Cabanas de Tavira
Pron.[kɐ'bɐnɐʃ dɨ tɐ'viɾɐ]
Cabanas it’s a former fishing village, about 7Km from the city to the East side. It holds a little more than 1000 permanent residents, and its beautiful and clean beaches turn it into a popular tourist destination in the summer. This parish was established as such in 1997.
The village structure is composed by a long line of low-rise houses, shops, bars and restaurants facing the Ria Formosa Nature Park.
The history of Cabanas goes back to the year of 1734, at the same time the tuna fish fishing activity started, originating a need for the creation of cabans (yes cabanas is the Portuguese word for cabans) to store all the fishing tools and the growth of the community. For more than 20 years these were just seasonal residence, and only around 1757-58 some fisherman decided to build their houses permanently.
This parish still lives mainly from fishing, contributing to the enrichment of the local gastronomy with products like tuna fish, razor clams, etc. Although the strong connection and dependece from fishing, Cabanas also depends very much from tourism, being the most visited paris along the year. The first accomodation facilities – Pedras da Rainha – built around 1973, generated a high number of work opportunities for residents. From there the dedication to tourism has been clear, revealing a promising future.
Nowadays Cabanas offers to everyone a rich cultural heritage, from its fauna and flora, to the diversity of accomodation and gastronomy.
Cabanas de Tavira Parish - official site (in Portuguese)
Their contacts:
Junta Freguesia Cabanas de Tavira
Avenida Ria Formosa, n.º 18
8800 – 591 Cabanas de Tavira
E-mail: geral[at]jf-cabanasdetavira.pt
Tel: (+351) 281 370 297
Fax: (+351) 281 370 617
