra do Caldeirão?
Mountain communities built entirely from the local grey-brown schist stone that depopulated from the 1950s–80s as residents moved to the Algarve coast for tourism jobs or emigrated. Several are in states of near-complete dereliction — stone walls returning to the hillside, empty churches and the serra mountain landscape backdrop. Accessible by car from Faro (30–50 minutes north).
How do I get to Faro for urbex?
Faro has an international airport with year-round connections to the UK and Northern Europe. From Lisbon, Alfa Pendular trains take 2h40. The Cidade Velha is walkable from the train station; the schist villages require a car. Best explored in spring or autumn — summer temperatures exceed 35°C.
Safety Tips
- Cidade Velha walls: Roman and medieval wall sections have unpredictable stability — never lean against or climb heritage wall sections in derelict zones
- Serra do Caldeirão tracks: schist village access tracks can be rough and impassable in wet weather — always check conditions and use a high-clearance vehicle
- Algarve summer heat: temperatures exceed 35–40°C in July–August with no shade in derelict buildings — always carry water and visit in spring or autumn
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person and share your location
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