Silves Cathedral

Silves Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Silves Cathedral, the Sé de Silves, stands in the upper town of Silves, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, just below the red sandstone castle that crowns the hill, and a small ticket is required to visit. Silves was the capital of the Algarve under Moorish rule, and the cathedral is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the region. Silves lies inland, about fifteen kilometres from the coast, and it is an easy excursion from the resorts of Portimão, Lagos and Albufeira, by car, bus or train, with the station a short taxi ride from the town.

Visitors combine the cathedral with the Silves Castle, one of the best preserved Moorish castles in Portugal, the Municipal Archaeology Museum, built around an Islamic cistern, the old bridge over the Arade river and the orange groves of the surrounding countryside. The walk up from the river through the old streets is steep but pleasant. The cathedral is active, and visiting pauses during services. Silves is quieter than the coast, with cafés in the lower town by the river, and the town is known for its oranges and its medieval fair.

Visiting Silves Cathedral: what to see

The cathedral was built on the site of the Great Mosque of the Moorish city after the Christian conquest of Silves in the thirteenth century, when the town became the seat of the bishop of the Algarve. Construction continued in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in a sober Gothic style, using the same red sandstone as the castle, which gives the building its warm colour. The earthquake of 1755 damaged the cathedral, and it was repaired with baroque additions, while the bishop's seat had already moved to Faro in the sixteenth century. The main portal, with carved arches, faces the street, and the exterior has buttresses and gargoyles.

Inside, the cathedral has three naves divided by pointed arches and a Gothic chancel, with baroque altars of gilded wood added later. The cathedral holds medieval tombs of bishops and knights, including tombstones believed to belong to crusaders who took part in the conquest of the town, with carved coats of arms. Worn gravestones with inscriptions are set into the floor. The chancel's windows let light onto the altar. Across the street, the Church of Mercy, the Misericórdia, has a Manueline side door. The castle above has walls and towers of red stone and Moorish cisterns.

Silves Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily except Sundays, with a break at lunchtime on some days. Summer is very hot in the Algarve, and inland Silves is hotter than the coast, so visit in the morning. Spring, when the orange blossom and almond trees scent the air, and autumn are the best seasons. The Silves Medieval Fair in August fills the town with costumes, markets and performances. Winter is mild. Allow about half an hour for the cathedral, and visit the castle next door.