This castle is located at the top of a small hill, overlooking the right bank of the Rio Arade, in a bordering area between the Barrocal area (typical limestone ranges in the Algarve) and the Baixo Alentejo region. This location gifted the castle with a good visual dominance over the territory, performing a pivotal role in river activities and terrestrial movement. The fortification is composed by the wall, which encloses a total area of about 12.000m2 and by the castle/alcazaba, positioned at the highest point on the hill, adjusted to the terrain's topography. This castle can be integrated in the Umayyad castle typology, with parallels with the Syrian-Palestinian constructions of the same period. The castle presents a polygonal blueprint, occupying a total area of 12.000 m2, with walls 2.80m thick, elaborated in rammed earth and coated by red sandstone, integrating a set of 12 rectangular towers and three gates that provide the access to the alcazaba. Inside the alcazaba, traces of a "fortress-palace" were identified, with a bathing complex that reflects an Umayyad architectural tradition (8th - 9th century), two residential areas with two floors and an inner garden chronologically framed in the 12th - 13th-centuries, three cisterns, one of which of large dimensions (aljibe) and a set of silo-type storage structures. The architectural features of this castle and the domestic structures of its bailey are integrated in the Umayyad constructive tradition (8th - 9th century), with Almoravid / Almohad refurbishing (12th - 13th century), representing an important defensive and population core of the Algarve. During the reign of D. Afonso III in mid-13th century, the Castelo de Silves was conquered by Christian troops, with records of the abandonment and restructuring of some defensive and residential structures. During the 14th and 15th-centuries, renovations of the Silves walls were documented but the silting of the river and the desirability for coastal locations lead to the decrease of this city's strategic importance. During the Portugal liberal wars of the 19th century, part of this defensive complex was repaired. Later on, it is recorded the deactivation and even obliteration of some parts of these structures. The on-site archaeological works that have occurred since the 1980s, are part of a research project lead by Rosa Varela Gomes, and later on, during safeguard interventions. These works allowed the identification of the referred structures, as well as a set of diverse materials (ceramic vessels, metallic artefacts, military artefacts, architectural elements), chronologically framed in 7th - 13th century (Islamic Medieval period), 13th - 14th century (Medieval Christian period) and Modern times.

The Silves Municipal Archaeological Museum is within the walls of the old city. Ticket Purchase On Site: Castle or Museum + Castle. Silves Castle integrates of the Mediterranean Diet Route, the Al-Mutamid Route and the Algarve Umayyad Route.

Entrance with admission ticket

Opening hours: From October 16th to May 31th 09.00 - 17.30 June 09. 00 to 19.00 From July 1st to August 31 9.00 to 22.00 From September 1st to October 15th 9.00 to 20.00

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