The tuna has a sort of keel that enables it to make fast turns when hunting for small fish and squids. The biggest and strongest of the tuna fish is the Albacore and ¾ of its weight is made up of muscles, so well provided with blood that its body temperature is always higher than the temperature of the water, which is quite rare among fish. The albacore swims in shoals of 25 fish.

The first historic reference to tuna fishing in our country goes back to the year 151 of our times, in the current territory of Algarve. Among the countless fish traps, the Armação Medo das Cascas, close to Tavira, managed to catch, in one single year, about 41 000 tunas.

The Arraial Ferreira Neto trap was the last one to be inaugurated, in 1945, successor of the Medo das Cascas trap, destroyed by the sea in 1941, as a result of the constant displacement of the bars. The Abóbora Trap, located on the island that is known as Cabanas, met with a similar fate in the beginning of the 60′s.

Post from: Tavira Guide

Tuna Fish

Related posts:

1. Tavirense and Balsense Fish Canneries In 1915, the Padinha administration that was managing the local government, faced on of its worst nightmares. It witnessed strong [...]...

Due to its sensitivity and to changes in the environment, butterflies are an excellent indicator of environmental quality. Butterfly monitoring is one of the components of a project aimed at optimising the population of the cork tree groves of the Caldeirão Mountain.

The Two Tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius), the biggest daytime butterfly which larvae feed exclusively on Strawberry Trees, Arbutus unedo, can be seen in the hills of Algarve during the warmest months.

Post from: Tavira Guide

The two tailed Pasha

No related posts.

If yo remember my collection of Algarve Webcams anounced before, I have now been working at a bigger scale and will be collecting all World and Europe Webcams; so I’ll be moving everything to the new website where you will have access to webcams in Lisbon, Madeira, Azores, even webcams in Tenerife and many other places around the world!

Post from: Tavira Guide

Tavira Roman bridge Webcam

Related posts:

1. Tavira Island Webcam This is a Webcam at Vila Galé Albacora which gives a river-side view of Tavira Island. You can also view [...]...
2. Tavira and its Roman Bridge It’s considered one of the ex-libris of Tavira, although it has no archaeological background, it was at the time it [...]...

In 1915, the Padinha administration that was managing the local government, faced on of its worst nightmares. It witnessed strong protests from the local population due to a decision of the republican government – elected in June that year – to transfer the Infantry Regiment Headquarters from Tavira to Faro. This would also mean the departure of the Regimental Music Band to the capital of Algarve, something which the government had tried do in the past but had failed to accomplish because of the magnanimous wave of protests it had caused and which united tradesmen, manufacturers and politicians, having even led the local authorities to resign from office. No one wished to face such an event again. This time, however, the municipality receded in the chorus of protests, letting the public deal with the sentiment of disagreement caused by the deprivation of the music band. The centre of the city experienced tense days, which were of no use to the supporters of the musicians remaining in Tavira, as the transfer to Faro did, in fact, take place.

Little could the mayor at the time, António Padinha, do to lessen those uncomfortable events, except trying to convince the electorate that another type of musical formation would be created in replacement of the Infantry Regiment Band, which costs would be born by the city council’s funds, and fish canneries would be set up in Tavira. This was not a new idea, it had already been discussed in 1911 during a meeting of the Centro Republicano, however the situation advised that the idea be shared and used to the credit of their political image and in favour of Tavira’s economic and industrial potential.

At the time, Vila Real de Santo António was one of the main fish cannery centres of Algarve. The tuna captured off Tavira was sold at the local fish auction or processed in one of the fish canneries located along the marginal avenue. This scenario had a profound impact on the pride and business of the fishing companies as well as on the floating income and profits that the fisheries provided.
In May 1917, after the two fish processing plants Balsense and Tavirense had started to operate, there seemed to be no point in transporting the fish caught off Tavira to other locations, as the population had already been through the bad experience of the Regimental Band having been directed to Faro.

Article of: Marco Lopes
Department for Urban Patrimony and Rehabilitation Tavira Municipality

Post from: Tavira Guide

Tavirense and Balsense Fish Canneries

Related posts:

1. Tuna Fish The tuna has a sort of keel that enables it to make fast turns when hunting for small fish and [...]...

Browsing trough YouTube I found this happy-tone video from a Duch going trough Tavira with a videocamera. He talks about the salt extraction, seafood, some History and curiosities as he walks trough. A must see… he knows quite some stuff :)

Post from: Tavira Guide

Discovering Tavira

No related posts.

They have an impressive Lunch and Dinner menus as well as a list of known Portuguese wines.

Here are some details:

Some entries of mention:
Caldo Verde, Lulas Tavira, Carne de Porco Alentejana, Bacalhau a Braz, Mexilhoes de Cebolada, Cataplana de Ameijoas, Camarao a La Guilho, Pasteis de Bacalhau… etc.

Profile:
Duarte Rebolo was born in Madeira Island, Portugal, a popular European tourist spot.  His career in restaurant service began there and so far has spanned about 20 years.  He left Madeira to work for Celebrity Cruise Lines.  It was here that he worked with world renowned Grand Chef Michel Roux.  It was here that he met his wife Linda, and decided to move to the Washington area.

While here in Washington, he worked at the Watergate Hotel with Jean Louis Pallidin until Jean Louis left.  At this point the Pallidin became Aquarelle and the chef was Robert  Weidemaier.  Duarte continued to work at the Watergate until his dream of opening his own restaurant came true.

Duarte’s professionalism, attention to detail and hard work will make your dining experience a delightful virtual escape to Portugal.

So if you are around don’t miss the opportunity, for sure it’s worth it here is the address and phone number, don’t forget to visit their site also, just click the link above.

Tavira Restaurant,
8401 Connecticut Ave, Chevy Chase
WA
Reservations: (+1) 301-652-8684

Post from: Tavira Guide

Tavira, a restaurant in Washington DC

No related posts.

The Laudanum (Cistus ladanifer L.) is an important element in the existing brushwoods of ecosystems characterized by a Mediterranean climate, especially in non calcareous soils where it often becomes the dominating species.

It is a rapidly growing perennial plant. Usually upright bearing up to 2,5m tall although most of the times it does not exceed 2m in height.

Long, narrow foliage that may reach 10cm in length and 1,5cm width. The younger plants are strongly impregnated with a bright and resinous substance that sticks to the hands and clothes.

It has large solitary 10 cm wide flower. With 3 sepals and 5 white petals, it sometimes has a purple blotch at the base of each petal. Each flower last only one single day in a long succession of flowers.

The fruit is a globose capsule with 7-10 compartments. The plant can be found in the whole western Mediterranean region and on the Canary Islands. It is quite abundant in Alentejo and Algarve and in the Spanish regions of Extremadura, Serra Morena, Andalusia and Castela.

Post from: Tavira Guide

Laudanum

No related posts.

Post from: Tavira Guide

The Tuna Run – Tavira Portugal

Related posts:

1. Tuna Fish The tuna has a sort of keel that enables it to make fast turns when hunting for small fish and [...]...

The name itself comes from Moorish influences, initially called Tabira (“the hidden”), although there are many variations according to popular History: Tabira, Tavila, Talabriga (You will find some restaurants and bars with these names there).

Instead of Tavira, there are funny misspellings that lead people to this site, having a look at the visits log from Google, Yahoo or MSN, the most common ones are: Tavera, Taviera, Taveira, Tavaria, Travira

If you used to write it in another funny way, let me know in the comments :)

Post from: Tavira Guide

Origin of the name Tavira

No related posts.

The Almond Tree (Prunus Dulcis) is a rain-fed tree of the Rosaceae family, with a broad tree-top and upright spreading branches. It has long, peduncular leaves.

The white and pale pink flowers appear in the end of the Winter – beginning of the Spring.

When the fruits get ripe, the dry fruits open up freeing the kernel which holds the seed: the almond, widely used in the preparation of Algarve’s traditional sweets.

The vast, blooming almond groves are often referred to as the “snow of Algarve”.

Post from: Tavira Guide

Tavira and the Almond Tree

No related posts.