Silves
This russet-coloured, Lego-like castle – originally occupied in the Visigothic period – has great views over the town and surrounding countryside. What…
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Silves
Silves' winding backstreets of whitewashed buildings topped by terracotta roofs climb the hillside above the banks of the Rio Arade. Crowning the hill, hulking red-stone walls enclose one of the Algarve's best-preserved castles. Situated 17km northeast of Portimão, the town makes a good base if you’re after a less hectic, noncoastal Algarvian pace.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
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Silves
Just below the castle is the sé, built in 1189 on the site of an earlier mosque, then rebuilt after the 1249 Reconquista and subsequently restored several…
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Museu Municipal de Arqueologia
Silves
Built tight against the defensive walls, this archaeological museum has a mix of interesting finds from the town and around. The modern building was…
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Centro de Interpretaçao do Património Islâmico
Silves
This interpretative centre promotes the network of Islamic routes through Portugal, Spain and Morocco, with a small but interesting exhibition on…
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Silves
The exterior of the 16th-century Igreja da Misericórdia is plain apart from its distinctive, fanciful Manueline doorway hanging well above street level …
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Casa da Cultura Islâmica e Mediterrânica
Silves
Built with an art nouveau flourish in 1914, this wonderfully restored neo-Moorish cultural centre 600m west of the centre hosts occasional exhibitions,…
Plan with a local
Articles
Latest stories from Silves
Tips & Advice
Spending Diary: a five-day trip to a remote corner of AlgarveNov 13, 2019 • 10 min read
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