Silves (roman Cilpes, Arabic Xelb) is an adorable medieval town situated among citrus groves and vineyards, near the Arade river. Silves had its heyday in Moorish times when it was the capital of the Algarve. During the time of the Moors, between the 9th and the 13th centuries, Silves was a key trading city and today many vestiges of its strategic importance remain. The castle at the top of the hill is a monument to Islamic rule, being the best-preserved castle from the Middle Ages in the Algarve. Great works of Moorish architecture are being unearthed all the time in Silves. The castle has the remains of a palace, while the archaeology museum integrates a medieval cistern into its design. Every year in August, this rich heritage is honoured with a famous medieval fair that has markets, jousting, music, dancing, and historical re-enactments. The historic centre of Silves (Old Town) is compact and can be easily explored on foot on its narrow and cobbled streets that make you believe that time has stopped. Here, you will find the Silves Castle, the ancient City Gates, Silves Cathedral, the Archaeological Museum, Cruz de Portugal, Ponte Velha (Roman Bridge), or the local market. The most beautiful sight of the town is from across the hills, which overlook Silves. Here, you can see the orange trees of the countryside, with the picturesque town in the background. The town is quite different from the touristic resort towns in the Algarve. In a way, this is how the Algarve was before mass tourism. You can still feel this when visiting the town and its medieval atmosphere that takes you back in time. A car-drive away, you will find several sandy beaches (Praia Grande de Pêra, Praia da Rocha, Armação de Pêra, Carvoeiro, etc), Barragem do Arade, Serra de Monchique, and different entertainments and tours such as water parks, boat trips, horseback riding, golf, and of course, Portuguese delicious food or wine tasting!