Silves Castle
Silves Castle
On the hill atop the town of Silves of Portugal’s Algarve region is a majestic castle that has survived two earthquakes – one took place in 1722 and another in 1755. Silves Castle, also known among locals as Castelo de Silves, is made up of red sandstone blocks, which was seized by King of Leon and Castile during the year 1060.
According to history, Silves Castle was built during 4th or 5th century on the late Roman fortifications, which was also the time of Moorish occupation. The castle served as the city walls that served as barrier for the entire city. After being retaken by the Moors, Christian forces from Portugal attacked the town, along with other Crusaders as they made their way to the Holy Land. It again was the site of many other attacks such as Yacub Ben Yussuf (in 1191), Sancho I (in 1198), and the Master of the Order of Santiago (in 1242).
The castle grounds have two entrances: main gate and the one that is dubbed as the ‘traitors-gate’. There are 11 square towers all over Silves Castle and comes with 4-meter thick walls that enclose an area as vast as 125x100 meters in size. Most part of the castle had undergone reconstruction work in between the period of 14th and 15th century, which now bears gothic designs.
Today, most tourists will find basically nothing inside the castle walls, except for two cisterns. The smaller one reaches as far as 60 feet below, while the larger one have been dubbed as ‘El Moura Encantanda’ due to a legend that details the mourning of a Moorish princess over her loved one who committed suicide at this exact same location.
With its long history, rich architectural formation, and being one of the largest castles in Europe, Silves Castle is no doubt a must-see for all tourists coming to visit Portugal, specifically Algarve region. Aside from exploring the views inside the castle, you can also experience a breathtaking view of the surrounding town and countryside.
If you want to get a glimpse of the majestic history and design of Silves Castle, there are tours offered that enable you access into the castle. It is open from 9am until 6pm of the same day, so you can choose the most convenient time for you to pay the castle a visit. Do keep your change ready as you will be charged with approximately 1.25 Euros for adults and all children below the age of 5 gain entrance for free.
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