Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
castle was abandoned by the 16th century. Recent restorations include the red-brick interi-
or walkway.
Sé
(admission €1; hours vary Mon-Fri)
Just below the castle is the
sé
(cathedral), built in 1189 on
the site of an earlier mosque, then rebuilt after the 1249 Reconquista and subsequently re-
stored several times following earthquake damage. The stark, fortresslike building has a
multiarched Portuguese-Gothic doorway, and some original Gothic touches left, including
the nave and aisles and a dramatically tall, strikingly simple interior. There are several
fine tombs, one of which is purported to be of João do Rego, who helped to settle
Madeira.
CATHEDRAL
CHURCH
Igreja da Misericórdia
( 9am-1pm & 2-5pm Mon-Fri)
The 16th-century Igreja da Misericórdia, plain apart from its
distinctive, fanciful Manueline doorway (not the main entrance) is decorated with curious
heads, pine cones, foliage and aquatic emblems.
Museu Municipal de Arqueologia
( 282 444 838; Rua das Portas de Loulé; adult/under 10yr €2/free, joint ticket with Castelo €3.60; 10am-6pm)
Just below the cathedral is the impressive, well-laid-out Museu Municipal de Arqueolo-
gia. In the centre is a well-preserved 4m-wide, 18m-deep Moorish well surrounded by a
spiral staircase, which was discovered during excavations. The find, together with other
archaeological discoveries in the area, led to the establishment of the museum on this site;
it shows prehistoric, Roman and Moorish antiquities. One wall is of glass, showing a sec-
tion of the fort wall (also of Almohad origin) that is used to support the building.
MUSEUM
Activities
HORSE RIDING
Country Riding Centre
(
www.countryridingcentre.com
;
lessons from €30)
Located about 4km east of Silves, left off the road
to Messines (it is signposted); offers hour-long to half-day rides at all levels.
Krazy World
WATER PARK
