The classification of these Silves attractions as a national monument ‘is extremely important’ according to the town’s mayor because this type of official recognition of the city’s heritage can only help to increase its attractiveness as far as tourism goes.

It’s interesting to note that even though people don’t usually talk or take notice much of these classifications, there are those who carry out scientific investigations and who are concerned with these subjects, and the latter say that having an officially classified national monument is always good for a particular place.

The Medina of any Muslim city is one of the two major urban focus points meant to reside under the protection of the fortress and is linked to it by a doorway at least. In the local case of Silves it appears that the main streets of the Medina were already there since the Roman era.

The centre of the city features a crossroads which is a Roman urban model known as “cardus and decumanus”.  The first road starts at the Almedina doorway and then links the main road to the Alcacova doorway. The second road now is the Rua D. Sancho I and leads straight to the western and eastern city gates.

The main mosque of the town was located where the two roads met, and it’s still there but it was converted in the 13^th century into a Christian church, and it is now Silves’ main church.

The entirety of the ancient city was enclosed by protective walls and the remnants of these walls alongside the doorway are now a national monument.

Those who were planning a visit to Silves now have this extra reason to go there and they should also consider our Algarve car rental services while on their holiday in this wonderful part of Portugal.