Welcome to Silves
Silves is an attractive town of jumbling orange rooftops scattered above the banks of the Rio Arade. It boasts one of the best-preserved castles in the Algarve, attractive red-stone walls and winding, sleepy backstreets on a hillside. Not much happens around town, but it’s a good base if you’re after a less hectic, non-coastal Algarvian pace. It’s 15km northeast of Portimão.
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Silves activities
Arrival Transfer Faro Airport - Carvoeiro
Carvoeiro DescriptionThis was a very small intimate fishing village that has lost any resemblance to its modest origins. In 1965 a foreign resident wrote about A 36-Hole Golf & Holiday Complex can be found to the west of the village together with a well run Tennis Centre. To the east and on the outskirts is a further 9-Hole Course. A couple of Lawn Bowling Clubs add to the choice of sport. The area has long been considered a excellent area for tourist to acquire property and also due to the variety and pleasure provided its many small beaches. High cliffs surround most of these, and some of which have eroded to create beckoning dark caves most of which are only accessible at low tide. Beaches to visit are Praia de Centianes, Praia de Carvalho, Praia de Benagil, Praia de Marinha and Praia da Albandeira.Carvoeiro Nearby LocationsTo the west and near to Carvoeiro is the village of Ferragudo, which still remains as a virtually un-spoilt small fishing village. Lagoa, the nearby area administrative town is also close to the birth place of the 11th Century renown Arab poet "Ibn Ammar". Inland is the typical inland small village of Porches. Another place that is a must to be visited is the inland historic and interesting city of Silves with its remains of its castle as a reminder of its greater past.
Alcantarilha - Silves Mountain Bike Tour
We start close to the centre of Alcantarilha, a small village of Moorish origin, set on a hill with the remains of a 17th century castle and a church with a rather gruesome chapel of bones. We are soon onto quiet dirt tracks (the more serious bikers amongst you will enjoy these, though they are perfectly fine for those less experienced), cycling past vineyards and the recently developed Amendoeira golf course. After crossing the railway line we head up and over some hills, along dirt tracks that are hidden amongst orange groves and down towards the Rio Arade amidst scenic countryside. The area north of the river is traditional algarve countryside at its unspoilt best. You will spot the traditional stone walls and the odd derelict farm along the way.We join the flat, narrow pathway along the ‘levadas’, traditional irrigation channels still very much in use, for several kms. Tricky at times, this is not a ride for novices, but is a fabulous way to cut across country before joining the main road into the picturesque town of Silves. Once the Moorish capital, Silves is steeped with history. It is an enchanting town on the banks of the Rio Arade and home to the best preserved castle in the Algarve. Serious riders may wish to tackle the hill up to the castle, but this is optional. We take a cafe stop along the riverside here in Silves.Fully refreshed, we cross the old bridge and head along the river bank, with splendid scenery and we may spot the odd river boat travelling up from Portimão, before emerging from the valley for a panoramic view of the town and castle. We continue our journey along quiet roads, where the only traffic jam we are likely to encounter is a herd of goats and sheep! After a while, we turn into an ancient dirt track that skirts one of the few rice fields in the Algarve, also home to all kinds of wildlife, including storks. Finally we pass through the sleepy village of Fontes da Matosa before arriving back to our starting point in Alcantarilha.This is a ride of approximately 41kms, which is ideal for those who want to get stuck in to some decent mountain bike riding on rough single paths and along little used dirt tracks. We can adapt the pace to suit you, but it is most suitable for reasonably fit and capable riders. It lasts for approximately 4 hours (including cafe break and water stops).
Best of West Full Day Trip from Algarve: Silves, Fóia and Cape St. Vincent
This is one of the best tours the Algarve has to offer. We start at Silves, the old Moorish capital of the Algarve, were you can visit the Castle and the Cathedral. You will get the chance to go to Fóia, the highest point in the Algarve. It stands 902 meters above the coast line and on a bright day with clear skies you will be able to see the entire coast line. We will also visit the beautiful historical city of Lagos and reach the “End of the World”, the famous Cape St. Vincent. Available from: West Algarve – from Vilamoura, Albufeira, Armação, Carvoeiro, Praia da Rocha, Alvor, Lagos, Praia da Luz. East Algarve – Spain, Monte Gordo, Altura, Tavira, Olhão and Faro
Algarve wine tour of two wine estates and lunch at hystorical town of Silves
- Enjoy a visit to two wine estates of the demarcated region of the Algarve, their vineyards and cellars. Algarve Wine Tours is a company that acts exclusively in wine tours. Fábio (owner and guide) is expertized in wine and with him you will acquire in-depth knowledge about the world of wine.- Learn about all the process involved in making wine, like the selection and cultivation of grapes, viticulture, grapes processing and vinification, stage of wine, the role of the wood and the blending process.- Get to know also the organization of a winery, the history and the current panorama of wine in Portugal and in the Algarve region, the functioning of the market, the organization of the wine business and certification standards- Experience a guided wine tasting, understanding the concepts involved in it, learn the tasting techniques and understand how to analyze the flavours of a wine.- Lunch will happen in the hystorical town of Silves, located in the countryside and ancient capital of the moorish kingdom of the Algarve. Our restaurant will be a typical portuguese restaurant with traditional portuguese food.This tour has also a premium lunch option, where the restaurant is upgraded to a premium gastronomic experience with lunch in an incredible cozy and rustic place hidden in middle of the alleys, the meal will be composed by a free selection of "petiscos" (our Tapas), that will show you some of the best portuguese gastronomy.
Algarve Wines Route
Begin your day with pickup from your hotel (the pick-up included in the price is only for the West Algarve Area). Enjoy a visit to a wine producer in Lagoa, where you can taste their wines (red, white and rosé). The next visit will be a guided tour to an old farm in Silves with lots of tradition but with the most recent technology. The enologist will guide you trough the visit, followed by a three wine tasting from the farm production. The lunch will be in a typical restaurant in Silves, the ancient capital of the Algarve (this part is optional). Once your tour is finished, you will be dropped off back at your hotel.
ALGARVE TIDBITS ROUTE
It's time travellers realised there's more to enjoy than the sun-soaked south coast. This mouth-watering tour will present some of the best mountain tidbits, great local wines, secret monuments, privileged points of view, ancestral desserts, history and traditions .Fill up your appetite, prepare your palate and discover the tastier tidbits (petiscos) of the Algarve.The famously known orange kingdom, was first known as the almond kingdom, when a nordic princess married a Moor king. Come and unveil this and other legends of the ancient former capital of the Algarve.Discover the river that feed the land and the people since ages in Silves (Shelb) . Taste the famous oranges and the lendary almond flavours in different ways. Explore the traditions, the architecture and the inventions of the Islamic civilization that survived to our days. Get the panoramic view of the city and the river from the red castle. And find the best ingredients and dishes of our millenarian recognized diet. Come with us and fill yourself of good memories.Home made smoked ham, goat cheese with jams and nuts and wines of the region are just a few examples of the tastings we will provide you in this food tour. Already mouth-watering? Then, add also the wild boar , the chorizo on fire , and others plus various traditional desserts! It is impossible to resist so many delicatessen. To make your experience even more rich and memorable, we will show you several monuments as we stroll along the mountains heading to Monchique . In addition to other places, we will visit the “old alambique” where is still produced the infamous Medronho” (firewater) : After sampling it you are able to taste the young lavandula honey. Already in Monchique we will discover the world known local scissors chair producer, the most amazing piece of handicraft, after a unexpected visit to the local butcher where you will taste a secret speciality. Time to go up to the 903 metters where a gorgeous and generous lunch will be served supported by superior quality white and red wines from the region. After all this you are named a lifetime gourmet traveller. Your driver is always around and waits for you for total comfort and safety.