Municipal Museum (Silves): Silves Municipal Museum its a very interesting place, not only because of the pieces patent for exposition, but also because of the piece that today represents the heart of the museum: a cistern well from the 13th century 20 m deep.
The museum is divided in four sections, which one referring to four different periods: pre-history, Roman, Moslem and Portuguese periods.
Cruz de Portugal Portugals Cross (Silves): to the east of the city of Silves, on the way to Enxerim, one can find the enigmatic Cruz de Portugal, a cross of indisputable beauty. It most likely dates back to the late 15th or early 16th century and was sculpted from white limestone.
The artistic motifs are attributed to a florid Gothic style, although some contend that the cross is decorated with Manueline motifs and symbols.
This ancient relic, which has been classified as a national monument since 1910, stands about three meters in height, and the minutely detailed sculpturing shows Christ crucified on one side, and in the arms of His mother on the other.
Secular water-mill (Silves): water-mills are hydraulic engines having a motor apparatus with a waterwheel. Unique in the municipality of Silves, the water-mill of "Sítio dos Barreiros" keeps wheeling its heavy millstones to crush the light grains of corn, wheat and rye. |