Santa Maria do Castelo is Tavira's oldest church, built on the foundations of a Moorish mosque after the town's reconquest in 1242. The current structure is largely Gothic with Manueline and Baroque additions, and the tower repurposes the minaret base of the original mosque. The church occupies a commanding position just inside the old castle walls and is surrounded by some of Tavira's most atmospheric streets.
Inside, the tomb effigies of the seven knights of Santiago who died nearby in 1242 are the highlight — worn medieval stonework that predates almost everything else surviving in the region. The church clock tower is one of the most recognisable landmarks in town. Open most mornings; modest entry fee.