Silves
Silves is an attractive town with a rich history built on the banks of the River Arade
Silves is a historic and delightful town which was originally the ancient capital of the Algarve. Under the Moors, Silves was a major defensive stronghold and important trading center, with boats sailing down the Arade River and crossing to North Africa. You can reach Silves by car and bus from Ana Maria’s Residence. The beaches of Armação de Pêra are only a 20-minute drive away from the town, so you can easily combine your visit with a relaxing swim in the Atlantic.
Walking in this unique town with its cobbled streets makes you believe that time has stopped. The town is famous for having the most well preserved castle of the Algarve, the Castle of Silves. Its dark-red stone walls lure visitors from the moment they arrive, as they stand high above a hill overlooking the town. The castle contrasts against the maze of whitewashed houses and cobbled streets leading down to the river. Every year during summer, the town hosts a famous medieval festival and attracts a lot of visitors.
When you are visiting the Algarve in August, then the medieval festival in Silves is one special experience not to be missed. The Silves Medieval Fair (in Portuguese: Feira Medieval de Silves) in the castle of Silves is a festival that makes you feel like you are right back into the middle ages. The streets around the castle turn into a medieval marketplace. People dress in medieval costumes and you will find traditional food and drinks. Also you will find entertainment from the Middle Ages on the street. The festival lasts for 9 days, and Silves is the perfect town to hold this festival. Entrance is about € 2. The Medieval Festival is quite popular and it can get quite busy. However, it is a unique experience and highly recommended.
The Castle of Silves is a castle from the Moorish era. It is the most famous landmark of Silves and attracts many tourists each year. The castle was built between the 8th and 13th century and has been restored in the 20th century. It is the best preserved castle in the Algarve. The castle is situated on the highest part of the town and was used to defend the whole population of Silves in war time. After all, Silves was once the capital of the Algarve.
From the castle you can enjoy the beautiful panoramic views over Silves and its surroundings. Back in the days, having a good overview of the area was of strategic importance. Thus you can understand the reason why the castle was built on top of this hill.
There is a Gothic cathedral in Silves, called Sé de Silves. It was built in the 13th century on the site of a mosque. It was heavily damaged by the earthquake of 1755, but since then it has been rebuilt. Nowadays, this cathedral is considered by many to be the most important Gothic building in the Algarve. The cathedral is situated on the upper part of Silves. This is quite a steep climb from the bottom part of the town. It costs € 1,50 to enter the cathedral. If you are interested in religious buildings or in architecture, this cathedral is definitely worth a visit.
