From the Origins to the Medieval Construction
Faro Cathedral, also known as the Church of Saint Mary (Igreja de Santa Maria), was built following the Christian reconquest of Faro from the Moors in 1249, during the reign of King Afonso III. The temple was erected upon the remains of a Paleo-Christian basilica which, during the Moorish period, had been converted into a mosque.

In the Moorish era, to the ancient Roman name of Ossónoba was added, after the 9th century, the reference to Santa Maria do Ocidente (Saint Mary of the West) by Ibn Harun and, later, Faaron. In 1251, two years after the reconquest, the Archbishop of Braga, Dom João Viegas, began construction of the church, dedicated to Our Lady. In 1271, the temple was entrusted to the Order of Saint James as a reward for their services in the taking of the settlement.

Under the reign of King Dinis, from 1321 onwards, the church underwent a new phase of works, being enlarged and redesigned. Some architectural elements from the original 13th and 14th-century building are still preserved, such as the bell tower and the two transept chapels. In the 15th century, the temple underwent further remodelling, of which medieval remains still exist, including the portico, the tower, the lateral transept chapels with ribbed vaults, and an interior side door.

Elevation to Cathedral
In 1577, during the episcopate of the humanist bishop Dom Jerónimo Osório, the church was elevated to Cathedral status, becoming the seat of the Diocese of the Algarve following the transfer of the bishopric from Silves to Faro.

The English Attack of 1596
However, in 1596, the city was invaded by English troops led by Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, who sacked and set fire to the church, destroying much of its interior, including the altars and wooden ceilings.

Baroque Reconstruction
Following this attack, extensive reconstruction work began, introducing Doric columns that support the semi-circular arches separating the building’s three aisles. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the church was enriched with gilded woodcarvings and Baroque decorative elements, which today represent one of the most valuable ensembles of that period in the Algarve.

Earthquakes and Restorations
The earthquakes of 1722 and 1755 caused further damage to the building, necessitating successive restoration works that significantly altered its original design.

The Cathedral Today
Today, Faro Cathedral features a longitudinal plan with three aisles of four bays, separated by Doric columns, a tripartite rectangular chancel, and a main chapel with a coffered ceiling. The main entrance is through a quadrangular galilee (porch) preceding the pointed arch portal situated beneath the bell tower. The north façade features a portal with a shaped pediment decorated with plasterwork and an ogival padded wooden door. The bell tower, which survived various periods of destruction, is now one of the city’s finest viewpoints.

The Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of the Algarve, currently Dom Manuel Neto Quintas.