This Cathedral building was started in 1251, two years after the Christian Reconquest of Faro from the Muslim Moors. It has undergone several renovations and additions since, the last major changes made after the earthquakes in 1722 and 1755. A rather sad historical fact is that in 1596 the city of Faro and the Cathedral were sacked and burned by the English troops of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, on their way back from the capture of Cádiz. The altars and the various chapels are marvelously decorated and carved, some with tiled walls with biblical illustrations. The entrance ticket (€2.00 for the over 65s) also gives access to the tower, from where there is great views of the town, the waterfront and the airport. As we stood there, a white stork flew past on its way to its nest on the roof of one of the nearby buildings. Across the inner courtyard there is a small bone chapel with skulls (mostly broken) built into the walls.