Tavira Property, Eastern Algarve, Portugal

1. Make sure that you consider other areas rather than just Tavira itself. Because the area is not as yet that well known there are often great properties and bargains to be found in the neighbouring villages such as Cabanas, Vila Real de Cancela and Santa Luzia. These properties may be hard to find but could be well worth a look.

2. Do consider a property that might require a little bit of work or updating. It used to be the case that English speaking and reliable tradesmen were hard to find in Tavira. This made undertaking any renovation or refurbishment work a much harder task than it is today. Nowadays there are a number of top class English speaking builders and contractors of all types who can carry out work efficiently and to a high standard. The other good thing is that prices for this sort of work remain reasonable.

3. Do watch out for a well known estate agents trick. In Portugal there is generally no sole agency. What you may find is that different estate agents will have the same properties on their books but simply call it by a different name to someone else and then charge a different price. Different estate agents can charge different levels of commission and you will find the odd one who will try and charge considerably more. This could result in your paying thousands of extra Euros for your property.

4. Do consider using a Property Broker to combat this type of thing. Property Brokers such as Tavira Property Brokers work on behalf of the buyer not the seller. Their service is completely free to buyers and they can access the whole of the property market. They can find you your perfect property and, more importantly, make sure that you buy it at the best possible price.

5. If you do use a Broker use them to carry out the research on your behalf. A lot of properties are advertised on the internet but there will always be some that are a little harder to locate. A Broker with a local presence and local contacts can sometimes unearth the best bargains.

6. Do not visit Tavira to carry out property hunting during the month of August. You will find that it is just too hot for doing much more than relaxing on the beach or by the pool. Also, a lot of estate agents take their holidays at this time and it could be that a property viewing trip will turn out to be a frustrating experience with many offices closed.

7. Do try to learn a few words of Portuguese before you go. Whist a lot of the locals will speak a few words of English they really do appreciate it when visitors at least have a go at speaking some Portuguese. Even a simple Ola is well received.

8. Make sure that at the start of your property search in Tavira you find yourself a reputable English speaking lawyer. Again, this will be something that your Property Broker can help with. It is always the case that you should use an independent lawyer and not one who acts on behalf of the estate agents selling the property you are interested in.

9. Remember you will need an NIF number to buy a property in Tavira or anywhere else in Portugal. This is an identity number for foreigners buying property in Portugal and is a legal requirement. Your Property Broker or your lawyer will be able to help you obtain and complete the necessary paperwork.

10. Finally, please do remember to relax and enjoy your property search in Tavira. The buying process is not too complicated particularly if you remember the tips in this article. I am sure you will find your perfect property in Tavira and, who knows, one day, we could be sat together sipping a nice cold beer whilst looking out at the Mediterranean sea.

When people ask me about Tavira I can honestly say that I sometimes don't really know what to say.

Do I tell them about the stunning miles of empty beaches, the fact that the town has its own island just off shore, the memorable seafood meals I have had there, the seemingly endless rounds of festivals when the whole town parties, the unbelievably low price of a beer or a coffee.

Or do I just say "Oh it's alright there I suppose, I am not sure you would like it though."

Why the dilemma?

On the one hand I have a business that involves recommending Tavira to people looking to buy a property in Portugal or more specifically a property in Tavira. On the other hand I don't want my beautiful town and area being over run by mass development.

Fortunately the local authorities have got it just right. There is no doubt that the town of Tavira and also the villages around are expanding. But the new building is sympathetic to the environment and surroundings. You will not find huge ugly tower blocks here.

No, the new property in Tavira is either low rise apartments, usually set in beautiful gardens with a generously sized communal pool, or detached villas with their own grounds and private pool.

Occasionally, a traditional town house near the centre of town comes on the market and these are usually snapped up very quickly.

People love the fact that the older properties in the narrow cobblestone streets are naturally cool in the summer yet warm in the winter. The proximity to the bars and restaurants of town is another added bonus.

The restaurant and bar scene in Tavira is lively and great fun. The locals love to party but all, young and old alike seem to enjoy themselves by having noisy conversations with their friends and family. It's rare to see a local in a drunken state and you certainly do no get any of the mindless chanting so common in the UK on a weekend night.

Restaurants are open late and are always happy to provide either a snack or a full 3 course meal. The local seafood is fantastic and you will not believe the prices.

The other great thing about Tavira is its proximity from the UK; just 2 hours by plane into Faro from Gatwick and then a half hour or less drive. If everything goes to plan and you are brave with your timing to get to the airport in the UK it's possible to do it in just a fraction over 4 hours from London. Don't cut it too fine though and miss your plane, (as I have done).

Tavira is certainly a jewel in the crown of the Algarve, but it is not a gaudy, flashy diamond, but, rather, it is a quiet and beautiful, understated sapphire.

Please come and have a look at the great property in Tavira,but, just not all of you.

Tavira Property Brokers are pleased to offer you the latest Tavira weather information in conjunction with Weather Underground. Faro is the nearest full weather station and is only 20 miles away. Weather conditions in Tavira and Faro are usually similar.

Tavira
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tavira or Tabira is another name for Durango, Spain.
Tavira is a Portuguese town, situated at 37°07' north, 7°39' west in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. It is 30 km east of Faro where the Algarve's airport is located and 160 km west of Seville in Spain. Tavira lies only 11 miles west of the Spain/Portugal border on the coast where the River Gilão meets the Atlantic Ocean. Along with Lagos, Tavira is considered to be the most architecturally attractive town in the Algarve.
Contents
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1 History
1.1 Bronze Age to the Roman Empire
1.2 The Roman Empire to the Moorish Conquest
1.3 Moorish Rule
1.4 The Reconquista
1.5 The 1755 Earthquake
2 Tavira today
3 Parishes/Freguesias
4 External links

History

Bronze Age to the Roman Empire
The town's origins date back to the late Bronze Age (1.000-800 BC). In the 8th century BC it became one of the first Phoenician settlements in the Iberian West. The Phoenicians created a colonial urban center here with massive walls, at least two temples, two harbours and a regular urban structure. Phoenician Tavira existed until the end of 6th Century BC, when it was destroyed by conflict.
It is thought its original name was Baal Saphon, named after the Phoenician Thunder and Sea god. This name later became Balsa.
After a century of being abandoned, the settlement recovered, during the urban bloom that characterised the so called Tartessian Period, and became bigger than ever. This second urban center, Tartessian Tavira, was also abandoned by the end of the 4th Century BC.
The main centre then moved to nearby Cerro do Cavaco, a fortified hill occupied until the time of Emperor Augustus.
The Roman Empire to the Moorish Conquest
During the time of Caesar, the Romans created a new port, some 7 km from Tavira, named Balsa. Balsa became a big town, in fact much bigger than Tavira, that grew, prospered and decayed in parallel with the Roman Empire. When the Moors conquered Iberia, in the 8th Century, Balsa was already extinct as a town.
Under Roman rule, Tavira was a secondary passing place on the important road between Balsa and Baesuris (today Castro Marim).

Moorish Rule
The Moorish occupation of Tavira between the 8th and 13th centuries left its mark on the agriculture, architecture and culture of the area. That influence can still be seen in Tavira today with its whitewashed buildings, Moorish style doors and rooftops. A castle, two mosques and palaces were built by the Moors. The impressive seven arched "Roman bridge" is now not considered to be Roman after a recent archaeological survey, but originates from a 12th Century Moorish bridge. This was a good time economically for Tavira, which established itself an important port for sailors and fishermen. The area stayed rural until the 11th Century when Moorish Tavira (from the Arabic Tabira, "the hidden") started to grow rapidly, becoming one of the important (and independent) towns of the Algarve, then the South-Western extreme of Gharb al-Andalus (the West of Islamic Iberian territories).
(Extensive bibliography about these historical periods can be seen at www.arqueotavira.com)

The Reconquista
In 1242 Dom Paio Peres Correia took Tavira back from the Moors in a bloody conflict of retaliation after seven of his principal Knights were killed during a period of truce, the population of the town was decimated during this battle. Christians were now back in control of Tavira and though most Muslims left the town some remained in a Moorish quarter known as "Mouraria".
The 1755 Earthquake
In the 17th Century the port on its river was of considerable importance, shipping produce such as salt, dried fish and wine. Like most of the Algarve its buildings were virtually all destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. This earthquake is thought to have reached a magnitude of 9 on the Richter scale and caused extensive damgage throughout the Algarve due to shockwaves and tsunamis. The earthquake is referred to as the Lisbon Earthquake due to its terrible effects on the capital city, although the epicentre was some 200 km west-southwest of Cape St. Vincent in the Algarve.
Tavira today
The town has since been rebuilt with many fine 18th Century buildings along with its 37 churches. A 'Roman' (actually Moorish) bridge links the two parts of the town across 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. Its original economic reliance on the fishing industry has now passed due to changed migration patterns of Tuna and further silting up of the river Gilao. The population is in the region of 25,000 inhabitants supporting a military base whilst the surrounding area is still fairly rural and undeveloped. This is now changing due to the demands of the tourist industry and opening of golf courses in the near vicinity. The beach for this town lies past the salt pans and is reached by a ferryboat that takes the visitor to the sand-bar island known as Ilha de Tavira, part of the Ria Formosa. The island and beaches can also be reached from the nearby footbridge in Santa Luzia.
In recent years the architecturally attractive town has attracted visitors and house prices have increased sharply. The development of many golf clubs close to the town has also had an effect.

Parishes/Freguesias
The municipality of Tavira is split into 9 freguesias or parishes as follows:
Cabanas de Tavira
Cachopo
Conceição de Tavira
Luz de Tavira
Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo
Santa Luzia
Santo Estêvão
Tavira - Santa Maria
Tavira - Santiago

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Tavira
Thousands of photographs linked with Tavira
Website of the Câmara Municipal de Tavira (in Portuguese)
Arkeotavira
Tavira Property Brokers hope that you have found this information useful and that it is helpful in your decision as to whether to buy a property in Tavira.
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Tavira Property Brokers