Museu Maritimo Almirante Ramalho Ortigao

The Museu Maritimo Almirante Ramalho Ortigao is a small maritime museum on Rua da Comunidade Lusiada beside the harbour office, the Capitania do Porto de Faro, on the Doca de Faro in Portugal's Algarve region. It documents the relationship between Faro and the sea, with ship models, fishing tackle, navigation instruments and exhibits on the Algarve fishing and tuna industries that once shaped coastal life. Visitors walk through a modest set of rooms where detailed model vessels, nets, tools and nautical charts are displayed, and the collection gives useful background for anyone about to take a Ria Formosa boat trip or visit the fishing towns along the coast. The museum is run in connection with the Portuguese Navy, and its website is listed under marinha.pt. A visit takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and because the displays are compact the experience is easy to fit between the marina and the old town. Admission is low at about EUR 1. Opening hours have changed several times in recent years; sources give roughly 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 17:00 on weekdays, but the schedule is reduced and unreliable, so confirming with the Faro tourism office before walking over is strongly advised. The museum is about ten minutes on foot from the bus station along the Doca. Weekday afternoons are usually the quietest time, and the museum rarely draws crowds. Labels may be mostly in Portuguese, so visitors with limited Portuguese may benefit from a translation app. The surrounding Doca area gives views over the marina and boats, which pairs well with the museum visit and a walk back toward Jardim Manuel Bivar.