|
Xelb was a Moorish capital. Although the Romans began building the castle, it was the Moors who built it ready in 1100. Xelb became a rich and powerful city, with a high culture and often more important than Lisbon. One of the richest cities in Europe, comparable even with Bagdad. In 1242 came Crusaders and besieged the city, took it, ran amok, killing all they could, destroyed most of the buildings. The Christian civilization had made an end to a golden era for a city which then got the name Silves, became poor and insignificant.
Today, Silves is doing well, and the city boasts an amazing outdoor recreational facility, a large modern indoor swimming pool, a full size and beautiful football stadium and very much artwork on the squares and plantings. The castle is beautiful but lacks almost all Moorish trails.The cathedral was built later next to where previously a mosques was standing. The little square at the city gate is an oasis where even storks thrives on the castles gates and walls. Storksnest we find at the most possible and impossible places, in the middle oft he city. |
We don't have much time for the homesite this day, we're socialising with all new aquaintences and old friends we've been meeting the last three days.
Late in the evening KGB came up behind us. Bo is having his birthday party tomorrow. We'll see what comes out of tomorrows day.
Pos. N37.18481° W08.44550°
Google Maps |