With many delightful courses, pure coastal breeze from the Atlantic ocean, great fresh gastronomy and fantastic weather conditions, Portugal is a Golf Bliss for most golfers.
Portugal Golf - Tavira
Tavira History
Tavira along with Lagos is one of the most architecturally attractive towns in
the Algarve and its origin seems to date back to around 2.000 BC. In about the
7th Century BC the inhabitants of this area prior to the arrival of the
Phoenicians were the fabled Tartessus that were possibly of a Celtic origin. The
location was of considerable importance during the Roman period and a large area
of some 45 hectares to the east of the present position of Tavira is being
excavated on which there is evidence of a very large Roman settlement. During
the occupation of the Algarve by the Moors this town was given considered
importance due to its fishing industry. Dom Paio Peres Correia took the town
from the Moors in anger in 1242 after seven of his principal Knights were killed
during a period of supposed truce. During the 17th Century the port in its river
was of was shipping produce such as salt, dried fish and wine. Like most of the
Algarve towns, mainly all the major buildings including its castle were
virtually destroyed by the earthquake of 1755.
Tavira Description
The town has since been rebuilt with many fine 18th Century buildings along with
its 37 churches - in fact it is referred to as the town of churches! The town
church of Miseric�rdia dates back to 1541 and Pal�cio de Galeria is a location
of historical interest besies being a cultural centre. A Roman bridge links the
two parts of the town across the River Gil�o. The church of Santa Maria do
Castelo is built on the site of a Mosque and in it are the tombs of Dom Paio
Peres Correia and his seven faithful Knights. Its original economic reliance on
the fishing industry has now been surpassed due to the change in the migration
patterns of the tuna fish. The population are mainly involved in the servicing a
military base whilst the surrounding area is still very rural and undeveloped.
This is now changing due to the demands of the tourist industry and opening of
golf courses in the near vicinity. The immediate beach for this town lies past
the salt pans and is reached by a ferryboat that takes the visitor to the long
attractive sandy-bar island known as Ilha de Tavira.
Tavira Nearby Locations
Near to Tavira is the areas Cabanas and Pedras del Rey, both originally very
small beachfront villages. Tourism has now become the main source of income for
many of the fishermen as there fishing has declined. It is in the latter place
that there exists an olive tree that is said to date from the 17th Century and
probably the oldest one of its type in Portugal. It stands 7.70 metres high and
its girth is 11.80 metres. In the small village of Luz de Tavira there is one of
the finest examples of Manueline art and craftsmanship around the southern door
of the Parish Church. Santa Luzia is a very small un-spoilt village with a fort
and has its name from an Italian effigy of the Virgin Mary that was recovered
from a shipwrecked. Near to the Torre de Aves there are the remains of a Roman
villa. To the east of Tavira and overlooking the sea can be found the original
traditional village of Cacela-a-Velha used by the Phoenicians and later becoming
the possession of the Knights of Santiago in 1240.
Tavira Information 800 296 296 - Support to Tourists 112 - SOS 281 320
500 - Town Hall 281 322
122 - Fire Brigade 281 322
022 - Police 281 324
023 - Hospital 281 324
023 - Emergency Treatment 281 325
473 - Ambulance 281 322
511 - Tourist Office
Tavira Events
Popular Saints Festivities
June
Town Holiday
24th June
Handicraft Festival
August
Feira de Boa Morte
August 1st
Feira de Santa Luzia
August 8th to 11th
Feira Franca Anual (Santo Estav�o)
September
Feira de Artesanato (Luz de Tavira)
September
Festa da N. Sra. da Sa�de e S�o Lu�s (Santa Maria)
September
Festival de Folclore de Tavira
September
Feira de S�o Francisco
October 4th to 6th
Market Day
3rd Monday of the month
Tavira Beaches
Praia do Barril
Praia de Cabanas
Praia das Cascas
Praia do Cochicho
Praia da Ilha de Tavira
Locations of Interest in Tavira
Arch - Porta da Muralha
Castle
Church - Igreja da Miseric�rdia
Church - Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo
Pal�cio da Galeria
Palacete dos Vaz Velho
Roman Bridge
Locations of Interest Surrounding Tavira
Astronomic Observatory - (S�tio do Malh�o)
Island of Barril
Island of Santa Luzia
Island of Tavira
Pego do Inferno Waterfall
Roman Site - Balsa (Luz de Tavira)
Roman Site - Cerro do Cavaco (Tavira)
Village - (Cachopo)
Portugal Golf
800 296 296 - Support to Tourists
