Category: Religious Architecture > Convent
District: Faro > Tavira > Tavira > Santa Maria e Santiago
The complex is located in the Union of Parishes of Tavira (Santa Maria and Santiago), in the very heart of the historic city, between Rua dos Mártires da República and Rua da Atalaia.
Situated on a slight elevation near the estuary of the Gilão River, the old convent establishes a discreet presence within the urban fabric, with the salt marsh just a few meters to the east and traditional housing to the west.
Commissioned by D. Manuel I in 1509, this monastery was one of the first female religious foundations in the region and remained operational until the mid-19th century.
Upon completion of construction in 1528, the Cistercian nuns settled in 1530, naming the building the Monastery of Our Lady of Piety and marking its role in Algarvian monastic history.
The prominent dominant element is the Manueline portal, featuring molded stone archivolts and columns decorated with plant motifs, crowned by baroque finials at the top.
The conventual plan adhered to the Cistercian model, articulating nave, transept, chancel, cloister, and three wings; despite internal alterations, the original layout remains discernible from the exterior.
Facing the Gilão River, the Monastery benefited from the presence of water for irrigation and cooling, utilizing an old watercourse that has now disappeared.
The contrast between the salt marsh and the housing of Tavira creates a setting where the Manueline form of the portal stands out against the green of the tides, offering a unique backdrop for passersby.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.1217,-7.64584
Coordinates DMS: 37°07'18.1"N 07°38'45.0"W
Weather Tavira
On-duty Pharmacy Tavira
