A Brief History of Tavira
by Tavira Garden
It became one of primary settlements in the west of Iberia of the Phoenicians in the 8th Century BC. Here they created a colonial urban hub with an organised system with two temples and two harbours, surrounded by huge walls.
Tavira survived until the end of the 6th Century BC when it was destroyed in various battles.
The earliest name Baal Saphon, was suggested to be named after The Phoenician Thunder and Sea God. Afterwards the name became Balsa.
After being abandoned for a century or so the settlement began to grow again during the Tartessian Period and became larger and more important than before. However once again it was abandoned by the end of the 4th Century BC.
It recovered again after the focal point was moved Cerro do Cavaco, which was a nearby fortified hill. This new centre was used up until the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus.
The Period from The Roman Empire to the Moors
At some point in the period of Caesar, the Romans built a new sea port approximately 7 km from the then Balsa. This became a very big town the grew and became prosperous.The old (Tavira) town was just a secondary passing area on the main road between Balsa and Baesuris (which today is Castro Marim) However Balsa sadly declined along the Roman Empire.
When the Moors invaded and took over Iberia in the 8th Century AD the town of Balsa had already died out. The Moorish Period Between 8AD and 13AD the moors occupied Tavira and left their characteristics on such things as architecture and agriculture and their whole culture on the town. These influences can still be noticed today with whitewashed buildings with Moorish style doors and flat roofs. They built two mosques and a castle as well as several palaces. The intersesting central (pedestrian) bridge with its seven arches also originates from a Moorish bridge built in the 12th Century. The latest archaelogical study has confirmed that the bridge is no longer thought to be Roman although locals and tourists still call it the Roman Bridge.
This was a profitable period for Tavira and the port became important for trade and fishing. It stayed a relatively small country town until the 11th Century when the Tavira of the Moors, now called Tabira (Arabic) meaning “the hidden”) started to develop very quickly and soon became one of the principal and self supporting towns of the Algarve, which was then the South Western border of the Gharb al-Andalus (The Western islamic Iberian Territory).
The Reconquista
In 1242 Dom Paio Peres Correia defeated the Moors and regained Tavira in a fierce battle of retribution after seven of his principal Knights were killed during a period of truce. Most of the inhabitants of the town were wiped out in the course of this battle. Christians at this point were now back in control of Tavira and although the majority of Muslims left the area, a number did stay behind in a Moorish quarter named “Mouraria”
The Huge Earthquake of 1755
In the 17th century the river port was extemely important distributing goods such as dried fish, wine and salt. During the eartquake of 1755 most of the buildings in Tavira were practically all destroyed (along with the majority of constructions in the Algarve). The earthquake was estimated to have reached a reading of 9 on the Richter scale and created extreme devastation throughout the whole of the Algarve helped by numerous after shocks and tsunamis.
This eartquake was actually named the Lisbon Earthquake due to the near annihilation of the capital, however the epicentre was some 200km southwest of Cape St. Vincent in the Algarve.
TAVIRA TODAY
Since then the city has been rebuilt with many fine 18th Century buildings as well as 37 churches. The old famous bridge joins both sides of the town which is divided by the River Gilão.
The church of Santa Maria do Castelo, built on the site of a Moorish mosque holds the tombs of D Paio Peres Correia and his knights. The church dates from the 13th century and the clock tower has been remodeled from the original Muslim minaret. A bust of Dom Paio Perres Correia who died in 1275 can be seen on the corner of the town hall.
Tavira´s finacial dependance on the fishing industry is long gone due to the change in the migratory patterns of Tuna and the fact that the main river has been allowed to silt up.
The population of the town at the moment is around 25,000. It does house a large military base but the surrounding area is still mostly rural and undeveloped.
Tourism seems to be the industry that is expanding the most with many world class golf courses opening up nearby while in and around the town itself there some new high quality hotels. The town has not been spoilt by tourism and retains its beautiful charm and architecture which is proving very popular. The unpoiled beaches on the Ilha de Tavira (part of the famous sandbanks of Ria Formosa) which are reached by ferry are also very popular with tourists.
From such an interesting history the modern Tavira looks to have a long and prosperous future ahead of it and this could be the reason that many foreigners are now buying holiday homes and apartments in the area as the excellent property investments are much sought after.
When in Tavira visit Tavira Garden Complex. Tropical gradens, pools sports, restaurant. Property for sale and rental. www.taviragarden.net
Article Source: http://www.algarvearticles.com/?p=179
Posted: May 18th, 2009 under History.