TE19 Iberian Adventure

John Hartley

the Iberia in 711 and within seven years had conquered the entire Peninsula. The zenithwas under Umayyad Caliphate in the tenth century. “Al-Mutamid made Silves his Algarvian capital – a shining city of grandeur and industry,” Pedro explained, “a cultural centre of scholars, poets, and artists.”

“Their legacy is the ‘al’ in certain place names.” Grandad added. “Algarve, Algoz, Alcoutim.”

“The Moors built flat-roofed houses,” Pedro continued, “to dry their almonds, figs and corn.”

“Al-Mutamidwas sonof theArabking of Seville,” Pedroexplained, “a poet, a lover and a warrior, immortalized in the prose of One Thousand and One Nights.” Marble palaces once overlooked the merchants sailing down the gentle Arade River before the earthquake altered the river’s course. Appointed governor of Silves aged just 23; He met his future wife on a walk along the riverbanks. Al-Mutamid improvised a half verse, and, immediately, one of the linen-washers responded. Captivated by her beauty and cleverness, Al-Mutamid married the young I’timad. Moving on to the city walls, the handsome Almedina gate and the neighbouring “Door of the Treason” point to contrasting chapters of history. Inside the Almedina gate spiral steps disappear into 174