|
 Silves Accommodation
Silves Guest & Manor Houses
Silves Holiday Rental Agents
Silves Hotels
Silves Entertainment
Silves - Night Life
Silves - Restaurants
Silves - What to Do
Silves Estate Agents
Estate Agents
Silves Golf
Silves Golf Course
Silves Map
Town Map
Silves Services
Veterinary
Silves - History
This city was once the capital of the whole district and was still referred
to in the beginning of the 19th Century as the “Kingdom of the Algarve”. So
much history is attached to Silves and its surrounding area that only
a book would do it justice! Standing proudly on a hill Silves can be traced
back to existing some 1.000 BC. Evidence shows that it was already a place
of note in Roman times but it really became an important place during its
occupation in the early 11th Century by the Moors. Giving it the name of
Xelb, they constructed lavish palaces and created a cultural centre
of learning for the whole Iberian Peninsular and at its height it is believed
that its population was around 20.000 inhabitants. Although it was important
as a town it still fell under the mantle and control of Cordoba in
Spain.
They imported lions and other wild animals that are reputed to have roamed
freely through exotic gardens in palaces such as the important Palace of
Verandas. Under its Seville based powerful ruler Al-Mutamid. Born in
Beja in 1040, he became at the tender age of thirteen the ruler of
Silves until later when he moved to Spain. In 1189 Knights of Santiago
sacked the city with the assistance of the Anglo-Norman Crusaders. Two years
later it was retaken by the Caliph Ben Yussef. It was only in 1242
that it was again under the control of the Portuguese Kings. From 1250 until
1267 and with the encouragement of Pope Innocent IV, the Algarve became a
battle ground for its ownership between the Portuguese King Afonso III and
the King of Castile. The matter was settled in the favour of the Portuguese
by the Treaty of Badajoz.
Silves continued in importance as a main town of the Algarve until its commerce
began a slow decline in the 15th Century due the silting-up of the Rio Arade
that had given the town good access to the sea. (The authorities are at present
involved in re-establishing this important link by dredging the river). In 1544
the Bishop moved his residence to Faro. A specialty from the town are the
“Morgados” cakes made with pumpkin. (Visit - Portugal History)
Silves - Description
Most of the town and nearly all its ancient buildings were destroyed by the
earthquake of 1755. The impressive remains of the castle dates back to Moors
and there is an impressive underground water reservoirs that are still used
by the city today. The biggest has the romantic name of “Cistern of the
Enchanted Moorish Girl” and was said to be a principal factor in the fall of
the town during its siege. The Museu Arqueológico has been constructed
above the cistern and here a visitor will find exhibits of locally found
objects included items from the Stone Age. As a reminder of the Romans
occupation is the Ponte Romana, a fine strong bridge over the Rio
Arade below the city walls and having been rebuilt from the original in
the 15th Century. The city’s earlier 13th Century Cathedral was built on the
site of a Mosque and has suffered considerable alteration over the centuries.
To the southwest side of the town is a modern statue celebrating the siege
of 1189 in an appropriately named square, Largo dos Mártires, where
it is suggested that the remains of the defending Moors were buried. Just
to the northeast of the city is a fascinating 16th Century granite cross
that is located beside the road to the north. The countryside around
Silves was once the biggest orange growing area in Portugal and the
local quality of this fruit still enjoys fame over other areas in Portugal
and neighbouring Spain. There has been a popular recent decision to site a
new University in Silves to recreate its links with its past.
Silves - Nearby Locations
There is another administrative and rural town named Lagoa is only 8 Kms. to
the south of Silves. To the southeast is the town of Alcantarilha
whose main claim to fame is a chapel lined with hundreds of bones belonging
to its earlier inhabitants. Further to the south of Alcantarilha is
the beach town of Armação de Pera with its long beautiful sandy beach.
Lying to the north of the fertile valleys of Silves is an area of
attractive forest covered hills that eventually lead up to the mountains of
Monchique. The large national Dams of Arade and Foz are
well worth visiting for the beauty of their natural setting.
Silves Photographs
Silves Town and Castle -
Silves Cork Factory
|
Silves Events |
--
|
| Procissão do Corpo de Deus |
31st of May |
| Marchas Populares |
4th Saturday in June |
| International Exhibition of Sand Sculpture |
August & September |
| Feira Medieval |
9th to 17th of August |
| Feira da Laranja |
3rd Saturday & Sunday of August |
| Feira dos Frutos Secos (Alcantarilha) |
September |
| Town Holiday |
3rd September |
| Market Day |
3rd Monday every month
|
Algarve Towns
Albufeira
· Almancil
· Alvor
· Armação de Pera
· Carvoeiro
· Faro
· Lagoa
· Lagos
· Loulé
· Monchique
· Olhão
· Portimão
· Quarteira
· Quinta do Lago
· Sagres
· Tavira
· Vale do Lobo
· Vilamoura
· Vila Real de Santo António
|
Silves Telephone Numbers
8300
