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Flattered in Algarve
Tavira, Portugal
Flattered in Algarve
Tavira, Portugal
Sister Apartments in a Converted Convent
Formerly a Cistercian convent dating from 1509, this sizeable stone structure has been converted into a multi-residence apartment complex at the creative hands of one Portugal’s most celebrated architects. Two nearly identical units offer pristine interiors, traditional terracotta tiled floors, and custom created, locally sourced furniture. Vine shaded, cobblestoned pergolas offer outdoor living and dining spaces, and the property is home to two saltwater swimming pools.
Formerly home to Cistercian nuns, this vacation home for rent in Portugal is now made up of modern residences but retains much of its original character. The building is surprisingly large, dominating the area’s picturesque Tavira salt pans and the Ria Formosa marshlands and natural park surrounding it.
The former convent’s stone façade has been restored, now a beautiful bone-colored backdrop for climbing flowers and vines across its exterior. Within the complex’s vast courtyards, two saltwater swimming pools offer respite from the southern Portuguese sun, and outdoor spaces have been designed for communal lounging and relaxation. Within the former nuns’ quarters, modern, light-filled apartments now offer convenient, comfortable living and vacationing spaces.
The owners who once vacationed in the area now rent two nearly identical units within one wing of the large complex, both featuring two bedrooms (one a double bedroom, one with two beds), two bathrooms, and an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area. They’ve kept the furnishings simple and comfortable in keeping with complex’s straightforward styling. Textiles are earth-toned, and traditional terracotta floors add to the unfussy natural décor palette.
Name-brand furniture in both units is mostly wooden and signed by local designers. Both units offer shaded pergolas, ideal for outdoor lounging. Creating light-filled spaces across the entirety of the complex presented a particular challenge for the building’s award-winning architect, who was required to cut hundreds of new windows and doors in the spare, once fortress-like structure, as the Cistercian sisters who lived within it were cloistered, meaning the convent had few openings to the outdoors.
AROUND
Set within walking distance of Tavira’s city center, this vacation home for rent in Portugal faces the area’s well known, centuries-old salt flats, where sea salt harvesting has always been a way of life. Tavira is a small urban area slightly inland from the coastline and divided by the wide Gilão River. The river leads out to the Atlantic through a series of lagoons and marshes that make up the Ria Formosa Natural Park and ultimately create Tavira Island, the area’s favorite beach, accessible by ferry and offering a wide sandy stretch and a photographic anchor “cemetery” in the dunes.
One of the eastern Algarve’s most charming towns, Tavira sits slightly off the beaten path for the otherwise bustling area. Located in the easternmost part of the region, near the Spanish border, Tavira’s old town is cobbled and labyrinth-like, with a vibrant restaurant, café, and shopping district. Houses are tiled, and sturdy Moorish ruins are apparent throughout the historic center.
LOCATION
Algarve, Tavira, Portugal. Nearest airport: Faro (40km).
BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to June, or September to November
