Silves Cathedral, Silves

This is a very unique and beautiful sé. Like many Portuguese cathedrals, it gives the impression of being very tall for the footprint which is always an interesting effect. The outside looks like a regular square parish church, but the inside is gothic cruciform. Many periods of restoration are apparent. The remains of the mosque which predates the church can be spotted on the corner. The 1.50 fare is well worth a look around.

It's a cathedral alright, but to be honest, having seen a lot of cathedrals in my time, the one in Silves is nothing special. Perhaps with one exception: it did seem like it was largely unaltered from the original building, which I guess is quite interesting. I wanted to give it 4/5 because churches are always an interesting reflection of places and their historical significance. What makes me give it 3/5 instead was the cringeworthy piano cover of Hallelujah (yes, the one made famous by Leonard Cohen) that blared out through the tinny speakers. I couldn't get out fast enough.