Castelo de Silves
- from EUR 2.80
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
Is this your place? Get the badge for your websiteAbout
More photos 10
1 / 10
Why go
- The Algarve’s largest hilltop fortress of its kind.
- A roughly 388-metre wall-walk connects the defensive towers.
- Remains of an Almohad palace include an inner garden and private baths.
Opening hours
Today09:00 – 17:30Show all
Don't miss
- Cistern of MouraIts five aisles are separated by four rows of columns.In the courtyard
- Cisterna dos CãesExcavations recovered medieval pottery, including Islamic-period water-lifting pots, from this well.In the courtyard
- Eastern palace remainsThe palace was abandoned after a fire devastated it following the Christian occupation.Eastern area of the citadel
- Palácio das Varandas gardensReconstructed gardens feature pomegranates, citrus trees, rosemary and roses.Palácio das Varandas gardens
Know before you go
- Opening hours: Daily, 09:00–17:30.
What's inside
- A tiled guardhouse with a vaulted ceiling stands beside the principal gate.
- The castle’s rain-fed cistern supplied nearby homes until the 1920s.
Tips for your visit
- Head to Rua do Castelo at the top of the hill; the bronze statue of Sancho I marks the main entrance.
Interesting facts4
-
12,000 square
The inner fortress covers about 12,000 square metres.
Site Autárquico da CM Silves Castelo de Silves -
12 hectares
The outer walls once enclosed part of the town, covering roughly 9.75–12 hectares.
Castelo de Silves - Wikipedia -
Al Hamra, another name for the castle, means “the red.”
Château de Silves - Wikipedia -
1910
The castle became a National Monument in 1910.
Castelo de Silves - Wikipedia
Shorts
-
Castelo Silves Algarve PortugalPortugal sem filtro
-
Have you ever been to Silves Castle or Castelo de Silves? 🏰🇵🇹We final…That Expat Mom PT
-
Castelo Almóada de SilvesRotas Turisticas
-
visita ao Castelo de silves - Faro -Portugal..Eri Forasteiro
-
Castelo de SilvesAlgarve Portugal
-
Castelo de Silves, PortugalDrone Biker
-
Castelo Silves100VIAGEM
-
Castelo e vila dignos de estrelarem em filmes épicos! Silves, Algarve…André Carvalho LUSOaBRaço
History
As the administrative centre of the Moorish Algarve, the castle commanded a town whose fortunes were tied to the Arade. The river’s gradual silting in the 14th and 15th centuries contributed to the decline of Silves and its castle.
- 8th centuryOuter defenses were built during the early Islamic occupation.
- 11th centurySilves became the capital of an autonomous taifa kingdom, and the castle's defenses reached their height.
- 12th–13th centuriesAlmoravid and Almohad campaigns shaped the walls and towers. The inner fortress was probably built under Almohad rule.
- 1189King Sancho I and a Crusader army captured Silves after a long siege.
- 1191Amir al-Mu'minin's forces retook the city.
Show all
- 13th centuryAfonso III's forces definitively captured the fortress.
- 14th–15th centuriesThe Arade gradually silted up, contributing to the decline of Silves and its castle.
- 1755The Lisbon earthquake badly damaged the castle.
- 1940sGovernment works reinforced or rebuilt sections of the walls and towers.
Photo spots
- Portimão and the Serra de MonchiqueFrame the distant coast and mountain range from the hilltop citadel.From the citadel On the map
Sources: Castle of Silves - Wikipedia · Silves - Wikivoyage (see) · Site Autárquico da CM Silves Castelo de Silves · Burg von Silves - Wikipedia · Château de Silves - Wikipedia · Castelo de Silves - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Phone
- +351282440800
Questions and answers
What survives from later alterations at Castelo de Silves?
Some towers retain Gothic doorways and vaulted rooms added in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Is archaeological work at Castelo de Silves complete?
Excavation and restoration continue, with early buildings still being discovered beyond the walls.
Did the defenses of Castelo de Silves extend beyond the castle?
Yes. They included the town walls and a wall that once reached the river.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.