What to see in Tavira

Tavira is a historic town in the Algarve and, as such, has many tourist attractions.

 

One of these is the River Gilão, with a promenade that is excellent for walking along and enjoying the placid waters of the river. Next to the river, there’s also the Old Bridge and the old Ribeira Market, which are also must-sees for those coming to Tavira on vacation.

 

 

Praça da República is another place to visit. You can see the town hall and go to the Tourist Office to pick up your map of Tavira. There are also several terraces in Praça da República, ideal for sitting for a while sipping a refreshing drink and enjoying the beauty of the city.

 

Also in Praça da República, you can visit the Islamic Museum Center, which documents the Islamic period and its presence in the city of Tavira.

 

Once you’ve seen the Praça da República, it’s time to head to the Largo da Misericórdia, where you’ll find the Phoenician Ruins, the Renaissance portal of the Igreja da Misericórdia, the Tavira Municipal Museum and the Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Piedade.

 

 

We then head to Tavira Castle, which was conquered from the Moors in 1240 and protected the local population from invasions by pirates from North Africa. From here you can get an excellent view of the city of Tavira, the Ria Formosa and the Atlantic Ocean.

 

 

And because Tavira is a city full of historical monuments, we have one more to visit: the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo. It was built in 1242, after the conquest of Tavira by the Order of Santiago, and inside are painted statues and tombs of seven knights. In addition to the historical factor, the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo has a giant clock in the bell tower, which you can climb up to get a privileged view of the city.

 

To round off your stay in Tavira, you’ll need to visit Ilha de Tavira, where you can enjoy sunny days and take advantage of the island’s beautiful beaches.

 

 

If you don’t know where to stay during your visit to Tavira, check out the AP Maria Nova Lounge hotel, a 4-star hotel close to the city’s historic center, with everything you need for an incredible vacation.