Tavira, ~30km/20mi east of Faro, is
one of the most beautiful towns in the Algarve and a clear winner if you are
looking to base your vacation in the Eastern Algarve. The town straddles the
broad Rio Gilão, a tidal estuary which is overlooked by balconied houses and
traversed by several bridges, one of Roman origin. Despite ever increasing
visitor numbers and ongoing tourist development, Tavira still makes a living as
a fishing port, an industry attested to by the many fine seafood restaurants
along the palm-lined river.
For the sun-worshipper, the superb
white beaches of Ilha da Tavira, reachable year-round by ferry or water-taxi,
offer the ultimate in just lounging around. Click
here for Tavira's climate from April through October. The sleepy
neighbouring village of Santa Luzia offers more excellent seafood while the
magnificent Barril beach at western end of Ilha da Tavira, reached by a rickety
old train beloved of young and old alike, is opposite the holiday village of
Pedras del Rei – and if you venture a little west of the busy tourist area at
the island “train station” you will find a remote, secluded nudist beach.
Beside the “train station”, you have the remarkable “anchor graveyard”, a relic
of the days when Barril was a major centre of the now defunct tuna-fishing
industry. Much of the coastal area around Tavira has been turned into a nature
reserve, the Ria Formosa Nature Park; here you can go bird-watching, chase
butterflies, observe the abundant flora and fauna, sunbathe – or just plain
wander around in a charming, relaxed, rustic environment. Additionally, check
out the following links for further information and pictures of Tavira and the
surrounding area:
Going east toward the Spanish
border (~20km/15mi from Tavira with no passport formalities), you come to
several more excellent beaches; Manta Rota, Monte Gordo, Cacelha Velha, Fabrica
are well worth a stop en route. The Ria Guadiana forms the border between Spain
and Portugal. The river town of Villa Real do Santo Antonio is renowned for its
many shops offering a fantastic variety of house wares. The scenic route
following the river north takes you to the fortified towns of Castro Marim,
Alcoutim, Mertola, etc. For the more adventurous, the sophisticated shopping,
the bull ring and the equestrian activities of Seville are 90 minutes motorway
drive from Tavira.
Seven golf courses lie within 5 to
25 minutes drive of Tavira – including Quinta da Cima, once rated as the best
course in Portugal by the authoritative “PEUGEOT Guide”. Within an hour you
can reach almost all of the well known Algarve courses – plus Islantilla and
Isla da Canela just over the border in Spain. Click on “Golf Breaks” above to
see links to the seven courses which lie close to Tavira.s New Roman',serif">
Tavira Garden, probably the finest
family-friendly holiday apartment rental complex in the Eastern Algarve, is
located on the N125 main road which connects Faro to Villa Real and the Spanish
border. Close to the town centre, it is easy to find – a taxi ride takes ~30
minutes and costs ~€40 for four people, ~€55 for five or six, if you ask us to
arrange a dedicated taxi. Tavira Garden is easy to find from the motorway exit
for those who rent a car at either Faro airport or Seville airport – or brave
the long drive from UK, France, Benelux, etc! For
competitive airport car rental at Lisbon, Faro, Seville, Tavira, etc, click on
the following link:
http://www.cartrawler.com/affiliates/afullrequest.asp?client=60938.
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