Sé de Silves

The Gothic cathedral of Silves, built above the town after the reconquest of 1249.

Above the white houses of Silves, beside the red walls of the castle, the Sé stands on the highest point of the old town. Built after the Christian conquest, on the site of the great mosque, it is the Gothic cathedral of the Algarve’s first capital — a granite church of austere dignity, with tombs and memories of seven centuries.

History and character

The cathedral was begun in the thirteenth century, in the years after Silves returned to Christian rule, and took shape through the following centuries, with Gothic and later additions that followed the earthquakes and the city’s changing fortunes. Its stones carry the marks of the crusaders and bishops who built and served it.

What to see

The Gothic nave and its chapels, with their carved tombs.
The main portal and the rose window of the facade.
The tomb slabs with medieval epigraphy, among the finest in the Algarve.
The views over the town, the castle and the river.

Visiting

The cathedral is in the historic centre of Silves, a short climb from the main squares. It remains an active place of worship: visits are welcome outside the hours of Mass, and access may be limited during celebrations.