Tourist Attractions in Tavira: What to See
Tavira's main point of reference is the Gilão River and its Roman pedestrian bridge. The river flows a couple of kilometers and joins the sea in the area of the islands and Ria Formosa natural park. Most of the city's tourist attractions are on the south side of the bridge, including what remains of the ancient city walls and Castle. In fact, nowadays the castle area is reduced to a small area on top of a small hill, next to the whitewashed church of Santiago. A few towers and some doors is what remains of what once were the city walls, like Porta de Dom Manuel nearby the tourist information office and overlooking Praça da República.
Depending on how long are your holidays in Tavira, you can plan things to do that require more or less time. The good news is that if you plan to stick to Tavira you can see and do a lot of things in a short period of time... Hey it's a small city!
What to See in Tavira
If you have just a week-end, you can pick some of the hottest tourist attractions to visit like 2 or 3 main churches, the castle, try to go to the Island, don't miss a visit to Pego do Inferno and do a walk around the city centre.
Tavira Island
Considered to be one of the best beaches in the Algarve Region, Tavira Island is the ex-libris of the city. It includes areas where naturism can be practised without problems.
Pego do Inferno
Located in Santo Estêvão, this idyllic scenery is composed by a waterfall forming a round pond, of a mediterranean green water.
Ria Formosa
Ria Formosa runs from Faro to near Castro Marim, it's one of Nature's untouched paradises and the ideal place if you want to have a nice and relaxed moment.
Tavira Churches
The impressive number of temples and religious institutions that passed through the city is one of the identity features of Tavira.
Tavira Castle
The Castle of Tavira lies in the town historic centre. Consists of remains of two square towers, one octagonal tower and walls on three sides.
Roman Bridge
Although the bridge itself is not Roman neither has a Roman origin. It was built when Tavira belonged to al-Andalus (the Islamic Domain of Iberia).
Forte do Rato
The Forte de Santo António de Tavira, also known as Forte do Rato or Forte da Ilha das Lebres is located to the east of Quatro Águas.
Torre D'Aires
Torre de Aires is a site of the village of Luz de Tavira. It has a watchtower that covers the Ria Formosa, long abandoned and in a state of degradation.
Astronomical Observatory
The old water tower has been renovated and converted into a point of cultural interest and a unique tourist attraction: the Tower of Tavira.
Old Town Market
The old market also known as Mercado da Ribeira, was built around 1887. Later it was decommissioned and became an historic and touristic landmark.
Salt Pans
Tavira is intertwined with the history of salt. Ria Formosa turns the salt pans into outdoor chemistry labs. Important several species of fauna.