Excursion The moorish city of silves tour at Portimao

Silves is famed for its imposing Moorish red brick castle that dominates the town´s skyline, cafés line streets close to the river Arada and offer a relaxed ambience unique to the region. Below the castle is the gothic cathedral which is the only example of a gothic religious building in southern Portugal.

Depart the pier for the approximately 30 min drive inland to Silves. Once the Moorish capital of the Algarve , it was a place of grandeur with glittering minarets, bustling bazars and three circuits of walls that guarded the city.

Upon arrival, take a brief uphill to the Archaeological Museum. Built on the site of a 19^th century residence where the water reservoir was discovered, this became the centerpiece of the Museum. In an excellent state of preservation, it dates back to the Almohade period (12^th - 13^th centuries ) and is made out of sandstone from the region.

It is considered an example unique to Portugal, as it has a helix staircase with three windows to ensure easier access to the water. These are features rare to the Arab architecture.

Next, take a brief walk to the Moorish Castle, the highlight of Silves. Most of the massive walls and the Gothic Cathedral built by Afonso X of Castile are still intact. Below the remains of the castle is an impressive underground water reservoir that serves the town to this day.

Some free time is made available to explore the area before re- boarding your coach for the drive back to the pier.

Note

Please note: This tour requires an extensive amount of walking on cobblestone streets, and an uphill hike to the castle. This tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.