Tavira Old Town

Tavira straddles the Gilão a few kilometres inland from the Ria Formosa lagoon, and it is the eastern Algarve's most complete old town - a grid of low whitewashed houses under the distinctive telhado de tesouro, four-sided pyramidal roofs in small units that step across the skyline, with something over thirty churches for a town of this size. The bridge over the river has Roman foundations and a medieval and later superstructure, and is usually called the Roman bridge, which overstates what is actually visible. Above the town the castle walls enclose a garden with a view over the roofs to the lagoon. Tavira was a major port until the Gilão silted and the sardine fishery declined; it now works partly on tourism and partly as an ordinary town, which is why it feels less resort-like than the western Algarve. Ilha de Tavira, a barrier island beach, is reached by ferry.

What you actually see

• The pyramid roofs - the four-sided telhado de tesouro stepping across the skyline.
• The bridge - Roman foundations under a medieval and later structure.
• The castle garden - walls above the town with a view to the lagoon.
• The churches - over thirty in a town of modest size.

When to go

April to October. Half a day for the town, a full day with the island. The ferry to Ilha de Tavira runs mainly in summer.

Honest expectations

The Roman bridge is largely not Roman above the foundations, whatever the name suggests. Most of the churches are closed except for services. Cobbled streets are hard walking. The island ferry is seasonal and queues in August.

Nearby

Ilha de Tavira is offshore; Cacela Velha is east along the lagoon.