Tag: Algarve

Things to do in and Around Tavira

Tavira is a small town in the eastern Algarve with a population of around 30,000, though this can increase considerably in the summer. It is 24 miles (38Km) from Faro airport and can be reached in well under an hour if you use the A22 motorway. You can also get there using the Algarve Regional Railway from central Faro with a journey time of 37 minutes. Tavira can date its origins back to over 100 years BC but much of what you see in the old town today dates back to the eighteenth century. Influences here are distinctly Moorish but the town also was a port in The Roman Empire. The town sits on either side of the River Gilão, the two sides are connected by rather modern road bridges and a a pedestrian only bridge in the centre of town. Tavira is a great base for exploring the Algarve, though to get the most out of your visit you will need a car. There are plenty of accommodation options here. We have stayed here twice recently, once at the Maria Nova Lounge Hotel and on the second occasion we rented an apartment through Airbnb for a few weeks.

This ideas for things to do in and around Tavira is by no means comprehensive but are some of the things we particularly enjoyed on our two recent visits.

Castelo

A visit to the castle is a good introduction to the town, offering some good, if not spectacular, views. There has been some sort of fortification here for centuries but what remains today dates back to the seventeenth century. The courtyard area has been developed into a small but very pleasant garden but for most visitors climbing the walls is the main attraction. As with many old fortifications in the Algarve there are not always handrails when climbing steps onto the walls so care is needed.

Camera Obscura

Constructed in what was once the town’s water tower the camera obscura gives you an unrestricted 360 degree view of the town. Unfortunately closed for renovations on both our visits it is due to reopen in January 2020 so it would be worth checking in advance.

Ponte Romana

Crossing the River Gilão and linking both sides of the town the Ponte Romana (Roman Bridge) was first built in the twelfth century and had n nothing to do with the Romans. The present stone bridge was built in the mid seventeenth century and is now pedestrian only making it a very pleasant crossing point to stop and linger for a few photographs.

Fish Market

Located in the new Municipal Market by the Avenida D Manuel bridge and well worth a visit if you are looking to buy fresh fish. The variety is amazing and you will certainly be spoilt for choice. For me one of the real pleasures of visiting Portugal is fresh fish. It never ceases to amaze me that despite the UK being an island really fresh fish is so difficult to come by these days. Here you select your fish, pay and then pass it to a close by stall where they will descale and prepare it for you any way you wish.

Ilha de Tavira

The Ilha de Tavira can be reached by a short ferry ride from either Tavira or Quatro Aguas. There are restaurants and cafe/bars on the island close to the ferry terminal but most are only open in the summer season when it can get very busy. The main attraction here is the most beautiful sandy beach facing the Atlantic Ocean and for most of its length very quiet, especially out of season. You can walk all the way to Praia do Barril at the far end of the island where you will find cafes and toilets and the anchors embedded into the sand dunes which stand as a monument to the former tuna fishing industry which was once big business in this part of the Algarve. You can leave the island here as there is a footbridge leading to the mainland just west of the small village of Santa Luzia.

Cacela Velha

This pretty and charming village just east of Tavira is regarded as one of the most beautiful on the Algarve and it is easy to see why. Here the small houses are whitewashed with brightly painted, often blue, borders around windows and doors. There is also a small fortress facing the ocean with great views over the beach and surrounding headlands. It can get very busy here so time your visit. For those who fancy the exercise there is a good cycle path to the village from Tavira.

Hire a Bike

There are two straightforward cycle routes from Tavira, both mainly on very quiet cycle paths. The first runs west from Tavira, passing through the octopus capital of Santa Luzia, with its many cafes, bars and restaurants, and onto the town of Fuzeta passing the salt flats just outside the town. Just after Santa Luzia you can take the footbridge and walk to Praia Barril but you will have to leave the bikes at the bridge as they are not allowed on the island. The ride to Fuzeta and back can easy be accomplished at a gentle pace with a few stops in four hours or so. If you time it right and you can call in for lunch at Marisqueira Os Fialos for some perfect grilled fish as you pass. A little shorter is the ride east from Tavira to Cacela Velha with a nice refreshment stop at the waterfront at Cabanas de Tavira on the way. We hired from Abilio Bikes in Tavira (R. João Vaz Corte Real Nº23) which have a range of different bikes, including ebikes, for hire by the half or full day.

Quinta dos Marim

Taking the regional road west from Tavira and just 3km outside Olhão is this delightful nature walk centred around the offices of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa. It is so peaceful here as you pass through a number of very different environments ranging from native woodland, salt flats, sand dunes and salt marsh. There is an old water mill to explore and while you can not guarantee a sighting of local animal life there is still more than enough to enjoy. If you want to explore more of the Ria Formosa boat trips are available from Olhão and Faro.

Take a Tour

There are a number of companies offering tours from Tavira, most are local but it is also possible to sign up for a day trip to Seville in Spain. Tours usually have very knowledgable guides and you get to know something about the local area that many tourists miss. We took an excellent trip out into the countryside to see how cork and olive oil are produced and it even included a pick up from our hotel. See the post here.

Alcoutim

A drive of around 41 miles (65Km) to the border town of Alcoutim is well worth it if you have the time. Alcoutim stands on the western bank of the River Guadalina which forms the border with Spain. It is a delightful town with some great options for lunch or a quick snack. A visit to castle is a must as it offers great views across the river into Spain.

The Tip of Europe

The Portuguese town of Sagres is on the western tip of the Algarve and close to the most south westerly point in Europe. All that you will find beyond here is ocean, and lots of it. Sailing due west from here there is nothing until you reach the coast of America almost 6000Km away. The coastline here is rugged and a bit wilder than the rest of the Algarve with big waves that not surprisingly attract a large number of surfers.

Sagres is only a short 33Km drive from the busy town of Lagos so makes for an ideal day trip. We drove fro Tavira in the eastern Algarve which is a ninety minute drive but most of that to as far as Lagos is on fast motorway. There is also a bus regular service from Laagos which takes around 45 minutes, Buses depart from the bus station in Lagos and stop outside the tourist office in Sagres. Some of these buses also go further to Cabo São Vicente but as not all do it is worth checking in Lagos if you wish to visit the lighthouse. Without transport it is a long 5Km walk from the town of Sagres.

Fortaleza de Sagres.

The main parking for the town is at the Fortaleza, there are plenty of spaces and it is free. From here it is just a short walk to the cliff top view over the Praia do Mareta and the many surfers riding the waves. It is here that Henry the Navigator is believed to have founded his school of navigation and prepared all those intrepid explorers for their journeys to come. Entrance is just three Euros and for that you can climb the walls for some spectacular views and walk the path around the headland which is fabulous and well worth the effort. Here you will also find local fisherman with rods and lines patiently waiting for a bite.

The walls of the fortress give a very good ariel view of the Rosa dos Ventos, a 50m diameter stone circle which is believed to be a representation of a compass used by sailors.

Cabo de São Vicente

This is the south westerly tip of Europe and its a wild and thrilling place. The lighthouse here dates from 1846 and is still in operation today. You will also find a small museum here along with a very good cafe, souvenir shops and toilets.

The views from the cliffs are spectacular with huge waves crashing onto the rocks and great views of the surrounding beaches. I can only image what it must be like on a stormy day. You really can see why it was once thought to be the “end of the world”.

Wines of Southern Portugal

The Algarve is Portugals most southerly wine region and is perhaps better known for its beaches, coastal scenery and golf courses than its wine. Production is tiny compared with regions such as the Duoro and Alentejo and you could easily spend time here and not see a vineyard but the wines are everywhere in restaurants and bars. There are four DOC’s (Deominação de Origem Contolada) which are Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Tavira.

Al-Ria Reserva 2016. Algarve. Casa Santos Lima has most of its vineyards north of Lisbon but does have some holdings in the Algarve located near the town of Tavira. This wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Syrah. Fermented in small stainless steel vats it then spent twelve months in French and American oak. The wine has great concentration of colour. There is masses of black fruits with a hint of mint and a nice touch of vanilla. It is rich, smooth and nicely balanced with a lingering spicey blackcurrant finish.

João Clara. Negramole. 2015. Algarve. Negramole was created over 200 years ago by crossing Pinot noir and Grenache and is is the principal grape variety in Madeira. It is a high yielding variety and there are some notable plantings in the Algarve. Quinta João Clara is located in Alcantarilha, close to the town of Silves. This is a rich wine with red berry fruits, fig and dried fruits. There is a touch of sweetness an d a delicate savoury finish

Villa Alvor Tinto. 2018. Algarve. A blend of Touring Nacional, Syrah, Aragonês (Tinta Roriz/Tempranillo) and Trincadeira. Medium bodied with soft plummy fruit and a nice dash of savoury spice. Soft, round and good value for money.

Quinta da Penina. Tinto Reserva. 2016. Algarve. Wines are produced from 22 hectares of vines at the winery near Portimão. This particular wine is a blend of Touring Nacional (55%), Aragonês (30%) and Alicante Bouschet (15%). A big and brooding wine with black fruits, vanilla, caramel and chocolate. Smooth and silky with tannins that are softening. The finish is savoury black fruits.

By contrast the Alentejo is Portugals second largest wine producing region after the Duoro with eight sub region classifications for its wine. Wines can be labelled as Alentejo DOC or Alentejano VR. The DOC wines are subject to stricter rules for their production whereas for the Alentejano classification winemakers have more freedom, especially in the grape varieties they may use. In general red wines of the region are blends which are round and soft which can be drunk young. Often described as easy drinking this does them no disservice at all, it is often exactly what you want in a wine.

Monte de Ravasqueira. Mocho Galego Signature. 2017. Alentejano. Monte de Ravasqueira is located about an hour from Lisbon where they make a large range of wines under a variety of labels. This wine is named after a small owl which is commonly found in the region. It is a blend of Aragonês, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet which has spent six months in new American oak. The wine has masses of soft black fruits with a nice touch of vanilla from the oak. it is smooth and slightly peppery with a nice balance and a touch of mint on the finish.

Monte de Ravasqueira. Guarda Rios. 2018. Alentejano. Named after the Kingfisher this wine is a blend of Aragonês, Syrah, and Alicante Bouschet. A real fruit driven, brooding wine with a nice hint of mint. This is soft and smooth with a super vanilla, plum finish.

Monte de Ravasqueira. Coutada Velha. Signature. 2018. Alentejano. A blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira, and Cabernet Sauvignon which has spent eight months in French oak. Black berry fruit, plums, pepper, savoury spice and a nice touch of vanilla from the oak. The palate is full and rich with soft tannins and a nice balance. The finish has a delicate warming spice.

Encostas de Alqueva. Granja Amareleja. 2016. Alentejo. There is lots of smokey black fruits here. The palate is round and silky with plums, spice and vanilla.

Cortes de Cima. Trincadeira. 2015. Alentejano. Fermented for two weeks in stainless steel followed by oak ageing for 8 months with 90% in French and 10% in American oak. Medium bodied with red fruits and a hint of dried herbs and a touch of spice, tannins are soft making this great glass of wine.

Quinta S. José de Peramanca. Pera Grave. 2017. Alentejano. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Aragonês and Alicante Bouschet. Youthful and bursting with rich, opulent fruit. It is perfumed and savoury with a touch of dried fruits. A long, long finish.