Walking in Terrific Tavira By Tony Maniscalco At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

The Algarve region of Portugal has long been associated with perfect sunshine, sandy beaches and undulating golf courses. However, many people don’t realise that the Algarve is also one of the best places in Portugal for hiking. Here are some of the best places to visit if you’re considering a walking holiday in Portugal around the area of Tavira:

One of the first things that you’ll notice about Tavira is the traditional style of all the houses.
The majority of which have the traditional Portuguese platibandas, a simple border etched with floral motifs or geometrical patterns that frame the windows and doorways. This gives the buildings a distinctly art nouveau appearance, that you will notice on your walking holidays in Portugal.

One of the best examples of Portuguese art nouveau architecture is the 16th century church, which has barely changed in appearance since the date it was built. The imposing renaissance porch takes up a large part of the main façade and the church has many distinctive features inside, including a statue of the Nossa Senhora de Luz, or Our Lady of the Light which stands in the centrepiece of the church.

Tavira is very much a fishing village and, on a stroll through the Conceicao de Tavira, you will see many quaint fishermen’s houses tucked down quaint narrow cobbled streets. From here, many visitors to the Algarve get their first view of the sea and yellow sand shoreline. Whilst on hiking in Portugal, you should also take the opportunity to visit some traditional almond or orange groves. This will give you an insight into the more traditional methods of agriculture that are still employed to-date around this historic town.

However, don’t be fooled for the town of Tavira is equally popular for its modern pursuits, it is one of the best places in the country to practice the sport of kite-surfing and the Isla De Tavira Beach, which benefits from a northern south-easterly wind, is the best place in the country to practice this sport. In fact, Tavira seems to have been designed with adventure-junkies in mind as surfing, windsurfing and rock climbing are all popular pursuits with tourists in the area.

Those passionate about all aspects of walking will be interested to know that hiking in Portugal has its own word “caminhadas”. A great place for caminhadas in Portugal is the Ria Formosa National Park, which is not only full of rolling sand dunes but a great place to spot some of the wildlife of the region. A hike through this famous National Park gives you the chance to explore a beautiful and varied landscape, which ranges from golden sand dunes to verdant pine forests. The National Park is also popular with many ornithologists as many migrating seabirds make their homes in this reserve.

After a week of hiking in Portugal you may want to relax and play a few rounds on one of Tavira’s perfect golf courses. The most popular is Benamor, which was designed by Sir Henry Cotton and which offers perfect views of the surrounding hills and valleys plus the Atlantic Ocean, for which the Algarve is famous.

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