Pedro DominguesVisiting Arraiolos can be much more interesting than simply learning about the art, talent and history behind the region’s famous embroidered carpets.
A visit to the Arraiolos Carpet Interpretation Center is a must, but so is a visit to the castle, which stands out from others in the Alentejo for its circular shape.
The interior of the Misericórdia de Arraiolos Church is beautiful, as is the Convent of Lóios, which has now been converted into a guesthouse.
Do you want to know all the details about this town? Want to know everything there is to see and do in Arraiolos? Read the following itinerary carefully.
Where is Arraiolos located, in Portugal?
Arraiolos is just 20 km from the city of Évora.
- It borders Montemor-o-Novo, Coruche and Mora (3 municipalities on the Route along National Road 2 for which I have already written an article on this blog).
- To the north, it borders Sousel in the district of Portalegre.
- And of course, don’t forget Estremoz, which shares with Borba and Vila Viçosa the white gold of the Alentejo: marble!
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Things to do in Arraiolos | Portugal
In a morning or an afternoon you can visit the essentials of Arraiolos, without a doubt. I, for example, spent just a few hours visiting the town and had dinner there before returning to Évora, where I was staying.
Map with things to do in Arraiolos
1. Visit Arraiolos Castle
Arraiolos Castle was built in the 14th century, during the reign of King Dinis. As I’ve already mentioned, it looks circular, or at least oval, when you see it from a drone in the sky. It is located on top of Mount of S. Pedro, and from there you can see the whole town of Arraiolos and the surrounding plains. Excellent spot for a sunset.
2. Admire the Church of Nossa Senhora do Castelo or Church of the Savior
The Church of Nossa Senhora do Castelo stands on the highest point of Mount of S. Pedro, right inside the Castle. It’s an old church, and you can tell by its rough appearance. This church was once the Mother Church of Arraiolos, and is still preserved, unlike some pieces of the wall.
3. Descend into the historic center of Arraiolos
Next stop is the historic center of Arraiolos. I recommend you start at the Municipal Square, where you’ll find the Town Hall, the Pillory and the Interpretive Center.
4. Visit the Arraiolos Carpet Interpretive Center
To introduce you to the Arraiolos carpet and its history, there’s nothing better than this OSAE.tv video as an introduction.
Although the earliest reference to the arraiolos carpet dates back to the end of the 16th century, it is believed to have been produced even before the 15th century. Today you can learn more about its history and how the art has been passed down from generation to generation of embroiderers and carpet makers at its interpretation center located in the old GNR post.
5. Take a look at the Arraiolos Pillory
It’s right in front of the Arraiolos Carpet Interpretive Center, so you can’t miss it. It dates back to the 17th century.
6. Vist the Misericórdia Church of Arraiolos
This church was founded at the end of the 16th century in the Baroque style. As I’ve already mentioned, it’s important not to miss a visit to its interior, lined with awesome 18th century tiles.
7. Stroll through the Arraiolos Public Garden
If you visit this garden in Arraiolos at the end of the day, you’ll be impressed by the number of birds that invade the space after sunset and make it deafening with their chirping. In the public garden, I would highlight the bandstand and the small chapel nearby.
8. Discover the Monument to the Embroiderers of Arraiolos
It was inaugurated at the end of 2001 and is a monument in honor of the women who keep the centuries-old tradition alive and who patiently continue to embroider what is one of the greatest symbols of the Alentejo.
9. Visit the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora dos Mártires and the chapel of the Steps of Christ
Both are on the way back to the Castle. The first is the current parish church of Arraiolos, founded before the 14th century.
10. Sleep at the Pousada do Convento de Arraiolos (Convent of Lóios)
The Convento of Lóios, also known as the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, was founded in the 16th century and is beautiful. If you want to get to know every nook and cranny, there’s no doubt that the best way is to stay at the pousada. Its tiles, as I’ve already mentioned, and the cloister are undoubtedly the highlights.
Appearances can be deceiving; from the outside, no one would have guessed it would be so impressive! The same goes for the Misericórdia Church!
11. Pass by the Stone Fountain
Finally, we come to the optional attractions of the itinerary. The Stone Fountain dates back to the 19th century and is located on the outskirts of the village. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful you’ll find in the region (at least as far as I know!).
12. Go for a walk next to Divor Dam or Oleirita Dam
And of course, how about a walk near the main dams and reservoirs in Arraiolos? The main one is the Divor Dam, but you might also want to visit the Oleirita Dam.
Travel tips for visiting Arraiolos
And now that you know everything there is to see in Arraiolos, I’ll finish with some fundamental travel tips: where to sleep, where to eat, what to eat, when to visit, etc.
Accommodation tips to visit Arraiolos
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Pousada Convento de Arraiolos | 8.5 | Arraiolos |
| Casa do Platano | 9.3 | Arraiolos |
| Monte das Oliveiras | 8.7 | Arraiolos |
When to visit Arraiolos?
I recommend the month of June because it’s not summer yet, so you won’t have extreme heat. In addition, that’s when the main festivities in Arraiolos take place:
- The Celebration of Arraiolos carpets.
- The Veal Gastronomic Weeks.
- And the typical Popular Marches.
Gastronomy in Arraiolos
In Arraiolos, the specialties are migas, veal steak or a traditional pork or lamb dish. If you like to travel through food and flavours, try to organize your trip to coincide with the gastronomic weeks:
- I’ve already mentioned the Veal Gastronomic Weeks: they take place in June.
- The Pork Gastronomic Weeks take place in February.
- The Lamb Gastronomic Weeks take place in April.
- For the Alentejo Soups, visit Arraiolos in August.
- And then there’s the Empada Festival and the Gastronomic Exhibition in October / November.
For dessert, you should definitely try Toucinho do Céu, Arraiolos’ most typical sweet, or the toucinho pastries.
Restaurants in Arraiolos
- O Alpendre (I’ve heard great things about it!)
- Republica do Petisco (where I had dinner!)
Rent a car to visit Arraiolos
Consider renting a car to visit Alentejo, which is an ideal region for road trips. Without a car you’ll have great difficulty getting around the region, and all your plans will be drastically affected. Rent a car with Discover Cars for more flexibility, if you don’t have your own.
Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal
- N2 Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
- Madeira Itinerary and Travel Guide
- São Miguel Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Terceira Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Pico Itinerary in Azores
- Faial Itinerary in Azores
- Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary
- Porto Itinerary and Travel Guide
- Things to do In Braga (Minho)
- Things to do in Guimarães (Minho)
- Things to do in Viana do Castelo (Minho)
- Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary
- Douro Valley Itinerary
- Trás-os-Montes Itinerary
- Things to do in Bragança
- Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary
- Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
- Things to do in Aveiro
- Things to do in Coimbra
- Things to do in Leiria
- Things to do in Fatima
- Things to do in Nazaré
- Things to do in Peniche
- Things to do in Évora (Alentejo)
- Things to do in Beja (Alentejo)
- Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
- Things to do in Lagos (Algarve)
- Things to do in Portimão (Algarve)
- Things to do in Faro (Algarve)
- Things to do in Tavira (Algarve)
I hope you enjoyed this article with things to do in Arraiolos. Have a nice time in my country! 😉
