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. Then too there are some
attractive churches (37 of them to be exact), 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.
