This evening my wonderful friend Jo arrives in her beloved Tavira and so I thought I’d set her a mission in case she has a spare moment during her lengthy stay this Autumn! I am curious about the river which runs through Tavira, as at the Ponte Romana (which isn’t Roman by the way!) the river changes its name from Rio Séqua to Rio Gilão. There cannot be many rivers that change their name almost at their mouth. I’ve been unable to determine why, so am hoping Jo might find out for me this Autumn. Over to you Jo!
Whilst we await Jo’s advice I thought I’d share the little I do know about the Séqua/Gilão. It rises 56km kilometres away in the Serra do Caldeirão, and is fed by the Riberias Alportel, Asseca and Zimbral. In the 16th and 17th centuries Tavira was an incredibly important port for the Algarve and Portugal. It was also a tuna fishing centre and further upstream there were apparently many watermills along its banks. However the fisherman and merchants were fighting a losing battle with the river. It was gradually silting up and by the 19th century it was no longer a thriving merchant port. It remained one of the main tuna fishing centres though for another hundred years, but even that eventually disappeared in the 1970s when the shoals found a new route from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
There are still a few small fishing boats coming into the city, and on low tides it is not unusual to see the egrets and gulls joined by fisherman in the river. I’d love to know what this fisherman was gathering, we sat watching him for quite a while but couldn’t quite work it out. I am guessing molluscs but what do you think?
Lovely, familiar views and just going into Tavira today!
Lucky you! Jo will be disappointed though as she only left Saturday.
I heard that it was a Romeo and Juliet type scenario with the two lovers throwing themselves off either side of the bridge. Mike
ah you are the third person to share something along these lines . . . clearly it is the associated story. I wonder if it is a myth or based on reality?
Edith is right. I seem to have heard that story. And thank heavens I’m now off the hook xxx
Hee hee……thought you like a challenge but clearly it is so beautiful and so wonderful there at the moment you’ve completely relaxed. Fabulous 😊
Hot! Done one very casual Culatra walk with the Strollers. More serious Striders stuff tomorrow. Wish me luck xx
ah you have just answered my question in my last comment!! Hope it wasn’t too hot for your serious striders walk!