From the streets close to the River Gilão to the castle walls where you have the best view of the city, Tavira seduces and makes us want to discover its corners and uncover its secrets.
There is a certain oriental charm to this city, in its “scissor” or hipped roofs, which cut into the sky in a peculiar way, and in the trellis doors made of interwoven wood that protect the houses, letting in air and sound, heritage of the Arabs who inhabited the region.
Tavira is spread across both banks of the river, in a maze of narrow streets and white houses that makes you want to walk around without rushing. Jardim do Bandstand is the liveliest area, where many people stroll around enjoying an ice cream or the fresh air, especially at night when shows or other events bring even more life to this area. This is where Mercado da Ribeira is located, which after abandoning its original functions is now an entertainment and leisure space.
The oldest bridge, believed to be of Roman origin, is a 17th century structure with walled parapets from which we enjoy a beautiful view of the houses. Not as much as what we can see by climbing the castle tower, without a doubt the best viewpoint in the city, covering the wavy roofs, the domes of the churches, the river and the salt flats, up to the blue line of the sea that is its limit on the horizon.
In addition to the panorama, the effort of the climb is compensated by everything we can admire along the way. For example, when we cross the wall gate and are surprised by the beautiful Renaissance portal of Misericórdia, one of Tavira's 37 churches. We can also visit the Islamic Center to learn more about the city's history or the Municipal Museum, housed in Palácio da Galeria, its most notable building. A little further up is the castle and the Church of Santa Maria, which occupies the place of the former larger mosque; Here D. Paio Peres Correia and the seven knights of the Order of Santiago rest from the work they had to do to conquer Tavira from the Moors in 1242. Very close by, the Church of Santiago, which was also built on an old mosque, the smallest.
On the other side of the river, on the front hill, there are more churches to visit such as the Ermida de São Brás of medieval origin, the Igreja da Ordem Terceira do Carmo, one of the most sumptuous temples in the Algarve with exuberant baroque decoration, or the Church of São Paulo, simpler and austere.
To offset the energy spent on so many trips, there's nothing like trying the gastronomic specialties, especially fresh fish and seafood, such as octopus cooked in different ways or razor clam rice. Tuna, in steaks or steaks, also stands out on the menus, as fishing was one of the most traditional activities in this area. We can learn more about this art at the Museum Center in Arraial Ferreira Neto, close to the mouth of the Gilão River, built to house fishermen and their families and now converted into a hotel.
The city's charms continue to the Ria Formosa, which we reach by following the road parallel to the Gilão River and flanked by white salt marshes where you can see birds such as the long-legged bird, the flamingo or the avocet. At its end, in Quatro Águas, we can take the boat that crosses it and takes us to the beach on the strip of sand that separates the estuary from the sea. There are 11 kilometers of sand, which includes the beaches of Ilha de Tavira, Terra Estreita, Barril and Homem Nu, and where we can rest from this well-packed tour.
Tavira-Mar Island Beach
Tavira Island is part of the string of sandy islands that separate the Ria Formosa from the Atlantic Ocean and is integrated into the Natural Park area, being the only one of these islands with tree vegetation.
Considered one of the best in Southern Europe, the beach is located at the eastern end of an immense stretch of sand, surrounded by a calm and warm sea, which can be accessed by boat from Tavira, one of the most beautiful cities in the Algarve.
Terra Estreita Beach
Inserted in the narrowest part of the sand cordon that separates the Ria Formosa from the sea, Praia da Terra Estreita is a very peaceful area, almost still wild. The beach, however, has good support infrastructure, which includes nets for football and volleyball.
This beach area is only accessible by boat, which takes a five-minute journey from Cais de Santa Luzia, a location well known to lovers of good cuisine, as it is home to some of the most popular restaurants in the region.
Barril Beach
Magnificent for its sand as far as the eye can see and for the calm and excellent temperature of its waters, Praia do Barril is integrated into the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
To access this paradise you need to cross the floating bridge over the Ria and take the picturesque train that departs from nearby Pedras d'El Rei, or cross over on the boat that leaves from Ilha de Tavira and which has regular services during the summer.
Near Praia do Barril and about 1.5 km from the train terminal, there is a fenced area reserved for the practice of Naturism.