Description Tavira

Booking.com

Tavira is a Portuguese city in the District of Faro, region and sub-region of the Algarve, with about 13 400 inhabitants. It is located in the Sotavento area (eastern Algarve).

It is the seat of a municipality with 606.97 km² in area and 26,167 inhabitants (2011), subdivided into 6 parishes. The municipality is limited to the north by the municipality of Alcoutim, to the east by Castro Marim and by the western part of the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, to the southwest by Olhão, to the west by São Brás de Alportel, to the northwest by Loulé and to the south coastline in the Atlantic Ocean.

It was in this place that the Roman city of Balsa appeared in the century. I a. C., on the way between Ossonoba (Faro) and Baesuris (Castro Marim), where fishing and fish salting are developed. With a privileged geographical location, between the Algarve mountains and the course of the River Gilão, it was also the place chosen by Muslims to establish themselves between the century. VIII and XIII, giving it the name ´Tabira´, origin of the current Tavira. However, there is no conclusive evidence on whether Balsa and Tabira were the same settlement ...

It then became an important fishing and support port for the armies and armadas that defended the Portuguese coast and the coastal cities conquered in North Africa. It was also an export port for salted fish, dried fruits, wine and other products. In 1489, King D. João II resided here for a few months and, in 1520, it was elevated to city by D. Manuel I.

In the century. XVII, Tavira continues to be the great commercial hub of the Algarve. Much of the cultural heritage dates back then, also revealing the influence of religious power. Even today we can visit 21 churches in the city, among which the Church of São Paulo, the Church of Santo António, the Church of Carmo and the Church of São Francisco stand out.

In Tavira, it is also important to highlight the traditional houses that are found in the part, with their reixa doors and "scissor" roofs. The reixa doors are made of wooden slats and allow ventilation even with the windows and shutters of the doors closed. The "scissor" roofs are made up of small gabled roofs, each corresponding to a division of the house. "Scissors" is the name given to the crossing of the beams on which the roofs rest.

In addition to historical interest, one of Tavira's greatest attractions is its natural heritage. The Gilão River, which bathes the city, leads us to the sea, where we find the Island of Tavira, an extensive sand with 11 km parallel to the coast and which integrates the Ria Formosa Natural Park. These beaches with calm waters and white sand are the most appreciated on the Algarve coast. The connections between Tavira and the Island are made by routes (next to the city market or at the Quatro Águas site) and by taxi boats, according to the weather and availability. Be sure to visit Cacela Velha.