With many delightful courses, pure coastal breeze from the Atlantic ocean, great fresh gastronomy and fantastic weather conditions, Portugal is a Golf Bliss for most golfers.
Portugal Golf - Silves
Silves History
This city was once the capital of the whole district and was still referred to
in the beginning of the 19th Century as the “Kingdom of the Algarve”. So much
history is attached to Silves and its surrounding area that only a book would do
it justice! Standing proudly on a hill Silves can be traced back to existing
some 1.000 BC. Evidence shows that it was already a place of note in Roman times
but it really became an important place during its occupation in the early 11th
Century by the Moors. Giving it the name of Xelb, they constructed lavish
palaces and created a cultural centre of learning for the whole Iberian
Peninsular. Although it was important as a town it still fell under the mantle
and control of Cordoba in Spain.
They imported lions and other wild animals that are reputed to have roamed
freely through exotic gardens in palaces under its Seville based powerful ruler
Al-Mutamid. Born in Beja in 1040, he became at the tender age of thirteen the
ruler of Silves until later when he moved to Spain. It is recorded that in 1189
there were over 15.000 inhabitants when the Knights of Santiago sacked the city
with the assistance of the Anglo-Norman Crusaders. Two years later it was
retaken by the Caliph Ben Yussef. It was only in 1242 that it was again under
the control of the Portuguese Kings. From 1250 until 1267 and with the
encouragement of Pope Innocent IV, the Algarve became a battle ground for its
ownership between the Portuguese King Afonso III and the King of Castile. The
matter was settled in the favour of the Portuguese by the Treaty of Badajoz.
Silves continued in importance as a main town of the Algarve until its commerce
began a slow decline in the 15th Century due the silting-up of the Rio Arade
that had given the town good access to the sea. (The authorities are at present
involved in re-establishing this important link by dredging the river). In 1544
the Bishop moved his residence to Faro. A specialty of the town are the
“Morgados” cakes made with pumpkin.
Silves Description
Most of the town and nearly all its ancient buildings were destroyed by the
earthquake of 1755. The impressive remains of the castle dates back to Moors and
there is a impressive underground water reservoirs that are still used by the
city today. The biggest has the romantic name of “ Cistern of the Enchanted
Moorish Girl” and was said to be a principal factor in the fall of the town
during its siege. The Museu Arqueológico has been constructed above the cistern
and here a visitor will find exhibits of locally found objects included items
from the Stone Age. As a reminder of the Romans occupation is the Ponte Romana,
a fine strong bridge over the Rio Arade below the city walls and having been
rebuilt from the original in the 15th Century. The city’s earlier 13th Century
Cathedral was built on the site of a Mosque and has suffered considerable
alteration over the centuries. To the southwest side of the town is a modern
statue celebrating the siege of 1189 in an appropriately named square, Largo dos
Mártires, where it is suggested that the remains of the defending Moors were
buried. Just to the northeast of the city is a fascinating 16th Century granite
cross that is located beside the road to the north. The countryside around
Silves was once the biggest orange growing area in Portugal and the local
quality of this fruit still enjoys fame over other areas in Portugal and
neighbouring Spain. There has been a popular recent decision to site a new
University in Silves to recreate its links with its past.
Silves Nearby Locations
Another administrative and rural town named Lagoa is only 8 Kms. to the south of
Silves. To the southeast is the town of Alcantarilha whose main claim to fame is
a chapel lined with hundreds of bones belonging to its earlier inhabitants.
Further to the south of Alcantarilha is the beach town of Armação de Pera with
its long beautiful sandy beach. Lying to the north of the fertile valleys of
Silves is an area of attractive forest covered hills that eventually lead up to
the mountains of Monchique. The large national Dams of Arade and Foz are well
worth visiting for the beauty of their natural setting.
Silves Information
800 296 296 - Support to Tourists
112 - SOS
282 442 325 - Town Hall (Silves)
282 442 411 - Fire Brigade
282 442 414 - Police (Silves)
282 440 020 - Emergency Treatment
282 322 666 - Ambulance
282 442 255 - Tourist Office
Silves Locations of Interest
Castle
Cathedral - Sé de Silves
Church - Igreja da Misericórdia
Cruz de Portugal
Roman Bridge
Arade Dam
Archaeological Site - Serra da Rocha Branco
Funcão Dam