This Bones Chapel in Faro is Something You Have to See

The Chapel of Bones in Faro was the one place I knew I wanted to visit during my final day in Portugal. Officially called the Capela dos Ossos, this small chapel inside Igreja do Carmo is lined from floor to ceiling with human bones and skulls.

Yup, you read that correctly. Human bones.

I came across an old Atlas Obscura article about it before my trip, and it stopped me in my tracks. I had never heard of such a place. A chapel decorated with bones? Would it be creepy? Probably. But it also sounded fascinating, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Faro was the final destination of my 10 days in Portugal. I had only one full day in the city, and I’ve shared everything I did in my one-day Faro itinerary.

My flight left early the next morning, so I had only one full day in the city. I didn’t want to overplan it. I chose one thing I really wanted to see, then let the rest of the day unfold naturally.

That one thing was the Chapel of Bones.

It was only a five-minute walk from Hotel Sol Algarve, which made the decision easy. My plan was to visit the chapel, wander through Faro without a set agenda, and hopefully find grilled octopus for dinner.

In this guide, I’ll show you what the Chapel of Bones in Faro looks like, what it was like to visit alone, and what you should know before going.

What Is the Bones Chapel in Faro?

The Faro Bones Chapel is known in Portuguese as the Capela dos Ossos, which translates to Chapel of Bones. You may also see it called Capela dos Ossos de Faro or simply the bone chapel.

It is located inside the Igreja do Carmo, also known as the Carmo Church, in Faro Portugal. Its full name is Igreja da Ordem Terceira de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo, or Church of the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The 18th-century church belongs to the Carmelite tradition and is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture.

The church sits just outside the old town and is easy to reach on foot from most areas of the city.

The chapel is lined from floor to ceiling with human bones and skulls, carefully arranged in patterns. These bones date primarily to the 18th century and 19th century and were placed here by Carmelite monks as part of a religious tradition known as memento mori.

I didn’t know this but Portugal has several bone chapels. The most famous one is located in Évora, but the Faro chapel is smaller, quieter, and much easier to visit if you’re short on time.

Carmo Church

First Impressions of the Carmo Church

Before you see a single bone, you enter the Carmo Church itself.

If you’re expecting something dark or eerie right away, that’s not what you get. The Igreja do Carmo looks similar to other Portuguese churches I had seen in Lisbon and Porto. White walls, clean lines, and a traditional exterior.

Inside, the church is beautiful.

Gold covers much of the interior, contrasting sharply with the white walls. It feels bright, warm, and peaceful. This is a working church with weekly mass.

The church itself is free to visit, which makes it an easy stop even if you’re unsure about the bone chapel.

Inside the Carmo Church

How to Visit the Bones Chapel in Faro

The entrance to the Capela dos Ossos is inside the church complex and clearly marked.

When I visited, admission was 2 euros. There was no ticket booth or line. Just a person seated at a small table collecting the fee.

A simple sign points you in the right direction.

Before reaching the chapel, you walk through a few interior rooms that function as small museum spaces. These rooms display religious artifacts and provide historical context about the Carmo Church, the monks, and Faro’s past.

At the end of the last room, you step into a small garden courtyard. After being indoors, the open space and greenery feel grounding.

From there, follow the short walkway. On the left is the arched entrance to the bone chapel.

This is where the bones begin.

Arched entryway to the bones chapel in Faro

Walking Into the Capela dos Ossos

The entrance archway itself is lined with bones.

Not subtle. Not hidden.

Look above the entrance and you’ll see the Portuguese inscription, “Pára aqui a considerar que a este estado hás-de chegar,” which translates roughly to, “Stop here and consider that you will reach this state too.”

Well, that’s one way to set the mood before walking into a room filled with human bones!

When you step inside, you are completely surrounded by bones. Floor to ceiling. Wall to wall. Skulls and long bones arranged in neat, repeating patterns. Even the altar is made of bones.

It sounds unsettling, and I won’t pretend it’s a normal thing to see. These are real human remains. But the feeling inside the chapel surprised me.

It felt strange, but not creepy.

The chapel is small and quiet. When I visited, there were only a few people inside. Everyone spoke softly. No one stayed too long, but no one rushed either.

Most of the walls are protected by a clear plexiglass barrier, about six feet high. This preserves the chapel and also provides some distance, which makes the experience more comfortable. A few bones are exposed and reachable where you can touch them (yup, I touched) but most people simply observed.

You may notice empty cavities where skulls once sat. Time has passed, and the chapel has changed, which somehow makes it feel more human.

Photos are allowed, and people were respectful when I visited.

Floor to ceiling bones!

A Moment That Felt…Ewww

For the most part, the bone chapel felt calm. But there was one moment that pulled me out of that feeling.

In one section, I noticed a trail of ants running through the bones.

That part was unsettling. Seeing ants moving through human bones was a sharp reminder that these were once real people. Real bodies.

It didn’t ruin the visit, but it made everything feel very real.

Eww. Yes. Definitely eww.

Skulls and bones

How Many Bones Are in the Faro Bone Chapel?

There is no exact count, but it’s believed the bones chapel Faro contains the remains of over 1,000 people.

The walls, columns, and altar are constructed almost entirely of bones and skulls. Compared to the larger bone chapel in Évora, this one is smaller, but standing inside it still feels overwhelming in scale.

There isn’t a single wall untouched.

Whose Bones Are They?

The bones inside the Capela dos Ossos came from an old cemetery belonging to the Carmelite Order.

When the remains were exhumed, rather than simply reburying them elsewhere, the bones and skulls were used to create the chapel you see today. The chapel was completed in 1816 and contains the remains of more than 1,000 Carmelite friars, including an estimated 1,245 skulls.

Knowing whose bones they were made the whole thing even more fascinating to me. These weren’t fake props or replicas. They were actual people who had been part of the religious community here.

Ceiling covered in bones

How Long Does It Take to Visit?

This is one of the reasons the bones chapel Faro is such an easy addition to your day.

I spent about one hour, maybe a bit longer, visiting the Carmo Church, the museum rooms, the courtyard, and the chapel. You could do it faster if you’re only planning on seeing the chapel of bones.

It fits perfectly into a short stay or a final day in the city.

Best Time to Visit

I went earlier in the day and was glad I did.

While I was inside the chapel, it was quiet. As I was leaving, a bus of tourists arrived. Timing matters.

Opening hours are 9:00-6:00 Monday through Friday, but they’ll close between 1:00-3:00. Saturday they are open 9:00-1:00 only.

Is the Bone Chapel in Faro Scary?

This is the question most people ask.

I expected it to be creepy. It’s bones. Human bones.

But in reality, it felt respectful, quiet, and thoughtful. It’s not graphic. It’s not meant to shock you. That being said, your reaction may be different than mine.

If you’re even a little curious, it’s absolutely worth visiting.

Courtyard outside the bones chapel

Wandering Faro with No Agenda

After the chapel, I wandered.

Faro is easy to explore on foot. I walked through the old town, drifted down side streets, and let the day unfold without a plan.

One of my favorite parts of solo travel is leaving room for unexpected discoveries. If you’re planning your own trip, my How to Plan a Solo Trip guide walks you through everything from choosing a destination to booking accommodations.

Eventually, I found grilled octopus for dinner.

Later, I walked over to the marina overlooking the Ria Formosa and watched my final sunset in Portugal.

It was calm. Simple. Exactly what I needed.

Why the Bones Chapel Faro Is Worth Visiting

If you’re visiting Faro Portugal and want something memorable that doesn’t feel overwhelming, the Capela dos Ossos is an easy yes.

It’s affordable. Central. Doesn’t take long. And it offers something you won’t see everywhere.

You don’t need to love churches or history. Just a little curiosity.

Sometimes the places that sound strange at first are the ones you remember the most.

And this was absolutely one of them.

Looking for more Portugal inspiration? Visit my Portugal Travel Guide to find all my Portugal itineraries, city guides, and travel tips.