Description of the attraction
The walls of the Arab castle, known as Castelo de Tavira, rise above the houses of Da Liberdade Street (Liberty Street). It is from here that a stunning view of the entire picturesque city opens up. It is noteworthy that the houses on this street have a pyramidal roof, which is typical for the city of Tavira.
The exact date when the first castle was built is unknown. Some sources say that the fortress was built before our era and was rebuilt many times, including by the Phoenicians and Arabs. The real castle, from which, unfortunately, remains in ruins, was built in the XI century. In 1242, during the Reconquista, the Grand Commander of Portugal, Payo Peres Koreia, liberated the city from the Arabs, and in 1244 the Portuguese King Sancho II handed the castle over to the Order of the Knights of Santiago, who helped the kings of Portugal in the war with the Moors and thus played a significant role in the Reconquista. … The castle was in the possession of the Order for 30 years.
The castle itself was small, rectangular in shape. In 1293, King Dinis of Portugal ordered the reconstruction and rebuilding of the castle, as Tavira was an important point in the defense line of the coast.
In 1755, the Lisbon earthquake almost destroyed the castle, as well as the city itself. Today, two square towers and one octagonal tower remain from the castle. Also, the walls that surrounded the castle survived, but only on three sides. There is now a small garden inside the fortress.
