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TAVIRA |
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TAVIRA is a clear winner if you are looking for an urban base on the
eastern stretch. It's a good-looking little town with superb island
beaches in easy reach, yet despite ever-increasing visitors it continues
to make its living as a tuna-fishing port. Buses pull up at the new
terminal by the river, a two-minute walk from the central square, the
Praça da República; the train station is 1km from the centre of town,
straight up the Rua da Liberdade. Boats cross from Quatro Águas (during
winter dependent on the weather; ¬1 return), 2km east of town, to the
eastern end of the Ilha de Tavira , which stretches west almost as far
as Fuzeta, some 14km away. The beach is enormous, backed by dunes, and
despite increasing development - a small chalet settlement, watersports,
beach umbrellas and half a dozen bar/restaurants facing the sea - it's
an enjoyable spot in which to hang out. Tavira has some of the best
areas for scuba diving in Portugal, check out the diving school at
Pedras Del Rei (tel 281 793 495).
There's a campsite (tel 281 323 505), a minute from the sands, but by
far the best place to stay in Tavira is the Residencial Lagoas , north
of the river at Rua Almirante Cãndido dos Reis 24 (tel 281 322 252;
£10-15/$16-24/¬18-27), with the bonus of the budget eatery, Bica .
Alternatives include the rambling Pensão do Castelo (tel 281 323 942;
£10-15/$16-24/¬18-27) in the main square, the Residencial Mirante at Rua
da Liberdade 83 (tel 281 322 255; £15-20/$24-32/¬27-36 with breakfast)
just up the main road (though it can be a bit noisy), and the lovely
Residencial Princesa do Gilão , across the river on the quayside (tel
281 325 171; £20-25/$32-40/¬36-45), whose front rooms have balconies
overlooking the river. If you want to get away from it all try the
restored Convento de Santo António (tel 258 835 065;
£25-30/$40-48/¬45-54). Founded in 1606, the Capochino convent has
beautiful cloisters and views towards the sea over the salt pans. If
these options fail to produce a bed, the tourist office just off the
main Praça da República (daily 9.30am-5.30/7pm; tel 281 322 511) may be
able to find you a private room . A succession of bars and restaurants
line the gardens along the bank of the River Gilão, which flows through
the centre of town. Probably the best of the restaurants here is the
Imperial , which serves some of the finest seafood in the Algarve at
fairly reasonable prices. Also good are Anazu , Rua Jacques Pessoa 13, a
riverfront café which also has an Internet connection (¬4/hr), and the
Aquasul Restaurante , Rua Dr Augusto Da Silva Carvalho 11-13, which
serves fresh pizzas and cosmopolitan main dishes as well as vegetarian
dishes on request. The Arco , at Rua Almirante Cãndido dos Reis 67, is a
friendly, laid-back, gay-friendly bar .
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