Silves

Silves brings together impressive reminders of its history and special insights into the city’s cultural heritage. Silves Castle is one of Portugal’s most significant Muslim fortifications. If you are interested in the town’s past, it offers a tangible starting point for exploring Silves’ different historical themes.

Castle, cathedral and historic buildings

The defensive complex of the castle is still divided into two large areas: the Alcáçova and the Medina. This division gives the complex a clear structure. During your visit, you can focus on the different areas rather than seeing the castle as a single building.

Another important building is the Sé Catedral de Silves, a Gothic structure made of Silves sandstone. It probably stands on the site of the former main Muslim mosque. For travellers interested in the city’s different historical layers, the cathedral can also be viewed in the context of Silves’ Islamic past.

The Igreja da Misericórdia de Silves preserves a Manueline side portal as the only surviving element of its original building. The original building was constructed at the beginning of the 16th century. The portal draws attention to one specific, clearly identifiable detail of the church. The Ermida de Nossa Senhora dos Mártires contains the graves of Portuguese people and Crusaders who were killed during the city’s first conquest. The two sites offer different ways to explore Silves’ religious and historical traces.

Museum and Islamic heritage

The Museu Municipal de Arqueologia de Silves was founded in 1990 around an Almohad cistern dating from the 12th to 13th century. The cistern is about 18 metres deep and has a diameter of 2.5 metres. These approximate measurements give you a tangible sense of the scale of this historic structure. If you are particularly interested in archaeology, the museum is an obvious focus for your time in Silves.

The Centro de Interpretação do Património Islâmico de Silves is divided into three themes: Terra, Água and Poesia. It explores the cultural influence of the region’s Islamic past. It currently also serves as the municipal tourist information office and is a suitable starting point for visiting Silves’ historic centre. This allows you to combine finding your way around with a thematic introduction to the city’s history.

Event and culinary speciality

The Feira Medieval de Silves is an annual cultural event. It recreates everyday life in the Middle Ages in Silves, from the 8th to the 15th century. This turns the focus not only to individual buildings but also to a staged depiction of life throughout this long period. Another culinary highlight is Morgado de Silves: this sweet treat is made with eggs and almonds and decorated with sugar leaves and sugar flowers.

Getting there and choosing a holiday destination

If you are travelling from the north, you can reach Silves via the A2, the Autoestrada do Sul, or via the IC1, then continue to Silves on the EN 124. If you are travelling by train, note that the station is about 3 kilometres from the town centre. This information can help you factor your travel arrangements into your plans. If you mainly want to visit the castle, churches and museum and explore the city’s history, you can consider Silves as a location when searching for a holiday apartment.

For pages on other locations, you can also visit Cumeada, São Marcos Da Serra, Armacao De Pera, Alcantarilha, Pêra, Sao Bartolomeu De Messines, Algoz and Tunes.

For the main travel overview: Silves.