Family Planet Tour
    Day 46: Tavira

    Day 46: Tavira

    July 9 - Try to get an seahorse tour, which seems like the most interesting thing being offered by the agencies lining the waterfront. End of organizing something for tomorrow, leaving us free to do something else today. I go forward with the plan to take a day trip to Tavira, about an hour east.

    Take the train, which seems like the most relaxing way to get there. The train station is a single building along the track through the middle of town. However, it is late, so we only arrive in Tavira at noon.

    There are two businesses in Portugal that sport cows in front. This is the much more colorful one.
    There are two businesses in Portugal that sport cows in front. This is the much more colorful one.

    Something we haven’t seen much of yet is Portuguese Muslim history. Tavira, being a town founded during the Islamic era, has a museum dedicated to it. The town was built a healthy distance back from the ocean along a small river, such that it would be invisible to passing ships. The original old city was built with high defensive walls. Some of the old gates are still visible.

    The phases of Islamic history here are broken into three periods: the Taifa (11th C), Almoravid (11-12th C), and Almohad (12-13th C). The town was conquered by the Order of Saint James in 1242. After this the town mosque was converted into a church.

    Low tide at the river under the Old Bridge of Tavira.
    Low tide at the river under the Old Bridge of Tavira.

    There are remnants of the city walls, undoubtedly modified many times since Muslim times.

    A preserved tower of Tavira Castle.
    A preserved tower of Tavira Castle.
    A view from the castle ramparts of Igreja Paroquial de Santiago de Tavira. Just behind it is Igreja Paroquial de Santa Maria del Castelo.
    A view from the castle ramparts of Igreja Paroquial de Santiago de Tavira. Just behind it is Igreja Paroquial de Santa Maria del Castelo.

    In the Santa Maria Church is an interesting display called Altarpiece of the Souls.

    In the Altarpiece of the Souls, Jesus Christ takes top center, flanked by Virgin Mary and others on the left, St. John the Baptist on the right, St. Michael below JC flanked by angels. All done in wood with some background painted to look like marble.
    In the Altarpiece of the Souls, Jesus Christ takes top center, flanked by Virgin Mary and others on the left, St. John the Baptist on the right, St. Michael below JC flanked by angels. All done in wood with some background painted to look like marble.
    A stepping stone in the church belltower that served some other purpose prior to being used here.
    A stepping stone in the church belltower that served some other purpose prior to being used here.
    Janet keeps finding references to the Mateus surname. They are common in Portugal.
    Janet keeps finding references to the Mateus surname. They are common in Portugal.

    Get lunch and otherwise run out of things to do here, so get the train back to Olhão.

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