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Tavira &
surroundings
Tavira is one of the oldest and most picturesque towns in
the Algarve. The quiet, friendly ambience makes it a pleasant and relaxing
place to stay. It is set on an estuary of the Ségua river at the foot of
a hill girded by the remains of ramparts built by King Dinis and is one of the
Algarve's loveliest town, which, although popular, has retained its ancient
architecture - it is a perfect blend of old and new…
The town
twenty-one churches, most of these are not in use or only used on occasional
days of the year, but can be visited if you ask around. There is a fort dating
back to 600AD, a Roman bridge links the two parts of the town across the River
Gilão.. The old fish market which has been developed into a cultural
centre.
There are numerous restaurants, offering local and European
dishes, most offering beautiful views over the river.
Shopping is a
pleasure with a choice of local shops selling traditional collectable and
modern items. The new market is worth a visit with fresh fish daily and lovely
local produce.
A boat service will take you to the fabulous beach on
Tavira Island.
Near to Tavira Pedras del Rei, where you can take a small
train over the lagoon to the beach. To the east of Tavira and overlooking the
sea is the still original traditional village of Cacela-a-Velha used by the
Phoenicians and later becoming the possession of the Knights of Santiago in
1240.
Only 10 minutes drive away is the lovely old fishing village of
Santa Luzia set on the coastline famous for its pretty traditional painted
fishing boats. It is a centre of octopus fishing, as can be seen from the heaps
of numbered earthenware pots on the quayside. The village has numerous fish
restaurants selling local dishes where you can choose from the days catch.
There is access via a safari boat to the beach
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Climate
Summers are hot and sunny, but are often refreshed by cooling breezes from
the coast with July and August being the hottest. The autumn and winter months
are mild, but you will need a jacket in the evening. January is the coolest
month of the year. Most of the rain falls during the winter; rain is rare
between June and September. |
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