Tavira - Tavira visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Tavira' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Algarve.

Tavira is considered to be one of the most attractive towns in the Algarve in south Portugal. The town lies at the mouth of the River Gilão (Rio Gilão), close to Faro. It contains several old buildings, though, like much of the Algarve, suffered badly in the 1755 earthquake. Today Tavira is growing in popularity as a tourist destination, with people coming for the relatively unspoilt beaches, beautiful countryside and various golf courses. The beaches lie on sand-bar islands that run along the coast.

The history of Tavira dates back to the Bronze Age (1000 BC), it was one of the first Phoenician settlements in the region. The Phoenicians stayed until about 400BC. The next main occupiers were the Romans, who established a large settlement and port in Balsa, some 7km from Tavira. Then, between the 8th and 13th centuries the Moors occupied the region. Their influence can still be seen today in the architecture of some of the houses and the castle. The Moors also built the 'Roman' bridge that spans the River Gilão and the town became a very important fishing port. In 1242 Dom Paio Peres Correia took the town from the Moors for the Portuguese.

Tavira Tourist Attractions

• Tavira Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) - Ruins of the Roman and then Moorish castle above Tavira. Offers good views of the town and surrounding area.
• Igreja Santa Maria do Castelo - mosque converted into a church close to the castle containing the graves of 7 nights killed by the Moors after an agreed ceasefire.
• Igreja da Misericórdia - one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Algarve, this church was built in 1541 decorated inside with 18th century azulejos tiles.
• Igreja do Carmo - 18th century church on the northern side of the Gilão, with fine talha dourada decoration.
• Roman Bridge - probably built by the Moors, this was, for hundreds of years, the only bridge across the river. Rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, damaged by floods in 1989/90 and now only open to pedestrian traffic.
• Praça da República - old town center, surrounded by covered markets, a municipal park and various street cafes and hotels.
• Ilha da Tavira - long island along the west coast with excellent beaches and long sand dunes. Ferry services run from the Gilão near to the covered market. There is also a pedestrain bridge to the island near Santa Lucia.
• Luz de Tavira - buildings decorated in traditional 'platibandas' borders painted with geometrical or floral motifs with elements influenced by later Art Nouveau style.
• Cabanas - island separated from mainland by an arm of the Formosa River with isolated beaches.
• Conceição - Small village with a beach and golf course just east of Tavira.
• Santa Luzia Beach - very long beach perfect for those seeking solitude and quiet.
• Golf - the Benamor and Colina Verde golf courses are nearby.

Tavira Tourist Information Office
Rua da Galeria, 9
8800 Tavira
Tel. ++351 281-322511

Car: Tavira is about 40km east of Faro on the N125, and about 30km west of Monte Francisco, Guadiana River and the border of Spain.
Train: Porta Nova Station, Tavira Station.