The historical importance of the hilltop town of Silves cannot be underestimated. It was once the capital of the Algarve region, and can trace its beginnings as a settlement back to 1,000 BC.
It was a place of some consequence during the Roman Occupation, but it was the Moors who really developed Silves in the 11th century, turning the town into a centre of learning throughout the Iberian Peninsula.
Silves was to remain an important town for more than 400 years, but fell into commercial decline with the silting-up of the Arade River which had previously linked the town with the coast.
The infamous Lisbon earthquake of 1755 destroyed much of Silves’ ancient buildings. The remains of the Moorish castle and the underground water reservoirs from the same period can still be seen, and the town has a very informative archeological museum which charts much of Silves’ history going back as far as the Stone Age.
Evidence of the town’s Roman occupation can be seen in the Ponta Romana, built over the Rio Arade. It too was a victim of the Lisbon earthquake, but was repaired in the 15th century, using the original stone.
The 13th century cathedral, built from local red sandstone, on the site of a former mosque, is dominated by a Gothic doorway, and the Gothic influence extends to the interior; the transept and apse are particularly fine examples of gothic art.
Just outside the town walls is the chapel of Our Lady of Martyrs or Nossa Senhora dos Mátires. It was built in the baroque style in the 12th century to receive the bodies of the crusaders who died whilst re-taking Silves from the Moors.
A more recent reminder of the struggle to remove the Moors from the town is the modern statue situated in the Largo dos Mátires, which commemorates the siege of 1189 in which many Moorish defenders perished. The memorial stands on a site which is believed to contain their remains.
Silves is recognised as one of Portugal’s largest orange growing areas, and the town is surrounded by citrus groves. The area is quietly rural, a far cry from the busy coastal resorts and as such is an admirable choice for investors looking for a country property. Whether it is a town property or a more rustic dwelling, in need of renovation, there is a good selection of property on the market, and with prices to suit most budgets Silves is an excellent town in which to invest.
Although the town has such historic provenance it is not buried in its past. It has a good selection of shops and eateries, and a new university is planned for the near future.
