The classification of Salir Castle, in Loulé, as a monument of public interest (MIP) is under public consultation until 11 November, following a proposal from the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) and the Municipality of Loulé.
With this procedure, Loulé City Council intends for Salir Castle to obtain the degree of public interest «with the ultimate objective of the public appropriation of this heritage asset and the enhancement of its cultural and identity values, given that it constitutes a testament to the medieval Islamic and medieval Christian architectural heritage, in the category of defensive architecture».
According to the CCDR Algarve Culture Unit, the building represents «a cultural and historical value of great significance in the national territory, belonging to a medieval Islamic and medieval Christian heritage in the category of defensive architecture of the Algarve, conquered by D. Paio Peres Correia, master of the Order of Santiago, after the capture of the city of Tavira and other castles on the coast, between 1248 and 1249, who camped there until the arrival of the army of D. Afonso III, and from there they set off to conquer the city of Faro».
Archaeological research work has been carried out in this castle since 1987, under the scientific responsibility of Professor Helena Catarino, which confirms the importance of the site.
In this context, this year the CCDR Algarve proposed to Cultural Heritage the opening of a procedure with a view to the possible Classification as a monument of public interest (MIP), in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5 of article 15 of Law no. 107/2001 of 8 September.
The ruins of the castle are located in the western part of the town, integrated into the urban area of the town, on a limestone hill 256 meters high.
Salir Castle is a fortification of Islamic origin, probably dating back to the 12th century and was part of the fortifications that were rebuilt during the Almohad period to defend Loulé and to protect the villages in the rural region.
The conquest of the castle took place between 1248 and 49, when the army of the Order of Santiago conquered the region. According to ancient historiography, it was here that D. Paio Peres Correia waited for D. Afonso III, who was coming south from the kingdom of Portugal, through the Algarve mountains, and entering the Algarve through this location, as reported in the Coreografia do Reino do Algarve by Frei João de São José.
The archaeological investigation work carried out revealed a very dense urban network, with structures belonging to six houses and two streets having been identified.
These houses would have been in operation during the 1997th and XNUMXth centuries, having been abandoned after the Christian conquest. The process of conquering this castle was quite difficult for its population, since the remains found in archaeological excavations show violent levels of destruction and large fires (Catarino, XNUMX).
Currently, in the museum area, you can see the ruins of the houses identified during the archaeological excavations, with silos carved into the rock, roads and pipes, as well as a narrow walkway or rampart between the wall and some of the houses. Although the fortification is very destroyed, you can still see a section of the wall in the excavated area and four towers, some camouflaged among the current houses of Salir.
With the aim of enhancing the ruins, the Salir Museum was opened in 2002, where materials collected during archaeological excavation work are on display.
The opening of the procedure was carried out by Cultural Heritage on October 11, 2024, the period for hearing interested parties runs until November 11 and the relevant elements of this process can be consulted here.
The CCDR Algarve Culture Unit works in the areas of safeguarding cultural heritage, studies, projects and works, cultural programming and promotion, and encouraging reading and access to information.
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