The city of Faro it can already be seen, since today, from Arco da Vila. Not only the landscapes of Cidade Velha, or the Ria Formosa, but also its history, through the Interpretative Center that was inaugurated today, together with the renovated Tourism Office in the Algarve capital.
To the president of the Chamber of Faro, «this is a remarkable day» and the new spaces are part «of a broader strategy to revitalize the Old Town and the Baixa. Arco da Vila, now available for visits, is the most photographed place in the county, with photographs all over the world».
Last year, the Tourism Office received more than 85 thousand people, according to Rogério Bacalhau. A number that the mayor hopes will increase and translate into 100 visitors per year to the new Interpretative Center of Arco da Vila.
For his part, Desidério Silva, president of the Algarve Tourism Region, stressed that the Tourism Office is different, «between what it was and what it is. This is the Tourist Office with the most visitors in the Algarve, it's the one that makes the most sales and shows that this is a growing city in terms of tourism».
The Arco da Vila Interpretive Center will also contribute to this growth, «a space that is a happy initiative and a heritage unknown to tourists, Farenses and the Algarve».
The president of CCDR David Santos was also present at the ceremony, as the work had community financing which resulted in “very small investments for the entities”.
The official considered that the «Historical Heritage is fundamental in Faro and in the Algarve and must be rehabilitated and see the paradox here: the Tourist Office with more visitors is in one of the councils that has fewer beds, this is largely because of its heritage».
Paulo Santos, councilor with responsibility for Culture at the Chamber of Faro, explained to Sul Informação that the idea of opening Arco da Vila to the public came “from a meeting with two young entrepreneurs from the city, who wanted to take guided tours here, and I said that there was no access, but from then on we started to develop the project and now the space is open to everyone».
For the councilor, «this is the main symbol of the city and tourists will flock to see it. Those who come here will not find that their time has been misused, because the climb to Arco da Vila offers two views: to the scissor roofs of the Old Town and a magnificent view over the dock and the ria».
Although the Interpretive Center is already open, with exhibition areas, videos about the city, access to the clock mechanism, or to the Chapel of Senhora do Ó, the climb of visitors to the top, next to the bell, will have to wait a few more days.
«The end of the visit, the access to the tower, needs an opinion from the Regional Directorate of Culture for the placement of guards to ensure the safety of those visiting that area. But very soon, between 10 and 15 days, which is the time for the opinion to come and for us to place guards, it will be available», revealed Paulo Santos.
Until January, visitors can enter the Interpretative Center and visit Arco da Vila for free, but after that date, access to the general public costs three euros, and there will be different prices for the type of public. the inhabitants of Faro will benefit from discount.
The Arco da Vila Interpretive Center will be managed by Ambifaro, and revenue from entries will be channeled, as revealed by Rogério Bacalhau, for the promotion of the municipality.
See the photos of the opening and some of the sights and objects you can see in the new Arco da Vila Interpretive Center:
Photos Nuno Costa|Sul Informação
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