Category: Civil Architecture > Bridge
District: Faro > Silves > Silves > Cerro de São Miguel
- The Silves Bridge is located in the city of Silves, in the Algarve region, Portugal.
- Although its origin is uncertain, the current structure was built in the 15th century.
- There are indications that Silves may have had a bridge in Roman times, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Roman roads.
- The discovery of opus signinum (a type of Roman pavement) near the bridge suggests a possible connection to the Roman period.
- During the 11th and 12th centuries, Silves was the capital of an Islamic kingdom, but there are no medieval accounts from Arabs and Christians mentioning a bridge at the site.
- The first documentary mention of the current bridge dates back to 1439, during reconstruction work.
- In the early 17th century, the bridge lost two arches and needed to be restored.
- In 1716, the stonemason Inácio Mendes carried out another restoration, preserving the previous structures.
- In the 20th century, an arch was removed for the construction of a marginal avenue, and the bridge became exclusively for pedestrians.
- The bridge has five round arches, supported by pillars protected by cutwaters (triangle-shaped structures).
- The appearance of the blocks and ashlars of the bridge indicates medieval characteristics, evidenced by mason's marks and 15th-century ceramic remains.
Coordinates DD: 37.186839,-8.4384031
Coordinates DMS: 37°11'12.6"N 08°26'18.3"W
Weather Silves
On-duty Pharmacy Silves
