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| Tavira View web site
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The City of Tavira spreads on 611km2. Around 80% of the city is built in the mountain. On the ocean side, Tavira is surrounded by 18km of fine sand.
Half way away from the airport of Faro and the border with Spain, Tavira offers a privileged geographic situation being the main centre of Sotavento of Algrave.
The community is divided into 9 parishes, Santa Luzia, Santo Estêvão, Santa Maria, Santiago, Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo, Conceição, Cabanas, Cachopo and Luz de Tavira.
The mountain undulated, or abrupt, is covered with a dense vegetation and forest. The littoral zone is completely integrated in the Natural reserve of Ria Formosa.
The existence of Roman castles and megalithic monuments makes it possible to locate at the Neolithic era (4000 to 1500 before Christ) the human presence in the commune of Tavira.
Heiress of old civilizations, Tavira, was a Phoenician colony, occupied by Romans and an important city during the period of Moslem occupation.
In 1242, the knights of Santiago, ordered by D. Paio Correia Fathers, conquered the city for the Portuguese crown. Tavira received various royal visits and, in 1520, reached the rank of 'city'.
Tavira has a very rich historical heritage, which goes from archaeological testimonies to religious heritage, passing by palaces and lord houses, as well as the witnesses of the industrial archeology. The tour of the historical center leads the visitor to scenarios of rare beauty. Six monasteries and 23 churches translate the strong cultural tradition of the community.
Tavira is a ground of islands and long sandy beaches. It is for that reason that Tavira is an invitation to discovery.
To know some more, go on our Internet site by clicking on the bond on top of page.
The Municipality of Tavira extends on 611 km2. Nearly 80% of the perimeter of the municipality fit between the mountain and the gully. The littoral offers 18 km of fine sand beach, integrated in the Natural Park of the Ria Formosa. Halfway between the airport of Faro and the border with Spain, Tavira benefits from a privileged geographical location, being the principal center of Sotavento of Algarve.
The relation of the city with the sea is of great historical and economic importance.
Salt production, tuna fishing, sea fruits growing (nearly 80% of the national production of bivalves and other species) maintain a significant weight still today in the local economy.
The mountain sometimes corrugated, sometimes abrupt, is covered with a dense vegetation and forest.
Tavira has a very rich historical heritage. The Phoenician and Islamic presence, (museums are in construction), the importance of the military harbour during the Portuguese expansion period (the brigade which dominated the Straits of Gibraltar supported actions in north Africa), the religious and military architecture of the Renaissance and of Islamism, left marks of great value for the urban heritage and cultural tourism.
The city has many tourist installations of quality: hotel, leisure centre, sport centre, schools, huge coastline and islands. Therefore, Tavira is an invitation to the discovery.
Find out more by clicking on the link on top of the page.
What’s up in Tavira?
Places to go :
- An exhibition is being held in the Palace of the Gallery / Museum of Tavira, on the ancestral relation between Tavira and the sea “Tavira - Heritage of the Sea”.
Until September 2009 we invite you to enjoy and discover a multimedia room dealing with the territory planning with models and projections of the Phoenician city, maps, articles, Asian, Mediterranean and Northern Europe ceramic, old and recent movie and documentaries…
The Museum of Tavira organizes every month thematic tours around the “heritage of the Sea” and the “Heritage of Tavira”
- The Palace of the Gallery, has is also the exhibition “RAP- A Portuguese Robot in New York” telling the story of the robots and contemporary art.
The artist Leonel Moura is the European Commissary for the European year of innovation and creativity.
- Tavira, beyond from its tens of kilometres of strands and littoral, has also a vast rural area including mountains. Come and enjoy the “fair of the Spring Mountain”, which valorises the products and the traditions of the rural world and the local music and craft reveals the authenticity of the place during a few days. This event is organised by the association In Loco with the support of the City Council of Tavira.
- the food and wine know-how and heritage in Tavira is very rich. Every year, the city council of Tavira organizes a sea and mountain gastronomy festival to enhance the traditional meals of the region: hunting, cereal, seafood, and shellfish. From May 9th to 24th 2009!
Along the weeks:
- On Saturdays the churches of Tavira offer concerts in the framework of the program “Musíca nas Igrejas”.
Beyond the musical heritage, this event will make you discover the religious artistic heritage while visiting the temples.
- The municipal Library Alvaro de Campo (heteronym of Fernando Pessoa) proposed session of reading, book and writer presentations, and animation for the young public. There is also a Book fest during summer.
- The Science and Earth centre of Tavira is dedicated to water and energy issues. Schools and visitors can experiment several activities, follow guided tours and have an access to the Internet. This year, the Science and Earth centre of Tavira organized a programme named “learn and play with science”
Soon in Tavira...
- In July, August and September in Tavira, the programme « Verão em Tavira » offers many shows, festivals such as the Street art and theatre festival, the book festival, the crafts festival, exhibitions, concert and other animations…
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