Visit Tavira

Locations

Tavira

One of the reasons we’ve always loved this part of the Algarve is the fact that it has been left relatively untouched. This has helped preserve most of the beaches pristine and secluded from the big crowds.

The charm of Eastern Algarve

Tavira is a small old town with an incredible Roman, Arab and Christian heritage juxtaposed in a beautiful mix. Slightly removed from the coastline it sits on the shores of the small Gilão/Séqua river that divides its historical center into two halves. Heading south to the sea you’ll find the beautiful marshlands of the Ria Formosa system with endless saltpans still in production to this day.

The beautiful Ria Formosa lagunar system that stretches through a vast area all the way from the Ancao peninsula to Manta Rota, to the east of Tavira, has been a protected area since 1978. It’s the most important wetland in the south of Portugal and is set apart from the sea by a string of barrier islands. It’s a vital nursery to many marine and migrating bird species, being a haven for birdwatchers.

Just a short walk from Tavira’s Old Town, set in an old building that served as a convent for Cistercian nuns from as early as 1509, the Convento das Bernardas is a modern renovation undertaken by one of Portugal’s most acclaimed architects. The 2011 Pritzker laureate, Eduardo Souto de Moura.

The building has a privileged location facing the centuries-old Tavira saltpans, part of the Ria Formosa Nature Park. All this a stone’s throw from secluded pristine beaches, one of the reasons we’ve always loved this part of the Algarve is the fact that it has been left relatively untouched from big developments and resorts over the years. This has helped preserve most of the beaches pristine and secluded from the big crowds.