Silves (1)
When we think about Silves, we immediately picture its orange-red castle, from King D. Sancho I (12th Century), which is, undoubtedly, magnificent.
But Silves evokes stories about other realms, remembered when we stroll through its meandering alleys. Legends about Moorish kings, especially the great Poet-King al-Mutamid (who has a legendary status but was quite real, born in Beja and ruler of Sevilha while all the Southern Peninsula was Arab), who marked his presence in Silves.
The main church of Silves (once a Cathedral) is beautiful, and across the street, we found the Moorish window, which never goes unnoticed.
Silves has many multifaceted historical layers, and we felt it every time we explored it.
*
Quando pensamos em Silves, lembramo-nos logo do seu Castelo vermelho alaranjado, do tempo de D. Sancho I (Séc XII) e que é, de facto, magnífico.
Mas Silves tem histórias de outras paragens, evocadas quando percorremos as suas ruelas. Lendas de reis mouros e sobretudo do grande Rei Poeta al-Mutamid (com estatuto de lenda mas bem real, nascido em Beja e que chegou a ser rei da Taifa de Sevilha, quando todo o sul da Península era árabe), e que marcou a sua presença por Silves.
A Igreja Matriz de Silves (antiga Sé) é belíssima, e do outro lado da rua, encontrámos a famosa janela mourisca que nunca passa despercebida.
Silves tem camadas de história multifacetadas, e essa sensação impôs-se, sempre que a visitámos.
Silves (1)
When we think about Silves, we immediately picture its orange-red castle, from King D. Sancho I (12th Century), which is, undoubtedly, magnificent.
But Silves evokes stories about other realms, remembered when we stroll through its meandering alleys. Legends about Moorish kings, especially the great Poet-King al-Mutamid (who has a legendary status but was quite real, born in Beja and ruler of Sevilha while all the Southern Peninsula was Arab), who marked his presence in Silves.
The main church of Silves (once a Cathedral) is beautiful, and across the street, we found the Moorish window, which never goes unnoticed.
Silves has many multifaceted historical layers, and we felt it every time we explored it.
*
Quando pensamos em Silves, lembramo-nos logo do seu Castelo vermelho alaranjado, do tempo de D. Sancho I (Séc XII) e que é, de facto, magnífico.
Mas Silves tem histórias de outras paragens, evocadas quando percorremos as suas ruelas. Lendas de reis mouros e sobretudo do grande Rei Poeta al-Mutamid (com estatuto de lenda mas bem real, nascido em Beja e que chegou a ser rei da Taifa de Sevilha, quando todo o sul da Península era árabe), e que marcou a sua presença por Silves.
A Igreja Matriz de Silves (antiga Sé) é belíssima, e do outro lado da rua, encontrámos a famosa janela mourisca que nunca passa despercebida.
Silves tem camadas de história multifacetadas, e essa sensação impôs-se, sempre que a visitámos.