SILVES AND THE WALK TO THE WINDMILL: DAY 11

With the move to a new location, another set of walking opportunities was available. We chose to drive to Silves, look around there and then complete a very nice walk which takes one to a windmill and then carries on through forests back to Silves.

Silves is another very old town which is surrounded by orange groves and is dominated by a Moorish castle. This Moorish Fortress has an impressive set of complete sandstone walls and towers. Just outside the fortress stands the 13th century cathedral and a 16th century church, the Ingreja de Misericordia.

The Ingreja de Misericordia

The fortress was guarded by this stern fellow.

Quite a lot of excavations were being carried out and it was a very large fortress indeed.

From the ramparts we could see the windmill we were going to walk to.

We reached the windmill and were able to see for quite a way.

A view over the countryside from the windmill

Proof we were both in Portugal.

The windmill, Portugeuse style.

There were always lovely flowers to enjoy




The walk took us over the hills and then into forests which contained eucalyptus, carob and olive tress and finally back down to Silves.