Tavira's Churches Advance in New 7 Wonders of Portugal Contest

The Igreja da Misericórdia and the Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo in Tavira have been selected for the regional semi‑final of the New 7 Wonders of Portugal competition in the religion category. They are the only two Algarve churches in the contest, highlighting their architectural and historical importance – the Misericórdia, founded in 1541, is praised as a prime example of Renaissance architecture in the south, while Santa Maria do Castelo blends Gothic, Manueline and neoclassical elements and links to the 1755 earthquake.

The municipal authorities and heritage officials stress that the nominations recognize decades of work to preserve and promote these monuments, and they see the competition as a chance to boost religious tourism in the region. Voting is open to the public, with phone numbers 761 207 095 (Misericórdia) and 761 207 096 (Santa Maria) and via the TVI Pass app. The Algarve regional semi‑final will take place in Olhão on 27 June, with the final regional list to be announced on 11 July.