Arco da Vila is the majestic main gateway to Faro's walled Old Town. Designed by Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri and inaugurated in 1812, it is a masterpiece of neoclassical architecture. Built on the site of an old Arab gate damaged in the 1755 earthquake, it still preserves the Moorish horseshoe arch below. The gate is crowned by a statue of Saint Thomas Aquinas and a small bell tower. A unique feature is the stork nests regularly built on the terrace. Entry is free and accessible around the clock year-round.