Resting on Portugal’s stunning Algarve coast over the banks of the Gilao River, the ancient town of Tavira has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archaeological surveys have found relics dating to as far back as the Bronze Age, and the city’s snaking alleyways are lined with mosques, palaces, elegantly weathered churches and regal 18-century homes which stand as testaments to the city’s Moorish and medieval eras. Just as impressive as Tavira’s architecture is its natural beauty: idyllic sandy beaches fringe its azure shores, while the Rio Formosa Nature Park is an astonishingly beautiful marshland reserve dotted with salts pans and candy-pink flamingo flocks. Make sure to visit the Pego do Inferno just outside the town, an awe-inspiring waterfall and lake of turquoise-green water offering the perfect spot for an invigorating dip.