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The Atalaia Barracks 122
#620, 122
92
In modern times, Tavira was one of the seats of the Governor and Captain General of the Algarve and when the 1755 earthquake destroyed his other headquarters in Lagos, the then Governor was instructed to move his base to Tavira. He took up residence in the Alto de Santa Ana (in the present GNR stables and Radio Gilão building) and extended the hermitage of Santa Ana for use as his chapel. The Governor´s base was maintained in Tavira until it moved to Faro in 1834. After 1780 when Tavira had become the military centre of the Algarve, it clearly needed a hospital and the Old Military Hospital was begun in 1761. From 1787 it was a centre of surgical instruction by doctors sent by the royal edict. After serving also as a barracks, in 1953 this beautiful and serviceable building became a mess for officers and sergeants. The Atalaia Barracks, one of the oldest purpose built barracks in the country, was begun in 1795 as home to the Faro Infantry Regiment which transferred to Tavira in 1780. Building work was interrupted by the French Invasions and the ensuing civil wars and later cholera outbreaks delayed its recommencement until 1856. Soldiers were meanwhile billeted on private citizens and after the closure of the religious houses in 1834, the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Graça (from 2007 a prestigious pousada) became a barrack. The ground which today contains the pousada´s swimming pool was used within the last 30 years as a military shooting range. It was not however until the beginning of the 20th century that the garrison moved into the new Atalaia barracks. The rapid increase in the size of the army during the African Wars (1961-74) saw major expansion of the barracks, which was halted only after the Carnation Revolution. From 1996 the Atalaia barracks has been a holiday centre for military personnel. The main façade of the building is so similar to the central buildings of Vila Real de Santo António (constructed 1775-7), that it is believed that same architect, José Sande de Vasconcelos, might have been involved in the designs of both.
The Atalaia Barracks 122
#620, 122
92
In modern times, Tavira was one of the seats of the Governor and Captain General of the Algarve and when the 1755 earthquake destroyed his other headquarters in Lagos, the then Governor was instructed to move his base to Tavira. He took up residence in the Alto de Santa Ana (in the present GNR stables and Radio Gilão building) and extended the hermitage of Santa Ana for use as his chapel. The Governor´s base was maintained in Tavira until it moved to Faro in 1834. After 1780 when Tavira had become the military centre of the Algarve, it clearly needed a hospital and the Old Military Hospital was begun in 1761. From 1787 it was a centre of surgical instruction by doctors sent by the royal edict. After serving also as a barracks, in 1953 this beautiful and serviceable building became a mess for officers and sergeants. The Atalaia Barracks, one of the oldest purpose built barracks in the country, was begun in 1795 as home to the Faro Infantry Regiment which transferred to Tavira in 1780. Building work was interrupted by the French Invasions and the ensuing civil wars and later cholera outbreaks delayed its recommencement until 1856. Soldiers were meanwhile billeted on private citizens and after the closure of the religious houses in 1834, the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Graça (from 2007 a prestigious pousada) became a barrack. The ground which today contains the pousada´s swimming pool was used within the last 30 years as a military shooting range. It was not however until the beginning of the 20th century that the garrison moved into the new Atalaia barracks. The rapid increase in the size of the army during the African Wars (1961-74) saw major expansion of the barracks, which was halted only after the Carnation Revolution. From 1996 the Atalaia barracks has been a holiday centre for military personnel. The main façade of the building is so similar to the central buildings of Vila Real de Santo António (constructed 1775-7), that it is believed that same architect, José Sande de Vasconcelos, might have been involved in the designs of both.