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Tavira
Pyramid shaped Roman tiled roofs of white washed houses, amongst orange almond and fig trees decorate the skyline of the picturesque town of Tavira, which is located just east of Faro on the Algarve coastline. 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.
Visitors will find that Tavira is well equipped with a vast array of supermarkets and souvenir shops, which cater to tourists on holidays in Tavira. There is an upmarket handcraft shopping centre called "Old Market" for discerning shoppers. The town has a fresh produce market daily.
Similar to a lot of the Algarve resorts, the cuisine is exceptional in Tavira with an international and seafood specialities widely available. There are numerous restaurants along the quayside and riverbank, serving excellent cuisine at reasonable prices. Recommendations for shellfish and fish dishes are Nora Velha, Marisqueira 4 Aguas and Portas do Mar.
The many bars and cafes offer the choice for visitors to either watch the world go by from one of the chic pavement cafes in Tavira, or for a more lively night in the busy bars followed by energetic dancing in the Ubi Discotheque.
With panoramic beaches of white sands and turquoise waters in a warm climate, Tavira is a tropical paradise waiting to be explored. Visitors can go hunting for seashells on Tavira Island, discover the picturesque town of Tavira, play golf on the Benamor Course or try out the range of water sports available. It is a good idea to hire a car and explore into Spain to the East (Tavira is close to the border) and along the rest of the Algarve to the West.
