Tavira Guide

Table of contents for Route 2:

• Route 2: The Defense of the coastline against attacks from the Sea (part 1 of 3)
• Route 2: The Defense of the coastline against attacks from the Sea (part 2 of 3)
• Route 2: The Defense of the coastline against attacks from the Sea (part 3 of 3)

In a region which is intimately linked with the sea and its riches, populations have long been establishing themselves along the coastline, exploiting marine resources, simultaneously blessed with the ease of contact with the sea and vulnerable to the evil intentions of some people brought to their door by the immense ocean.

In order to address these dangers, defensive systems were created throughout the centuries. These were of varying effectiveness, more or less in step with the military innovations which threatened them and especially conditioned by the political and economic stability of a country whose nerve centre was too far away.

In the municipality of Tavira, there are various examples of coastal defensive structures. However, of all the known structures on the coastline, only three have survived. The others were lost in time (due to their abandonment when their defensive qualities became obsolete), and are only known due to their having been recorded in historical texts. The oldest of the three structures is the circular tower at the site of Torre d’Aires, which was followed by the construction of Forte de Rato and Forte de S. João em Cabanas.

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