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First settlers
A dig in 1997 found a Phoenician wall from the eighth century BC
An archaeological campaign in 1997 revealed a section of Phoenician wall dating from the eighth century BC. This colony of sailors and traders was the first proof of settlement. The Romans called the village Balsa.
Reconquest
Tavira was taken by Christian forces in 1239, though sources give other dates
Tavira was conquered on 11 June 1239 by forces under Paio Peres Correia, Master of the Order of Santiago. Other sources say May 1240 or 1242. Tradition links it to a reprisal for an ambush on the Order's knights while hunting.
The charter
In 1266 Tavira received the first of the charters Afonso III gave Algarve towns
Alfonso X of Castile took Tavira in 1252, and a treaty later gave the Algarve to Afonso III of Portugal. In August 1266 Tavira received the first of his foral letters. King Dinis had the castle repaired and reinforced.
The walls
The oval walls once enclosed about five hectares and had seven doors
The walls show several building stages, the oldest from the Almoravid period. After the Christian conquest the castle took the oval plan still seen today, about five hectares. The fence had 7 doors, among them the D. Manuel Gate.
Legend
Local tradition says an enchanted Moorish woman appears on Saint John's Eve
Each year on Saint John's Eve an enchanted Moorish woman is said to appear in the castle and mourn her fate. In another legend a Christian knight, Don Ramiro, climbed the walls to free her, but dawn broke first.
Day 6, evening
It comes after Tavira old town.
More stories from this trip idea
The words are a retelling of the Wikipedia article Castle of Tavira, and are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. They are checked against those articles, and a fact that is not in them is left out.