Category: Civil Architecture > House
District: Faro > Tavira > Tavira > Santa Maria e Santiago
Located at the intersection of Rua Nova da Avenida and other central streets of Tavira, Casa André Pilarte is integrated into the urban fabric of the Union of Parishes of Santa Maria and Santiago. Its corner location allows it a prominent presence in the surroundings, characterized by buildings of traditional design and narrow, historic streets.
The building is adjoined to the south by a vernacular construction, providing continuity to the built fabric and reinforcing the consolidated character of the urban center. The surroundings are predominantly residential, strongly marked by Algarve architecture of past centuries.
Built in the 16th century, the house is associated with the name of André Pilarte, a figure identified with the construction of the Misericórdia Church, one of Tavira's most important. It represents a notable example of 16th-century residential architecture in the Algarve, having been classified as a property of municipal interest in 1993.
Over the centuries, the house has maintained its residential function, preserving many of its original structural and decorative elements. This continuity of use and its preservation reinforce the historical value of the building in the city's urban memory.
With a rectangular plan and vertical disposition, the house mostly develops over two floors, with the exception of the east side facade, which features three levels. The walls are made of load-bearing masonry, with finishes in stonework, wood, and iron, reflecting construction techniques of the era.
The roof combines two distinct types: a north-facing terrace (açoteia) and a south-facing gable roof, giving the ensemble a distinct and interesting silhouette. This configuration allows for the enjoyment of views and natural ventilation, in a functional solution typical of local architecture.
The main facade, facing north, features a wainscot in gray painted masonry. Noteworthy is the straight-lintel stone portal, topped by a balcony window with a railing, also in stonework, finished with a frieze and cornice that precede the terrace (açoteia).
On the east elevation, the volume adds a third floor, with straight-lintel stone windows and doors, finished with eaves and a gable roof. The west facade, meanwhile, displays a balcony window over three half-arches on the upper floor, a characteristic and decorative element also repeated in other windows of the building.
Casa André Pilarte represents one of the rare examples of Renaissance domestic architecture in Tavira, integrating decorative and structural solutions of artistic and historical value. The presence of elements such as the half-arches on the balcony and the combined use of roof and terrace (açoteia) highlight the local adaptation of models from the period.
In addition to its architectural relevance, the house is a testament to Tavira's urban life in the modern period, reflecting the importance of influential families in the organization of urban space and the definition of the city's character.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.125370161182325,-7.649437882026966
Coordinates DMS: 37°07'31.3"N 07°38'58.0"W
Weather Tavira
On-duty Pharmacy Tavira
