Old/Roman Bridge 🌉 Tavira – Castelo de Tavira Gardens loop from Santo Estêvão

Bike touring routes & trails

Portugal

Algarve

Santo Estêvão

Old/Roman Bridge 🌉 Tavira – Castelo de Tavira Gardens loop from Santo Estêvão

Moderate

5.0

(5)

riders

Old/Roman Bridge 🌉 Tavira – Castelo de Tavira Gardens loop from Santo Estêvão

01:38

26.0km

250m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 21, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 17.9 km for 87 m

After 18.1 km for 70 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

5.57 km

Scenic Road for Cycling

Highlight • Cycleway

Route popular with cyclists and racing cyclists.

Translated by Google •

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13.1 km

Despite its name, the bridge itself is neither Roman nor has a Roman origin. It was built when Tavira belonged to al-Andalus (the Islamic Domain of Iberia), most probably in the 2nd half of the 12th century. Then, for a few decades Tavira was an independent commune, before being submitted to the Almohade Empire.
The bridge was a fundamental element of the medieval defence of Tavira and its associated main road, limited with towers in both sides. It had houses on it in the Middle Ages. By 1550 it had apparently a movable wooden floor which could be removed for security reasons. The old bridge collapsed in 1655, then completely rebuilt in its present form. tavira.algarvetouristguide.com/attractions/the-old-roman-bridge

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13.6 km

Jardim da Alagoa 🌴 Statue of Dom Marcelino Franco

Highlight • Monument

Small park in downtown Tavira, a couple of blocks north of the Rio Gilao. At the center is this statue inaugurated in 1971, in honour of Dom Marcelino Franco, Algarve bishop.

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16.5 km

Tavira Algarve Portugal

Highlight • Settlement

16.7 km

Cacela Velha

Highlight • Settlement

Worth a visit and nice and relaxing.

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17.8 km

Republic Square ⛲ Tavira

Highlight • Monument

This town square on the Rio Gilão riverfront served as Tavira's promenade and a marketplace for centuries, with vendors selling fish and fruit, as well as slaves in the dark ages of slavery. Today a large part has been remodeled as an amphitheatre, and combined the historic fountain with a modern version.

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18.1 km

Castelo de Tavira Gardens

Highlight • Castle

This fortification originally comes from the Moorish period, between the 8th and 13th centuries. After the reconquest it was rebuilt. King D. Diniz (1261-1325), who thought in terms of defense policy, included Tavira in the line of castles that were supposed to serve the national defense.

A few sections of the defensive wall, part of the medieval palace and an archway, the Arco da Misericórdia, have remained.

Translated by Google •

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