Silves Cathedral
Silves Cathedral
4
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
411 reviews
Excellent
95
Very good
161
Average
123
Poor
26
Terrible
6
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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J R
Mougins, France5,884 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Silves is a perfect destination to visit an imposing red castle redone in the 19th century, but above all a cathedral of cultural and spiritual richness (for those interested) that leaves no marble. Baroque in style and in the shape of a Latin cross, it has both clean spaces and richly ornamented altars.
The entrance is two euros and you should plan to have your shoulders and knees covered (I do not recommend the chew wrapped around your legs, I played Papa Penguin throughout the visit). The tour lasts less than an hour. At the entrance you will be given a plastic card (in the desired language) of A4 format which presents the main parts of the cathedral on the front. I will not describe the nine points, it would be useless and tedious. But every point of interest is accompanied by a religious text and urges you to pray or think.
We begin with the Altar of the Lord Jesus (whose statue came out in procession during the Easter holidays) and end at the chapel of Saint Vincent, patron saint of the Algarve region. This is consistent since we start from the god of Christians and arrive at the local patron saint. I was marked by the altar of the Tabernacle, located to the left of the central altar, but especially by the altar of Calvary and its crucifix. I noticed that in Portugal the scenes of crucifixion were taken to extremes in the wounds inflicted on Christ (many parts of the body are presented vividly). This is no exception. The altar is degraded, which adds to the dramatic side of the sculpture.
On the back of the laminated map is the plan of the cathedral and all the tombs. The people buried did not tell me much, but if I am not mistaken, there is King John II of Portugal who reigned in the 15th century (on the other hand, the explanatory panel indicates that the body was transferred in 1499). A French crusader also lay in the cathedral, as well as bishops. There are more than fifty tombs, many seem to be ordinary citizens of the city who were to have an influence. I stopped in front of the chapel of the Regos where members of the same family are buried. A bishop’s sarcophagus is a little next door, it seems to me to be the only one. I also remember the Way of the Cross made of azulejos.
Beside this, you should not forget to look up to admire the wooden ceiling in the shape of an upturned boat hull, as well as the ribbed vaults. While the bleached walls may appear decayed in places, the large pillars of red stone (sandstone, unless mistaken) retain a certain majesty in the cathedral.
The visit was pleasant, offering a pleasant moment of tranquility and freshness. Important note: visits are not allowed between 12:30 and 14:00).
The entrance is two euros and you should plan to have your shoulders and knees covered (I do not recommend the chew wrapped around your legs, I played Papa Penguin throughout the visit). The tour lasts less than an hour. At the entrance you will be given a plastic card (in the desired language) of A4 format which presents the main parts of the cathedral on the front. I will not describe the nine points, it would be useless and tedious. But every point of interest is accompanied by a religious text and urges you to pray or think.
We begin with the Altar of the Lord Jesus (whose statue came out in procession during the Easter holidays) and end at the chapel of Saint Vincent, patron saint of the Algarve region. This is consistent since we start from the god of Christians and arrive at the local patron saint. I was marked by the altar of the Tabernacle, located to the left of the central altar, but especially by the altar of Calvary and its crucifix. I noticed that in Portugal the scenes of crucifixion were taken to extremes in the wounds inflicted on Christ (many parts of the body are presented vividly). This is no exception. The altar is degraded, which adds to the dramatic side of the sculpture.
On the back of the laminated map is the plan of the cathedral and all the tombs. The people buried did not tell me much, but if I am not mistaken, there is King John II of Portugal who reigned in the 15th century (on the other hand, the explanatory panel indicates that the body was transferred in 1499). A French crusader also lay in the cathedral, as well as bishops. There are more than fifty tombs, many seem to be ordinary citizens of the city who were to have an influence. I stopped in front of the chapel of the Regos where members of the same family are buried. A bishop’s sarcophagus is a little next door, it seems to me to be the only one. I also remember the Way of the Cross made of azulejos.
Beside this, you should not forget to look up to admire the wooden ceiling in the shape of an upturned boat hull, as well as the ribbed vaults. While the bleached walls may appear decayed in places, the large pillars of red stone (sandstone, unless mistaken) retain a certain majesty in the cathedral.
The visit was pleasant, offering a pleasant moment of tranquility and freshness. Important note: visits are not allowed between 12:30 and 14:00).
Automatically translated
Written September 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RDS61
Chester, UK2,106 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Worth going into if you are up by the castle, but I would not go out of your way to way to see it. It costs €2 per person to enter, via a side door that is not clearly signposted. The interior of the cathedral is not overly ornate, but still beautiful and serene.
Written June 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bartonbears
Coffs Harbour, Australia2,770 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
This church left us feeling underwhelmed and a bit sad. It has a neglected or unloved feeling despite the Gothic proportions and decorated niches and side chapels.
A neatly dressed couple ahead of us were refused permission to enter with their shorts judged to be too short. This arbitrary judgement was not encountered in any of the other churches we've visited, and given the tourists (including us) wandering around taking photos, it seems petty.
A neatly dressed couple ahead of us were refused permission to enter with their shorts judged to be too short. This arbitrary judgement was not encountered in any of the other churches we've visited, and given the tourists (including us) wandering around taking photos, it seems petty.
Written July 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham B
Alrewas, UK16 contributions
Dec 2019
I chanced on the entrance, around the side of the Cathedral and paid my entrance fee....fascinating medieval gothic tombs...tell of a powerful city..and it’s rapid decline. Fascinating to see the two clear eras of building, with the wonderful 15th century stonework and the subsequent wooden nave ceiling.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie G
Andover, UK330 contributions
Jan 2020
Unlike many cathedrals this one is not overly decorated inside but has a simple charm which in many ways was more to my liking. No need for such opulence as you see normally so it made a refreshing change. Perhaps surprising that it has achieved cathedral status as some churches are as big.
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hans-jaguar
Santa Comba Dao, Portugal24,485 contributions
Jan 2020
The Sé de Silves is an old cathedral located in the city and parish of the same name. Built mostly in the 15th century, the old Cathedral of Silves today has a mainly Gothic stamp, but also elements from other times, as it has undergone changes over the centuries. It is the most important Gothic building in the Algarve and one of the main monuments in the south of the country. It was classified as a national monument
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ed C
Thunder Bay, Canada296 contributions
Feb 2020
Certainly didn’t compare to many Cathedrals I have seen in many other European cities. That being said it is still amazing to look at the architecture and wonder how this was built in its time period. Because of its very reasonable admission it is worth a visit.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet C
Stockport, UK2,634 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
A delightful quaint cathedral in the lovely setting of Silves very quintessential of Portuguese towns.
Written September 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N_IrelandFranco
Saintfield, UK722 contributions
Feb 2020
Not like any cathedral I have seen before. Very plain and truthfully not very interesting. Looks like some maintenance work still needs to be done.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Russell C
Montefiore dell'Aso, Italy109 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
To say that this is a cathedral and in the past was a bishopric it is rather underwhelming and barely worth the €1.50 fee - our local parish church in Italy has side chapels of more artistic merit. The Gothic architecture is impressive as is the statue of Jesus falling under the weight of the cross.
Visit and enjoy but manage your expectations
Visit and enjoy but manage your expectations
Written December 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi I'm afraid I don't know I visited during the Silves festival and it was open to all.
Written August 24, 2015
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