Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Old Town
Enter the old town through the
Porta de Dom Manuel
, built in 1520 when Dom Manuel I
made Tavira a city. Around the back, along Calçada da Galeria, the elegant
Palácio da Galeria
281 320 540; Calçada da Galeria; admission €2, joint ticket with Núcleo Islâmico
10am-12.30pm & 3-6.30pm Tue-Sat winter, 10am-12.30pm & 3-6pm summer)
holds ex-
adult/child €3/1.50;
hibitions.
Largo da Porta do Postigo
is by another old town gate and is in the town's Moorish quarter.
CASTLE
Castelo
( 9am-7pm summer, 9am-5pm winter)
What's left of the castle is surrounded by a small
and very appealing garden. The defence might date back to Neolithic times; it was rebuilt
by Phoenicians in the 8th century and later taken over by the Moors. What stands today
dates mostly from 17th-century reconstruction. The restored octagonal tower offers fine
views over Tavira. Note: don't set the kids free here - ramparts and steps are without rail-
ing.
Igreja de Santiago
( Mass 9am Tue & Thu, 5pm Sun)
Just south of Tavira's castle is the whitewashed 17th-century
Igreja de Santiago, built where a small mosque probably once stood. The area beside it
was formerly the Praça da Vila, the old town square.
CHURCH
Torre da Tavira
(admission €4; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat)
The Torre da Tavira, which was formerly the town's water
tower (100m), now houses a camera obscura. A simple but ingenious object, the camera
obscura reveals a 360-degree panoramic view of Tavira, its monuments and local events,
in real time - all while you are stationary.
VIEWPOINT
Igreja da Misericórdia
CHURCH
