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Pousada do Convento da Graca Almohad Quarter Tavira

 

The hotel of Pousada do Convento da Graça is situated in the old quarter of Tavira. While converting the 16th-century Convento da Graça into a luxury hotel, developers ran into an unexpected problem that canceled plans for a basement spa and pool.

 

Beneath the old convent and the defensive walls of the ancient coastal city of Tabira (Arabic name), lies the medieval quarter. Instead of the pool, there’s now a small museum next to the hotel bar. One could come inside the hotel and request to visit the museum and staff would be more than happy to assist. This small museum can be accessed through the hotel bar and then into the basement. 

 

Entrance of hotel of Pousada do Convento da Graça in Tavira
A 16th century Convento da Graça used to exist here
Underneath the old convent, remains of Almohad neighbourhood were discovered
This pitcher is from the 12th century while lid is from the early 13th century (Muslim era)
This items seems to be in better condition and it is also from the 12th/13th century
A small cooking pot with the burnt marks
A large bowl made of clay and hardened by heat (fire), it was a multipurpose utensil in any given house
This pitcher would have been used to store liquid, most likely water
One half of a broken bowl on display
Two vases are on display here, both are from the same era

Almohad Neighbourhood

These are the remains of the medieval Moorish neighborhood (Almohad period). The layout of these houses is similar to those in Silves, Cacela Valeha and Mertola. The Masonry walls stood on the shallow foundations, on top of these, the remainder of the house was built. The houses were built by using mud mixed with lime and stones and roofs were finished with the tiles. 

These are the remains of the medieval Moorish neighborhood (Almohad period) in the basement of the hotel
Here, two medieval houses are located next to each other
Both houses have living rooms, kitchen, bedrooms and toilets
Walls of the two houses
Remains of the Almohad quarter
Structure wise masonry walls stood on the shallow foundations
Roofs of the houses were finished with the tiles
Pieces of bones are carved in order to work with them to do various jobs
These fragments show various designs created on them to make them beautiful
Both pieces are from the 12th/13th centuries and they were found in Tavira