The Modernist Architecture of Faro - Guided Tour (2 hours)

Faro has a modernist secret. Join Chris de Oliveira for a two-hour walk through the city's mid-century buildings and the stories behind them.

Please arrive 5 minutes before the start. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

Most people come to Faro and never look up.

Join Chris de Oliveira — co-founder of The Modernist Faro and The Modernist Weekend — for a two-hour walk through the city's streets to uncover one of southern Portugal's best-kept architectural secrets: a remarkable concentration of modernist buildings that emerged in the mid-20th century, quietly shaping the identity of this small Algarve capital.

This is not a standard city tour. It is a guided journey through the ideas, the architects, and the stories behind Faro's modernist landscape — designed for anyone who looks at a building and wants to know why it was built the way it was.

Along the way, you will encounter some of the city's most compelling examples:

Casa Verde — a pastel Art Deco landmark whose geometric elegance speaks to a moment when Faro was quietly reinventing itself.

The Modernist — designed by Lisbon architect Joel Santana, a building that embodies the core modernist conviction that form and function are inseparable.

Edifício Tridente — one of Manuel Gomes da Costa's most distinctive urban interventions, its bold presence a testament to the ambition that defined his approach to the city.

Edifício Chelsea — another signature work by MGC, where the dialogue between structure, facade and street reveals the full sophistication of his modernist vocabulary.

Casa Gago — a creation of Manuel Gomes da Costa, the Algarve's most significant modernist architect, whose work runs as a thread through this entire edition of The Modernist Weekend.

And many more buildings...

More than a walk, this is an invitation to see Faro differently. With Chris as your guide, you will leave with a new understanding of the architects, the ambitions, and the ideas that shaped this unique chapter of Portuguese architecture — and a very different relationship with the streets you thought you knew.

Friday 6 November · 09h30 · Meeting point: Café Aliança, Faro · Duration: 2 hours · 20€ · in English

Getting there Parking Marina — 2 min walk Parking Ponthina — 5 min walk Free Parking Largo São Francisco — 7-10 min walk

About The Modernist Weekend

The Modernist Weekend is an independent event organised by The Modernist Faro, rooted in a commitment to architectural knowledge and heritage conservation.

All proceeds go directly towards the event and raising awareness of the Algarve's modernist heritage.

The Modernist Faro — themodernist.pt

Photos credit: Aymeric Warmé-Janville