Historic Tavira
Tavira is one of the most attractive towns in the Algarve and its origin dates back to around 2.000 BC.
During the occupation of the Algarve by the Moors this town was considered of great importance due to its fishing
industry. Dom Paio Peres Correia took it from the Moors in anger in 1242 after seven of his principal Knights were killed during a period of truce. In the 17th Century the port
was of considerable importance, shipping produce such as salt, dried fish and wine. Like most of the Algarve its buildings were all virtually destroyed by the earthquake of 1755.
The town has since been rebuilt with many fine 18th Century fine buildings along with its 37 churches. A Roman bridge links the two parts of the town across the River Gilão. The church of Santa Maria do Castelo is built on the site of a Moorish Mosque and in it
are the tombs of Dom Paio Peres Correia and his seven Knights. Its original economic reliance on the fishing industry has now
changed with the altered migration patterns of the tuna fish and tourism
is now increasingly important. The population is in the region of 20,000 inhabitants
and the surrounding area is still very rural and undeveloped. This is now
slowly changing due to the demands of the tourist industry and opening of golf courses in the vicinity.
The beautiful long sandy beach at Ilha de Tavira is reached by
ferry.
Ria
Formosa
In close proximity to Tavira are the beachfront villages of Santa
Luzia, and Pedras del Rei. There is a magic about Santa Luzia and the
mirrored reflections of its fishermen's boats in the lagoon. It is
an excellet place to find good Portuguese restaurants. Pedras del Rei is
worth a visit as there is an olive tree that is said to date from the 17th Century and probably the oldest one of its type in Portugal. Standing 7.70 metres high
it has a girth of 11.80
metres. There is also a little train to the beach which is fun
especially for children.
In the small village of Luz de Tavira there is one of the finest examples of Manueline craftsmanship
(carved stone) around the southern door of the Parish Church. Nearby at Torre de
Aires there is the remains of a Roman villa.
To the east of Tavira and overlooking the sea is the
charming and unspoilt traditional village of Cacela Velha used by the Phoenicians and later becoming the possession of the Knights of Santiago in 1240. Cacela Velha
enjoys lovely elevated views of the tidal lagoon and the sea and is a
wonderful place to have a drink and watch the sun setting..
