Silves, the former capital of the Algarve
Image gallery of Silves, capital of the Algarve during the Moorish period: castle, cathedral, old town, Rio Arade, Roman bridge, Marisqueira Rui, points of interest, ...
Silves: View
View towards Silves, on the banks of the Arade river. The Moorish castle, which was the cultural centre of the region, overlooks the old town.
Silves: Rio Arade
The Arade River connects Silves with the seaport of Portimão. It used to be an important trade route before the lower course of the river silted up. Nowadays the old bridge (“Ponte Velha”) is only used by pedestrians.
Silves: Ponte Velha
The old bridge over the Arade river is also called a “Roman Bridge”, although it is most likely not of Roman origin, but was built during medieval times.
Silves: Episcopal Cathedral
The Catedral Sé de Silves was erected in the 13th century after Silves had been reconquered from the Moors, most likely in the place of a former mosque. It is different from most other historic buildings in the Algarve as it partially survived the earth quake of 1755.
Silves: Episcopal Cathedral
Until 1577 Silves has been the residence of the bishops of the Algarve, hence the name "Catedral Sé", meaning dome.
Silves: Episcopal Cathedral
The gothic portal on the eastern side of the cathedral was hewn in yellow sandstone of the region.
Silves: Igreja da Misericórdia
The simple church opposite the cathedral was erected in the 16thcentury. One of the two portals is built in the typical Manueline style, a variation of the late gothic, only found in Portugal.
Silves: Cathedral
View from the upper part of the town to the cathedral and the square in front of it.
Silves: Alley
One of the pictureques alleys in the upper part of the town leading to the castle.
Silves: Archaeological museum
The impressive building of the Archaeological Museum of Silves is situated below the Moorish castle. It shows regional findings of the various periods from the Palaeolithic Age until modern times. One of the highlights One of the highlights is the collection of ceramics that is said to be among the best in Portugal. The museum was inaugurated in 1990 on the grounds of a cistern dating back to the period of the Almuhadens in the 12th and 13th century, forming the corner piece of the museum.
Silves: Castle
Aerial view to the castle of Silves, an impressive monument of the Moorish period and its great cultural heritage.
Castle of Silves: D. Sancho I
This giant statue of a knight guards the doorway to the Moorish castle of Silves. It depicts D. Sancho I, who reconquered Silves from the Moors for the first time in 1189.
Castle of Silves: Battlements
The fortified walls of the castle are armed with strong battlements. They are built out of red sandstone of the region, the so called “grés vermelho de Silves” and dried mud.
Silves: Cork factory
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Silves used to be an important centre for the Portuguese cork industry with over 20 factories employing more then thousand people.
Silves: Nesting storks
The many storks nesting on top of roofs and chimneys in Silves find easy prey in the nearby Arade river.
Silves: Marisqueira Rui
Every tourist guide recommends this fish and seafood restaurant in the centre of the old part of Silves as one of the best of its kind in the Algarve. It also offers a variety of local rural specialities being a favourite with Portuguese locals as well as tourists.
Silves: Market Hall
The modern municipal market is situated in the lower part of the town near the Arade river and the so called "Roman Bridge".
Silves: Art Nouveau
During our stroll around the old part of Silves we found this pretty example of the Jugendstil on the facade of one of the town houses.
Silves: Homenagem aos Corticeiros
The statue of a cork worker is a reference to the former importance of the cork industry in the Silves area
Silves Homenagem aos Corticeiros
Silves: Praça Al-mutamid
The square on the water front of the Arade river is named after this famous Moorish poet and writer. He became governor of Silves at the age of 13 and inherited Seville as caliph after the death of his father.
Silves Praca Al-mutamid 6
Silves Praca Al-mutamid 7
Silves: Cruz De Portugal 5
The so called "Cross of Portugal" in Silves has been erected in the last querater of the 15th. Century. The stone cross in floral Gothic style with several Manueline elements was classified as "National Monument" in 1920.
