TE19 Iberian Adventure

Passing Time in Portugal

“Como você está – how are you?” Grandfather greeted his friend. “It’s been Quiet,” Pedro confirmed, before talk turned to his mute brother, who was in and out of the psychiatric hospital.

“The care is poor here.” Maria explained, “They don’t really understand how to treat him.”

Judy talked to Maria in the lounge.

The modest office was dominated by display cabinets.

“Pedro’s a collector”, Grandad explained. “All these glasses were swiped from restaurants and bars.” He collected coins and bank notes too.”

“Some are exceedingly rare,” Grandad was fascinated, “the countries don’t exist anymore.”

Founded by the Romans, after the defeat of Carthage in the Punic Wars. The Visigoths occupied Silves from the 6-8th Centuries, but the gold age began when the Moors arrived. In the town, Arabesque patterns adorn the facades of the Rua Elias Garcia, where Roman and Visigoth remains were reconfigured into Moorish mosques, with archways lined with alternating bands of red and white stone.

“The pattern creates an optical illusion. It appears infinite.” Pedro pointed, “The Moors adopted it from the Visigoths.”

Boutiques host 16th-century studios where shelves display Moroccan lanterns and colourful ceramics. The Muslims invaded 173