Silves, Armação de Pera and Between:
History:
Silves has a huge depth of history, something that will become immediately obvious as you crest the final hill of your bike ride there and behold the view: It has a cathedral and castle perched up on a hill, it has vestiges of the old town wall and a roman bridge. All there as to see at first glance. People first settled this region in the neolithic. And there are many vestiges of this early settlement including menhirs. There was also bronze age mines on the shores of the river Arade.
About two kilometres west of Silves there is evidence of an old trade centre called “Cilpes” which would have held commercial ties with the eastern Mediterranean people; Greeks, Carthaginians and Phoneticians.
The town where it its is likely to have been fortified initially by the Roman. Latter the Moors were to make the locality the most powerful city in the west. Al-Gharb meaning west was the name the Moors gave to the Algarve and western Andalucia. Under the Moors the city became a centre for culture, art and science.
Although reconquered by the some Christian mercenaries under Don Sancho I in 1189, it wouldn't be until the thirteenth century that the town would fall fully under Christian power. There is a legend that speaks of a Moor betraying his people and his town for a girl and consequently letting the barbaric Christians in to plunder the place. I am not sure of the exact wording of this legend as it was 15 years ago that I heard it.
Oddly, the town was to fall into decline due to the river silting up and brackish sands accumulating in the low lands. These are the same reasons given for many localities across the Algarve and coincides with the little ice age. Could these events be linked? Again, like the rest of the Algarve, the 1755 earthquake was the last nail in Silves' coffin.
Eventually and on the back of it's cork and to a lesser extent texiles the town began to grow and improve again. State investment in the Arade dam and the railway line in the 20th century allowed the town a new lease of life.
Currently the town isn't exactly blossoming. But the vestiges of it's grand history are every where to be seen.
Sport:
Silves isn't famous for anything I am aware of in sport. I know there was once a famous Marathon runner from Messines, but other than that it has a football club that plays in the regional division. A reason for it's lack of sporting heritage could be it's ageing population.
Culture:
Silves is rich culturally and has had many great cultural events. Currently it has the Medieval fair every August which is great fun. Other than this it has many little galleries and exhibitions to see.
Please note that in your custom made route book we provide full notes on what is happing culturally at the time at each of the places you visit.
Nature:
Silves is the second biggest municipality in the Algarve and covers a huge expanse of “Serra” or Mountains. One of the unique things you might get a chance to see is the Iberian Lynx, as Silves is site to a huge conservation project for the Iberian Lynx. Other than that I can say it's the place in the world where I personally claim to have seen more extra ordinary creatures including: dear, chameleons, all types of snake, rabbits, hares, ocelots, wild boars and even two mongooses. Ironically I have never seen a Lynx. The fact that such a place exists in Europe is extra ordinary.
Beaches:
Silves is limited by it's short coastline at Armação de Pera, but it does have beautiful beaches. Praia grande on the way to Albufeira and beyond a Lagoon at Salgados is very nice. It's long and full of sand dunes and used to host some great beach bars (that health and safety blah blah blah have done for). I have also seen dolphins pass on this beach no more than 50m of the coast. It was incredible. At Armação de Pera the beach isn't too bad either and you can still see the fishing boats lined up to bring in the sardines. Although now unfortunately those fishing boats are not the beautiful multi coloured, wooden boats of the past, but rather white fibre glass. It is an excellent place to dine on some Sardines and some cool white wine over looking the beach to the sea.