Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

  Vila Real Santo Antonio

Tavira is one of the prettiest towns in the Algarve region of Portugal. The town, which is split in two by the Rio Gilão, was largely destroyed in 1755 earthquake.

Fortunately the seven-arched 'Roman bridge' survived the earthquake though has, recently, been dated as a 17th century construction. Tavira was rebuilt during the 18th century  with elegant townhouses lining the streets, giving the town a quiet sophistication it still retains today.  

Tavira is situated on the eastern side of the Algarve and has, for the most part, escaped mass tourist development. Tavira is predominantly a fishing port though over the past decade has been attracting the attention of more and more tourists in search of culture and history on the Algarve and of course to try out  new golf courses opened nearby.

The town is a maze of cobbled streets with cafes and seafood restaurants on just about every corner and it is possible to enjoy a leisure stroll without bumping into throngs of bikini clad tourists in search of a beach.

Tavira does have a beach though, around 11 kilometres away on the Ilha de Tavira (Island of Tavira). The island, which forms part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, has some of the most unspoilt beaches on the Algarve and can be reached daily by ferry.

Roof Tops of Tavira

Santiago Church in Tavira

Only some of the exterior walls of the castle of Tavira still stand and for those brave few it is possible to scale the battlements (minus guard rails) and marvel at the views they provide. The castle of Tavira was constructed originally by the Moors on the site of an earlier Phoenician construction.

The castle was later rebuilt under the orders of King Dinis in 1292. Inside the castle walls there are beautifully manicured gardens and for photographers the battlements do provide a bird's eye view of the town of Tavira.

Cobbled Streets of Tavira

Tavira Castle's Tower

Tavira is easy to locate with good road and rail links for both neighbouring Spain (28 kilometres) and Faro airport (30 kilometres). Property prices in and around Tavira due to it's growing popularity and proximity to airports have seen an increase in the past five years, however if you are thinking of relocating there are still good deals to be had if you look closely enough.