Castle of Tavira

The medieval castle sits on the highest point of the old town, surrounded by well-tended gardens that have been planted within the surviving walls. The ramparts can be walked for views over the rooftops and the distinctive four-sided telhado de tesoura rooflines that are Tavira's most recognisable architectural feature. Entry is free and the gardens are a pleasant place to rest.

The castle dates to Moorish and pre-Moorish times, though what survives today is mostly thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earthquake of 1755 caused significant damage and the walls were restored incompletely. Look for the traces of the original Moorish alcáçova (citadel) in the masonry of the northeast section.

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The castle was destroyed by the earthquake of 1755 — the same event that leveled Lisbon and most of the Algarve's coastal towns. Tavira's castle suffered badly, but the town itself recovered faster than many, partly because its tuna fishing industry remained intact and partly because the local nobility and church had the resources to rebuild. The castle walls were partially restored in the twentieth century; the earthquake-era ruins that were not restored remain visible inside the perimeter and give the site an atmospheric incompleteness.

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