The starting point for this exploration begins at the Praça da República, with the River Gilão and the old bridge as backdrop. This square is where you will find the Paços do Concelho or Town Hall. On the façade, you can see the city’s coat of arms and, on the right-hand corner, according to tradition, the sculpted face of D. Paio Peres Correia. Standing proudly at the centre of the square is a monument that pays tribute to those who fought in the First World War. Opposite Tavira’s town hall building, you will find the Tourist Information Office and the Islamic Museum. This latter gives you an opportunity to see a significant section of the Islamic wall that used to protect the citadel, as well as a variety of artefacts, such as the distaff handle, a thirteenth-century ink bottle, an eight-handled cooking pot and the “Tavira Vase”. After visiting the centre’s exhibits, turn right, go up the stairs, pass by the D. Manuel I Door and go inside the inner town, or “Vila a Dentro” as it is called in Portuguese. Here you will find a vast cultural heritage that bears witness to Tavira’s past importance, as well as the headquarters of some cultural associations that promote cultural and artistic activities. This door is thought to have been made or remodelled during the reign of D. Manuel I (1495-1521), to create an access route to the then Praça da Ribeira. On the upper part, you can see the royal coat of arms and the armillary spheres, symbols of King D. Manuel I, the Fortunate. Standing opposite is the Church of Misericórdia (Mercy). Dating from the 16th century and classed as a building of public interest, it is considered to be the most valuable example of Renaissance architecture in the Algarve. Admire the façade created by master stonemason André Pilarte (completed in 1551) where the Renaissance portico with its round arch is particularly noteworthy. Atop the arch is an image of Our Lady of Misericórdia, with the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul at her side, along with the royal and city arms. Of particular note inside are the retables in gilt carving and the eighteenth-century blue-and-white tile panels, depicting the Misericórdia’s fourteen works. Before going up the Rua da Galeria and visiting the church, you can admire a section of the Phoenician wall, on the left-hand side of the Largo da Misericórdia square, on the Calçada D. Paio Peres Correia. Make your way back to the square and go up the Rua da Galeria to visit the church. Afterwards, continue on to the Palácio da Galeria (Galeria Palace), which dates originally from the 16th century and was remodelled in the mid-18th century. Admire the Baroque stonework of the door and upper-floor windows of Tavira’s most noteworthy building of public interest, which now serves as the Municipal Museum. Go inside and visit the palace and its exhibits. After this visit, go up the road towards Largo Abu Otmane square, where you can see the clock tower of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo (Saint Mary of the Castle). The entrance to Tavira castle is located on the left-hand side of this same square and this was the starting point for the city walls to be built. Once inside the castle with its pretty garden, climb to the top of the octagonal tower for a splendid panoramic view over Tavira. Highlights include the hipped roofs, traditionally known as “scissor roofs”, the cupolas of various churches, the river and the saltpans in the distance. This is good place to pause for a short rest. On the way out of the castle you will find the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo (Saint Mary of the Castle), which is thought to have been built in the 13th century, above the old and main Muslim mosque, after the Order of Santiago recaptured Tavira from the Moors. This church was rebuilt by Italian architect Francisco Fabri, after the 1755 earthquake. Before you go inside, take a look at the Stations of the Cross, carved in stone and inscribed on the outer walls. Admire the Gothic portico on the main façade. On the right-hand side of the chancel, you can see the tomb of the seven knights who fell during the conquest of the city and, on the left, the tomb of D. Paio Peres Correia, master of the Order of Santiago at the time the city was recaptured. The church also houses a sacred art collection. On the way out of the church and heading towards Largo Dr. Jorge Correia square, you will come across the old Convent of Nossa Senhora da Graça (Our Lady of Grace), founded in the 16th century and recently reconverted for use as a historical pousada. Inside, you can see an archaeological collection comprising vestiges of Almohad earthenware from the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, an important sign of urbanism during Portugal’s Islamic period. Next, turn right and head towards the square called Largo das Portas do Postigo, where you can see a porta de reixa (traditional wooden lattice door) on Rua das Olarias. If you keep going along this road to the end, you will find the Old military hospital (now the military mess), on the left-hand side. It was built in the late 18th century. Go back to the pousada and then down Rua D. Paio Peres Correia and admire the Main Church of Santiago (Saint James) on the left-hand side. It is believed to have been built on the site of the smaller mosque, in the early 13th century. Rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, the church contains carvings, paintings and sacred art images. At the end of Rua D. Paio Peres Correia, you will arrive at one of the city’s main roads, the Rua da Liberdade. On the left is the post office building and, standing opposite, you will see the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Consolação (Our Lady of Consolation), which dates back to 1648, when the brotherhood of Nossa Senhora da Consolação dos Presos was founded. This brotherhood had one specific aim: to provide moral and spiritual support for the inmates (presos) of the city’s old prison, which was situated in what is now the post office building. Go down the Rua da Liberdade and, on the left, after the stairway leading to the castle, you will find the Irene Rolo House (door numbers 60 to 64), Here you can admire the Manueline door on the ground floor and a third-floor window thought to be one of the first examples of Renaissance architecture in Tavira. Farther along, you will see some houses that look rather like palaces and, at number 36, you can visit the Casa Fotografia Andrade (Andrade Photography House) where there is an exhibition portraying the evolution of photography, Tavira and the people of Tavira over the course of 120 years. Next, at numbers 30 and 32, you will come to a building with Modern Movement features, which became widespread in the Algarve in the 1950s and 1960s, designed by architect Manuel Gomes da Costa. Back again at the Praça da República, and it’s time to enjoy a traditional sweet treat, have a drink, rest and admire your surroundings. From here, head towards the old bridge but, before you reach it, turn right into Rua Gonçalo Velho, where you will find a square that, according to the records, was the main entrance into the walled city “Porta da Vila” until the 18th century. Here you will find the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Piety) and the Tavira Water Supply Interpretation Centre, where you can learn a bit more about the city’s history. Continue along Rua dos Pelames until you reach the bairro 1.º de Maio (also known as Bela Fria neighbourhood); go in and admire one of the sections of defensive wall (barbican).