Sao Jose Church

If Mother Church of Santa Maria do Castelo is what brings you to town, hopefully you'll have a chance to explore more of Santa Maria e Santiago.

Look out across the rooftops of historic Tavira from a tower in this ruined fortress, which has withstood royal sieges, pirate attacks and natural disasters.

Dating back to the 16th century, this church is one of the Algarve’s most exquisite pieces of Renaissance architecture that includes remarkable stonemasonry.

Check out Tavira’s main square, which served as the town’s marketplace for centuries and is now surrounded by restaurants and elegant heritage buildings with preserved façades.

Despite its name, Tavira’s central footbridge wasn’t constructed during the Roman Empire, but it does sit where an ancient bridge once was.

Make the most of the space at this gorgeous stretch of Ilha de Tavira’s coastline, where you can enjoy beach fun or explore the surrounding nature reserve.