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- Destinations
- Europe
- Portugal
- Algarve
- Tavira
Tavira
The holiday resort destination of Tavira, to the east of Faro in
the south-east corner of Portugal, is one of the most photogenic
towns along the Algarve coast, sporting white-washed houses topped
with decorative chimneys and pyramid shaped Roman-tiled roofs, set
among orange, fig and almond trees. The charming town, on the Gilao
River, dates back to around 2,000 BC, and also boasts a Moorish
Castle, with some splendid views from the ramparts.
There are some attractive churches (37 of them to be exact) to
see on holiday in Tavira, including the Church of the Misericordia
with a beautiful Renaissance door and carved high altar. Not many
of the buildings pre-date the devastating earthquake of 1755, which
destroyed much of the Algarve, but the town was painstakingly
rebuilt with many fine 18th century buildings.
Tavira flanks both banks of the river, which are linked by a
Roman bridge. Along the coast and on an island opposite the town
(reached by ferry) are some beautiful isolated sandy beaches, well
worth visiting while on holiday in the area.
Information & Facts
Activities
Hunt for seashells on a Tavira Island holiday, and enjoy a
variety of watersports, explore the quaint town itself, or play
golf at the nearby Benamor Course. It is a good idea to hire a car
and explore into Spain to the East (Tavira is close to the border)
and along the rest of the Algarve to the West.
Language
Portuguese is the official language, but English is
widely spoken and understood.
Money
Portugal is a member of the European Union and its official
currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. There
are numerous banks, bureaux de change and ATMs available in main
cities and tourist destinations. Foreign currency can be exchanged
at banks, bureaux de change and automatic currency exchange
machines. Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 3pm Monday to
Friday. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers
cheques.
Night Life
There are bars and cafés aplenty in Tavira, though the town is
not famous for its nightlife. Docas, near the central market, has
number of lively bars. Arco Bar mixes up some great cocktails, or
for a more chilled out evening The Poet, in the middle of town,
always attracts a good crowd. Patrick's is popular with expats, and
UBI is a sleek bar located in a former tuna factory.
Restaurants
Like most of the holiday resort towns on the Algarve, Tavira is
a food-lovers haven, especially for those who enjoy seafood. There
are numerous restaurants along the quayside and riverbank, serving
excellent cuisine at reasonable prices. Recommendations for
shellfish and fish dishes are Nora Velha, Marisqueira 4 Aguas,
Portas do Mar and O Pátio. Alternatively, Vela 2 and Micromania are
popular with locals.
Shopping
Tavira is well equipped with utilitarian supermarkets for
self-caterers on holiday, and many souvenir shops selling cork
items, lace, embroidered goods and shell art. There is an upmarket
handcraft shopping centre called "Old Market" for discerning
shoppers. The town has a fresh produce market daily.
Time
Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to
Saturday before last Sunday in October).