Silves Castle

About

Built on the site of an ancient Lusitanian fort, the current structure dates back to the Moors’ medieval rule, when they built the citadel to protect the important trade town it overlooks. From its battlements, visitors are treated to spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and the town below. Of its eleven towers, two are barbicans, and four feature Gothic doorways courtesy of a 15th century reconstruction. The castle was the Portuguese’s first major victory in the Algarve during the reclamation from the Moors - a feat commemorated by the statue of King Sanch I at the entrance. This fierce fighting for control over the castle led to ingenious methods to survive an extended siege, such as rain fed cisterns, which were so effective they were used until the 1920s. After patrolling the citadel’s perimeter, recharge at the floating cafe.