St. James Church

St. James Church
Igreja de Santiago is said to have been built on the site of the town´s smaller mosque, in the 17th century, and it stands almost in front of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo, in Rua Paio Peres Pereira.

Of simple architecture, the façade has a statue that evokes this knight of the Order of Santiago (St James) who played a predominant rôle in Tavira´s conquest and of whom many references are found all over the town.

It lodges a valuable collection of statues and paintings, specially the image of Our Lady of the Conception (18th century) in the main chapel, where the altar piece is in carved wood, as is the altar piece of the Chapel of Souls.

A special reference must be made to the image of Our Lady the Candid, from the 16th century, and to the one representing the Holy Family (18th century).