Castle of Silves, Medieval castle in Silves, Portugal
The Castle of Silves is a Moorish fortress built on a hilltop with eleven square towers and red sandstone walls that measure 4 meters (13 feet) thick around the entire perimeter. The thick masonry provides excellent protection and remains largely intact today.
The fortress was established during Roman times and significantly expanded by Moors from the 8th to 13th century, becoming the region's main stronghold. Portuguese forces captured it in 1242, marking the end of Moorish rule at this location.
The castle displays Moorish craftsmanship throughout its structure, with walls made from rammed earth and sandstone that visitors can observe during their visit. These construction methods shaped how the fortress was built and maintained over centuries.
The castle sits on elevated ground and provides good views of the town and surrounding area from the ramparts. Two underground water cisterns are accessible to visitors and reveal the engineering methods used to supply the fortress.
One of the underground cisterns, known as El Moura Encantada, continued to supply water to the town's residents until the 1990s. The intricate network of channels below ground reveals how residents cleverly managed their water supply for centuries.
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