There is very little history in Portugal so it was lovely to find a town with something that occupied us for more than an hour. Silves (pronounced Sill-vesh) is just a little inland and away from the tourist crowds. It’s castle dominates the town, and it’s full of Roman history, followed by evidence of it being part of the Emirate of Cordoba (Moors), then reigned by the Portuguese, Almohads, Christians, Muslims again and finally in 1240ish it became Portuguese again with the mosque being changed into a Cathedral. The Castle is known to be 6m deep in places; it dominates the skyline. In the grounds are excavations dating back to the 8th century, it has been used as a residence, a jail and now it’s remains are open to the public – the floral and herb gardens, ponds, sculptures and a restaurant make it a peaceful place to be.

The whole town is built on one of the largest known aquifers in Southern Portugal; an aquifer is an underground pocket of water created by permeable rocks. The town is full of orange groves and other fruit trees, bought to the town by the Moors.

Interior of the church, very modest.

View of the church from the castle walls.

A couple of handsome chaps!!

Castle walls and remains of Roman houses.

View along the castle walls.

Remains and reconstruction of a medieval archway.

We understand the Medcalf gypsies used to love this town, and spent many a day parked up in their motorhome in the area marked!!

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