Silves was the former Moorish capital of the Algarve, Portugal. The remains of the Moorish castle are still impressive, and the huge underground water reservoir is still used by the city today. An archaeological museum has been constructed above this cistern showing local objects including items from the Stone Age. Today, Silves is an enchanting town littered with orange and lemon trees, sitting on the banks of the Arade River (“Rio Arade”). The tumultuous city of yesterday is today a quiet market town surrounded by the largest orange growing area in Portugal. Cork is processed locally. North to the fertile valleys is an area of attractive forest covered hills leading to the mountains of Monchique. The dams of Arade and Foz are well worth visiting for the beauty of their natural setting.