Silves

Silves lies about 52 km west of Faro in the Algarve region of Portugal and was the Moorish capital of the region, known then as Xelb. The CP regional train from Faro takes roughly 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 15 minutes and costs about EUR 5 to 6 one way. Silves station sits on the edge of town, about 2 km from the castle, so most visitors walk for 25 to 30 minutes or take a short taxi ride of around 5 minutes. A hire car on the A22 takes about 45 minutes. The Castelo de Silves, built of red sandstone, is the main sight, with walkable ramparts, towers, a large Moorish cistern and wide views over the Arade valley and orange groves. Beside it stands the Se de Silves, a Gothic cathedral built on the site of a mosque, with a plain interior and tombs of medieval nobles. Below the castle, the old town centres on narrow streets and the Almedina area. The Museu Municipal de Arqueologia contains a well-known Moorish well-cistern and displays from the Islamic period. The Ponte Romana across the Arade and the riverside quay give a short stroll and a view of the historic bridge. A good day starts with the walk from the station through town to the castle, which is cooler in the morning, followed by the cathedral and the museum. Lunch fits well in the old town or on the riverside, where grilled fish, chicken piri-piri and local pastries are common. The afternoon can be used to browse the streets or follow the river, before walking back to the station for a return train. Silves is particularly known for citrus, and the surrounding area has orange and almond groves. It also hosts the Silves Medieval Fair in August, which attracts large crowds. The best seasons are spring and autumn; July and August midday can be very hot with little shade on the castle walls. Municipal information is at cm-silves.pt. The castle approach is uphill, making the day moderately active.