Location: Tavira
Top Things to do in Tavira
The 10 Best Churches & Cathedrals in Tavira, Algarve
Tavira (Portuguese pronunciation: [tɐˈviɾɐ]) is a Portuguese town and municipality, capital of the Costa do Acantilado, situated in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. It is 28 kilometres (17 miles) east of Faro and 75 kilometres (47 miles) west of Huelva across the Río Grande (Rio Guadiana) into Spain. The Gilão River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Tavira. The population in 2011 was 26,167, in an area of 606.97 km².
Restaurants in Tavira
1. Igreja da Misericordia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 246 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
One thing Tavira is not short of, is churches. There are over 20, mostly within walking distance of each other. If you’re only going to see one or two, then this is the one to see. It is almost entirely covered inside with blue and white tiles azulejos tiles with detailed scenes. This church is linked with 2 others (Santiago and Santa Maria do Castelo) and for €7 you can get a single pass into all three, the Santiago bell tower and the Artgilao museum. They are all within 5 minutes of each other and you can do them in any order. Just ask for the pass at the first church. They will give you a pass to hang around your necking an information booklet at each church. Kids can collect a new stamp on their pass at each church which makes it a bit more fun for them. Misericordia is deceptively simple from the front with a plain white walls that are only broken by the central stone-carved portal with a statue of Our Lady of Mercy, supported by angels and flanked by statues of Saints Peter and Paul. Inside, it’s anything but plain. The showpiece is the ornate tiling on the walls, dating from the 1760’s. The overall effect is striking but it’s also worth walking around each of the detailed scenes. Each one tells illustrates one of the works of mercy. Traditionally these are the Jesus’ lessons for how people should should treat others. There are 7 corporal acts which when you think about it are all pretty practical no-nonsense acts of kindness – the basically just random acts of kindness. They include feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering travellers, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned and burying the dead. The other 7 are spiritual acts which include forgiveness, prayer and comforting others. You can take photos inside and there is a small gift shop selling simple cards and bookmarks (they made a great gift for Book Club back home). HOURS: It is closed on Mondays and Sundays and on the other days, it closes for a chunk of time in the middle of the day, between 12:30 – 2. (3pm in summer).
2. Ermida de Sao Sebastiao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By davidwilliambarnes - Blackpool, United Kingdom
Another beautiful whitewashed building in the parish of Santiago, Tavira. Built around 1723 and partly restructured in 1745 the chapel has a wonderful side and main chapel depicting classical art. There are a series of canvases with the life of São Sebastião - the paintings were executed by a local artist called Diogo Mangino. One of the better Church buildings in the area.
3. Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By FranceandKen - Windsor, Canada
Very beautiful ornate church. The bone chapel was something I had never seen before, quite eerie! But certainly Worth seeing!
4. Igreja de Sao Pedro Goncalves Telmo
5. Capela de Nossa Senhora da Consolacao
6. Santa Maria do Castelo Church
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 106 reviews
Built in the place of the former mosque after the conquest by Dom Paio Peres Correia, it goes up to the XIII century. After the 1755 earthquake it was rebuilt by the bishop Dom Francisco Gomes de Avelar. The façade presents neo-classic pilasters, splitting in the central cloth the gothic doorway with four archivolts containing vegetarian chapiters, remains of the original building. The inner part, a Latin cross longitudinal plant, has got three naves with lateral chapels, especially the «Senhor dos Passos» (Manueline Art) and a place of honour divided into three parts. The Chancel has got in its lateral walls the tombs of Dom Paio Peres Correia and the seven knights killed by the Moors. The collateral chapel of the Gospel keeps a gothic arch that relies on columns with vegetarian chapiters. The Santa Maria Church has been classified as a National monument by a June 1910 decree.
Reviewed By Wanderer487853
Absolutely breathtaking! We attended the Sunday mass in English at 12:15 . There is onsite parking for Mass.
7. Sao Bras Chapel
8. Nossa Senhora da Ajuda Church
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 16 reviews
Former convent church of the hermit friars of São Paulo was built in 1606 within the values of the austere "estilo chão".In 1834 with the extintion of the religious orders the convent and the fence were sold in auction and the church delivered to the confraternity of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda and later to the parish of Santa Maria. Today only the church survives, an interesting architectural manifestation of the first half of the 17th century. It has a fringed façade wich incorporates a narthex on the ground floor and a second floor define by three windows and a niche with the patron`s clay image. The inner part features a plant in latin cross and has a chancel-mor, cruise and a single nave. It has an interesting painting, carving and a religious imaginary collection from the 16th, 17th and 18th century in part belonged to other churches and extinct convents. Noteworthy is the altarpiece of Nossa Senhora do Carmo made in 1730 by the carver Gaspar Martins.
9. Igreja de Santiago de Tavira
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 39 reviews
The church of Santiago is a church located in Santiago parish, Tavira, next to the city`s castle. Dated to the end of 13th century is devoted to Santiago Maior. It was donated by D. Afonso III to the Bishop of Silves in 1720 and it was part of the Militar Order of Santiago of Espada. It was heavily damaged during the earthquake of 1755. It`s current image is the result of the reconstruction after that earthquake. It`s a religious building with one nave and countless chapels and altars.
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Tavira is not short of churches. There are over 20. This church is linked with 2 others (Misericordia and Santa Maria do Castelo) and for €7 you can buy a single pass into all three including the Santiago bell tower and the Artgilao museum. They are all within 5 minutes of each other and you can do them in any order. Just ask for the pass at the first church. They will give you an information booklet at each church and kids can hang the pass around their neck and collect a new stamp at each stop, which makes it more of a fun activity for them . This 13th century church suffered a lot of damage from the 1755 earthquake that devastated parts of Portugal and had to be largely rebuilt. The outside is striking with its gleaming white façade and bell tower. A prominent gold and black medallion shows the saint, Santiago (St James) on a horse. He is looking battle-ready and about to charge. This refers to the legend of his appearance on a white horse at the Battle of Clavijo where he helped the Christian army defeat the Moors in 859AD. Inside, the main feature is the altar which has highly patterned blue/green tiles on the sides and a central arch. Interestingly the altar and side chapels rely heavily on clever painting to trick the eye and make it all look more lavish and rich than it really is. Surfaces that look at first like marble are really just swirls of rosy pink and soft green and grey paint. Understandably, after the devastating earthquake, funds would have been a bit tight and this was probably an excellent cost-cutting measure when re-building. The bell tower is worth the climb and has sweeping views over Tavira.
10. Igreja de Sao Paulo
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