Castle of Silves
| Castle of Silves | |
|---|---|
Castelo de Silves | |
| Faro, Algarve, Algarve in Portugal | |
Aerial view of Silves castle | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Owner | Portuguese Republic |
| Operator | Câmara Municipal de Silves |
| Open to the public | Public |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 37°11′27.56″N 8°26′16.46″W / 37.1909889°N 8.4379056°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 201 BCE |
| Materials | Taipa, Silves Sandstone, Masonry, Wood |
The Castle of Silves is a castle in the civil parish of Silves in the municipality of Silves in the Portuguese Algarve. It's believed that the first fortifications were built upon a possible Lusitanian castro, by the Romans or Visigoths. Between the 8th and 13th centuries, the castle was occupied by the Arabs who expanded it, making it one of the best preserved Arab fortifications in Portugal, resulting in its classification as a National Monument in 1910.