With an origin in the Roman period Silves, the former capital of the Algarve, was once on par culturally with Seville. We were provided with fine vistas from the battlements of the twelfth century castle that dominates the skyline on a high bluff. Recent excavations at the site have revealed occupation layers dating to both the eight and thirteenth centuries. The nearby medieval Gothic cathedral was almost destroyed in the famous 1755 earthquake.
On then to Alte, a photogenic village of narrow streets, simple houses and latticed chimneys. An absolute gem on this visit was the Fonte Santa or Holy Fountain. Blue and white tiles depict the thirteenth century St. Anthony offering a pitcher of water to a local woman. The fountain is fed by a natural mineral spring originating in a nearby hill and is inscribed with a number of verses penned by a local poet, Candido Guerreiro
