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[ Cachopo,
Sta. Catarina da Fonte do Bispo,
Tavira Sta. Maria, Sto. Estevão, Luz, Tavira Santiago,
Sta. Luzia, Conceição,
Cabanas de Tavira ]
Tavira is a charming town, which lies 20km northeast of Olhão.
Tavira was developed during the Moorish occupation and became one of
the largest and most important ports in the Algarve during the 15th century.
Due to the gradual silting of the Gião River, trading dropped
and tuna fishing became the main commercial activity. Towards the 1970's
there was also a decline in this industry due to the depletion of tuna
in the area and fishermen had to move further south and westward along
the Moroccan coast. Tavira boasts of 27 churches, but many of them are
only open for services.
The Church of Santa Maria do Castelo contains
the tomb of Dom Paio Peres Correia, who took Tavira from the Moors in
1224. The Igreja do Carmo is worthwhile visiting for it's interior. As
in many towns in the Algarve, many of the historic buildings were destroyed
in the Great Earthquake and so many of the old buildings found in Tavira
date back to the late 18th century. |
