Palácio de Tavira

Tavira, Portugal

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Palácio de Tavira

Tavira, Portugal

Firm

Fragmentos

Type

Hospitality + Sport › Hotel

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

Undisclosed

Palácio de Tavira is a five-star hotel project that combines the rehabilitation of a historic landmark with a contemporary architectural extension rooted in local identity. Located on theleft bank of the Gilão River, in Tavira’s historic centre, the intervention restores the former Palácio dos Tavares, an 18th–19th century aristocratic building that had fallen into severedisrepair, and introduces it as an active civic and cultural presence within the urban fabric.
The project is structured around two complementary strategies: the full restoration of the original palace and the construction of a new wing, known as the Medina. The palace’sfaçades, roof geometry and key architectural elements (including its 18th-century stone staircase, ornamental stonework and traditional detailing) were carefully preserved andreinforced, while significant structural upgrades improved safety, thermal comfort and acoustic performance.
In the former courtyard, the Medina emerges as a fragmented, organic composition of volumes inspired by the vernacular architecture of the Algarve and the region’s Moorishheritage. Organised through patios, terraces, passages and stairways, it creates a rich spatial sequence of light and shadow, offering guests an experience of discovery andintimacy. Each of the hotel’s 36 rooms is unique, shaped by the interplay between historic structure and contemporary form.
More than a transformation of use, Palácio de Tavira demonstrates how adaptive reuse can serve as an act of continuity and regeneration. By restoring a key piece of Tavira’sarchitectural memory and introducing a new layer of hospitality architecture, the project contributes to the revitalisation of the historic centre, strengthens the city’s tourist appeal,and affirms rehabilitation as a model for sustainable urban development.