The Silves Municipal Archaeological Museum (MMAS) marks its 29th anniversary on September 3, with free admission throughout the day.
This museum space was built around an admirable 12th-13th century Almohad cistern-well – which became the centre-piece of the collection – and which was discovered after archaeological excavations in the 1980s and today classified as a National Monument.
The museum also integrates the city walls of the same period, thus functioning not only as a museum but also as a jewel of the Islamic heritage in Portugal.
The museum’s collection, mostly from excavations throughout the county and also the city itself, brings together Palaeolithic objects, the oldest, including the Neolithic, the Chalcolithic, the Bronze Age, Iron Age. The Roman Period objects stand out not only for their quantity, but also for their quality.
The collection also brings together an important set of objects from the modern period – 15th, 16th and 17th century -, which demonstrate the influence of the trade routes and also the importance of the city’s exchanges and contacts with other regions of the globe.
Divided into eight thematic sections, the collections can be visited chronologically from the Palaeolithic tthrough to the 17th century.
In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum will host another entitled Silves and the ocean through time open until February 2020. The aim is to showcase Silves’ close links with the sea; from the perspective of the exploration of its resources and also accessing the city using the Arade River.
The museum highlights the rich history of Silves and is a great place to visit throughout the year for those looking to discover more about the Algarve and its culture and traditions.
Click here to find out where the useum is in the city. For information on the museum click here.
Images: ©Câmara Municipal de Silves
