Silves is the formal capital of the Algarve and is of great historical importance.
Silves castle is at the top of the hill and occupies 12,000 square metres. The walls of the castle are made of red sandstone and were heavily restored in the 1940’s.
We also looked around the cathedral which is constructed where a mosque was originally built. Although having some Baroque characteristics it is mostly Gothic in nature and is considered the main Gothic monument in the Algarve and one of the most important landmarks in Southern Portugal.
The town is very quaint with winding streets and a choice of restaurants and bars.
What made it very different to anywhere else we have been are the storks. The storks nest here every year and have built their nests in the most peculiar places.
For their size, they are very graceful birds when they fly. Every year they come back to nest at the same spot, which is really quite remarkable.
All the utility boxes are all spray painted. We thought this was a great idea and made them a real feature.
Silves is definitely worth a wander around and we enjoyed our few days here.
