Silves

Set on a hill above a river, Silves is a picturesque town in the heart of one of the best citrus growing areas in Portugal. Despite it being an agricultural centre, its fascination for visitors is historical as it holds a strategic position. 


The two most prominent buildings in the town, the red sandstone castle and the red and white cathedral adjacent to the castle remind us of medieval times when this area was one of the most fortified and disputed places in the Algarve. 


The Romans securely settled Silves but it was the Moors who transformed it into a prosperous and enchanting city, with gleaming minarets (very high towers rising up at the side of the mosques) and bazaars brimming over with merchandise.


The castle is open to the public but its sinister past is lost amongst the jacarandas, walkways, exhibits and over-use of modern concrete. Apart from parts of walls, the only mark left by the Moors in the castle is a well of Roman origin, 65 metres deep.


The reconquest of Silves was celebrated with the construction of a cathedral where the mosque used to stand. Often restored and reconstructed, it contains tombs of some Crusaders who died there.

Many tourists visit Silves, mainly for an hour or two and they miss much; if you choose to spend the longer here, to explore the charming narrow streets below the castle, there is accommodation aplenty.