For a bit of fun, and to coincide with the Silves Medieval Festival, Meravista, the Algarve property portal, has put together a comparison of property for sale, then and now. If you stop to think back to what life was like in the past, it’s hard to think of life before computing, internet, mobile phones and electric cars. However that only takes you back around 20 years or so. To go back to the 11th century, your imagination probably couldn’t do it justice.
Had they had newspapers, colour printing or internet in those days, this is what an ad might have looked like. When you compare it to how we live now, the differences are astounding!
We take running water (even if it’s delivered by a truck!) for granted. In the Middle Ages water might have been carried from the nearest well or from the Arade River. The wealthy might have had a well of their own. (Lucky beggars!)
Electricity is now available in many forms but in those days work happened in daylight. At night they might have used torches (not the battery operated ones) or bowls of wax with tallow. But for the most part, darkness meant sleep. Not so bad in the winter, assuming you can stay warm!
To prepare food, the modern kitchen’s predecessor was an open hearth in the middle of the main (living) room. You can imagine how dark and smoky that must have been, especially given that the cauldron would most likely have been over the fire all day.
Can you imagine telling a newlywed today that, before they can bake bread, they would need to make their own flour? What’s that I hear you say? Bake bread? Seriously? Most people today will buy it from the local paderia (bakery) or grocery shop.
Today you might pop to Faro ‘down the road’ to explore the Festa da Ria Formosa, but back then it was a 10-hour ride on a fast horse. If the entire family were coming along, even with a wagon of sorts, it might have been a two day trip. There was no tarmac on the roads across the mountains back then!
In the 12th century Silves (Silbs) was occupied by the Moors, and the Arabian influence is still visible in many aspects of the town today. But in case you miss it, the Medieval Fair brings it all back in glorious Technicolor. From 2 to 11 August Silves, the former capital of the Algarve, will be celebrating its history at the 10th Annual Silves Medieval Fair. The festival includes costumes, jousting, market stalls, theatre, music and dance, shows, belly dancing and snake charmers, not to mention the feasting and parties! Each evening the fun begins at 6pm and carries on until the wee hours.
Note: the modern property IS actually for sale by Kaiser Properties. The listing can be seen on Meravista.
For another fun bit of history, check out Meravista’s spoofy listing of Silves Castle for sale...CLICK HERE
About Meravista:
Conceived, designed and developed over the course of 18 months, Meravista was launched in March and is a property portal focused exclusively on Algarve property in Portugal, targeting buyers across Europe.
Company headquarters are based in Santa Barbara de Nexe, in the Algarve.
Contact Meravista:
Anita van Huson
E: info@meravista.com
W: www.meravista.com
