Tag: Portugal

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.

Review of 2019

Entering the new year we had no plans to go anywhere until a trip to Portugal in early March but you know what they say about plans. A great deal with Iceland Air saw us heading to Iceland for a short four day break at the end of January. What a trip it was, a huge fall of snow the day before we arrived made a true winter wonderland. Cold with clear blue sky by day and the right atmospheric conditions to see the northern lights at night. Iceland is a magical place and re have tentative plans to return in the summer months and drive a circuit of the country.

We had two trips to Portugal in 2019, the first in March saw some pleasantly warm days which we used to good effect to explore parts of the Algarve by train. The result of dipping out toes into the region in spring was that we booked a much longer trip for November, renting an apartment through Airbnb for a very favourable out of season rate. The short November days were sunny and pleasantly warm and this time, with the help of a hire care, were able to really explore the region. At the end of our stay we took the train from Faro to Lisbon for a few days and had a great time exploring the city but the weather was rather changeable.

A return to Berlin in the late spring had been much anticipated and the city did not disappoint. Having done the main touristy the previous autumn this trip allowed us time to explore the neighbourhoods of Friedrichshain and Kreutzberg. We are real fans of walking tours and an excellent tour of the street art of Berlin was one of the highlights of the trip.

The wedding of friends in Provence in early July gave us the opportunity for a slow meander across southern France on our way there. Flying into Toulouse we enjoyed the medieval city of Carcassonne and the wine growing regions of the Languedoc. A visit and tasting at Mas de Daumas Gassac was probably the highlight here. Provence itself was very hot but a very enjoyable weekend of celebrations was had by all. As with the Algarve a trip to the sights of Provence is probably best enjoyed out of season and we plan to return as soon as we can.

Finally a trip to Krakow in early September and what an amazing city it was and so cheap compared to many cities in Europe. There is so much to do in the area but visits to the salt mines at Wieliczka and the former concentration camp at Auschwitz should be at the top of any must do list for visitors.

As we begin 2020 we’re finalising plans for a return trip to Australia so there is lots more to come.

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”.