Tavira is a small, very quiet, clean and well-tended town. Particularly beautiful is the historical centre (Centro histórico) with the castle, the park, the town-hall (Câmera Municipal) and the Roman bridge over the river Gilão. For good reason some like to call it the "Venice at the Atlantic Ocean". Well worth seeing are the typical pagoda roofs "de quatro aguas" and the 23 churches – both remains from the time when the town was mostly inhabited by Jewish citizens. The wealth gave room to a playful architecture, as for example the pagoda roofs – and for demonstrating that the citizens had become Christians the many churches were built.
Tavira is ideal for taking walks, to make a little shopping tour through the "Artesanatos" for art and souvenirs, or to drink a "Bica" – a local form of coffee – or a draught beer in one of the numerous cafes, for example in the Old Market Hall "Mercado da Ribeira" straight by the river.
Every morning except on Sundays you can buy fresh products and products from the region in the new market hall. You will find a huge selection of fresh fish and seafood, fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, honey, olives, meat and many more.
For other purchases you may visit one of the national and intermnation supermarkets in the city (Continente, Pingo Doce, Lidl, Aldi)
