|
 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. 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 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. It is recorded that in 1189
there were over 15.000 inhabitants when the 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 of the town are
the “Morgados” cakes made with pumpkin.
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 a 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
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
(Area Map)
Silves Events
3rd Saturday & Sunday of August - Feira da Laranja
3rd Monday every month - Market Day
3rd September - Municipal Day
Silves Restaurants
Selected list for Silves area
 Useful Silves Telephone Numbers
Town Hall - 282 442 325
Fire Brigade - 282 322 666
Police - 282 442 414
Emergency Treatment - 282 440 020
Ambulance - 282 322 666
Tourist Office - 282 442 255
Useful Silves Facts
Postal Code - 8300
Algarve Towns
Albufeira
· Almancil
· Alvor
· Armação de Pera
· Carvoeiro
· Faro
· Lagoa
· Lagos
· Loulé
· Monchique
· Olhão
· Portimão
· Quarteira
· Sagres
· Tavira
· Vilamoura
· Vila Real de Santo António
|
