There are just two more weeks to go until the start of Silves’ Medieval Fair, one the highlights of the Algarve’s summer agenda.
Taking place for the 15th year, the event begins on Friday, August 10 and continues until Sunday, August 20, taking visitors back to the time when ‘Silves was the capital of the Al-Gharb’
The theme of this year’s event is the 1189 conquest of Silves by King Sancho I of Portugal with the aid of Northern European crusaders.
“I believe the event’s image this year is very powerful and will fuel the imagination of those who visit it,” said Silves mayor Rosa Palma.
She added: “We wanted to give a big sense of almost movie-like drama to the event, as the history of Silves is filled with great events, people of great power and influence as well as legends and poetry which allow us to fully explore the visual production side of the fair”.
The fair is already famous for its amazing medieval battle re-enactments, musical performances and poetry readings and it seems this year the focus on the side of the event will be even bigger.
As always, there will also be merchants and craftsmen selling a variety of Arab-influenced goods and recreating the atmosphere of an historic Arab settlement, while food-lovers can enjoy an assortment of medieval meals and drinks at the many medieval taverns set up along the town’s streets.
There will be a “medieval banquet”, costing €25, which guests can also enjoy.
Several other special events, like medieval shows at the local castle or jousting, can be booked for €5.
Daily tickets for the fair cost €2 (without a medieval fair mug) or €3 (with a mug) while a bracelet granting access to the whole event is available for €9 before August 10 and €10 after.
Festival-goers can even rent costumes at the event to really get into the spirit of things for €2 (children) and €3 (adults).
