Palácio de Tavira is a five-star hotel resulting from the rehabilitation of the 18th–19th century Palácio dos Tavares and the construction of a new wing within its former courtyard. Located in Tavira’s historic centre, the project preserves the palace’s original façades, roof geometry and significant architectural elements, including the 18th-century stone staircase, ornamental stonework and traditional detailing. An indepth renovation ensure contemporary standards of comfort and safety. The new Medina wing replaces former degraded annexes with a fragmented and organic composition inspired by local vernacular architecture. Organised through patios, stairways, terraces and narrow passages, it creates a rich sequence of spaces defined by light and shadow. The hotel comprises 36 unique rooms, shaped by the interaction between historic fabric and contemporary architecture. By combining adaptive reuse with sensitive expansion, it contributes to urban regeneration of Tavira's historic core.
Palácio de Tavira is conceived as an act of continuity: a dialogue between memory and transformation, where heritage is not frozen in time but reactivated through use. The project begins with the recognition of the Palácio dos Tavares as a key fragment of Tavira’s architectural and civic identity, shaped by centuries of layered cultural influences. The intervention unfolds through a dual strategy. The historic palace is restored as a stable, noble presence within the city, while a new architectural body, the Medina, emerges in the former courtyard of the palace as a contemporary reinterpretation of Algarve’s Mediterranean and Moorish heritage. Fragmented volumes, patios, terraces and winding passages recall the logic of vernacular urban fabrics, organised around light, shade and intimacy. Together, palace and Medina form a cohesive whole: an architecture that honours the past while shaping a sustainable and experiential future for Tavira’s historic centre.
