Best things to do in Vila Viçosa

Vila Viçosa is considered to be the “Princess of the Alentejo”, and it really does have the sparkle and class required for that title. It’s a town full of charm and charisma!

It is part of Central Alentejo, in the district of Évora, but its landscapes contrast with those of the municipalities to the south, perhaps due to the region’s many marble quarries.

Its Terreiro do Paço is the most beautiful square in the Alentejo, and for me one the most extraordinary in Portugal.

The Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa is steeped in history, as it has a clear connection with the House of Bragança and the birth of Portugal’s 4th Dynasty.

Its castle houses a magnificent Hunting Museum, doing justice to this Alentejo tradition.

It’s impossible not to fall in love with Vila Viçosa. Want to know everything there is to see and do there? I’ve put together a detailed list of sights not to be missed on a first visit.

Marble Quarry in the region of Vila Viçosa

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Where is Vila Viçosa located, in Portugal?

Vila Viçosa is part of Central Alentejo (Évora district), but very close to the border with High Alentejo (Portalegre district). To the north you will find Elvas, to the south Alandroal, and it also has Redondo and Borba as neighboring municipalities. It is in a strategic location, not far from the Alqueva Lake, and very close to the border with Spain.

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Map | Things to do in Vila Viçosa

The map below will help you better understand the location of Vila Viçosa. And I hope it inspires you to continue reading this article to learn more about each of its main tourist attractions.

When to visit Vila Viçosa?

I visited Vila Viçosa in the summer, but I don’t think it’s the best time to do so. Opt instead for spring or fall, when the weather is more pleasant.

After all, Vila Viçosa isn’t a beach town. You’ll want to walk around and discover it at your own pace without extreme temperatures.

With regard to the main annual events, consider the Capuchos festivities, on the second weekend of September, or the day of the Immaculate Conception, which takes place on December 8 in honor of the Patron Saint of Portugal, who has her sanctuary in Vila Viçosa: Nossa Senhora da Conceição.

How to get to Vila Viçosa?

It is possible to reach Vila Viçosa by bus (Rede Expressos), from the main cities in the country, such as Lisbon.

However, Alentejo is a region ideal for road trips, so my recommendation is that you rent a car, if you don’t have your own. Do it with Discover Cars, which allows you to compare several rental companies before finding the best deal! A car will give you a lot of flexibility when traveling in the Alentejo.

Gastronomy in Vila Viçosa

The flavors to try when visiting Vila Viçosa are clearly the traditional ones of the Alentejo.

The typical Açorada Alentejana.
Gaspacho.
Migas to accompany the most varied dishes.
Cozido à Alentejana.
Black pork or any other meat from hunting.
Lamb stew.
For dessert, opt for Sericaia, Manjar das Chagas, Encharcada, or even “Tibornas”.

Accommodation tips to visit Vila Viçosa

Accommodation	Score	Location
Hotel Solar Dos Mascarenhas	8.7	Vila Viçosa
Pousada Convento de Vila Viçosa	8.4	Vila Viçosa
Alentejo Marmòris Hotel	9.1	Vila Viçosa
Tapada do Padre Rosa	9.2	Vila Viçosa
Quinta do Barreiro	9.7	Borba
Tapada do Chafariz	8.7	Estremoz
Convento Sao Paulo	8.8	Aldeia da Serra (Redondo)
Pousada Castelo de Estremoz	8.8	Estremoz
Pateo dos Solares	8.0	Estremoz
Hotel O Gadanha	8.3	Estremoz

Things to do in Vila Viçosa | Portugal

And now, all things to do in Vila Viçosa, and what to visit and see there. 1 day is more than enough to visit the essentials of Vila Viçosa, and you might even have time to go to Borba, in the surrounding area. How about going for a guided walking tour in Vila Viçosa?

1. Visit Terreiro do Paço in Vila Viçosa

Terreiro do Paço is Vila Viçosa’s main square and extends in front of the Ducal Palace, with a façade 100 meters long. The palace and the gigantic equestrian statue of King João IV give it a majestic appearance.

Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa and Terreiro do Paço

2. Admire the equestrian statue of D. João IV

D. João IV was king of Portugal in the 17th century and was born in Vila Viçosa to the House of Bragança. He was the first king of the fourth Portuguese dynasty.

He is considered by many to be the king who restored independence, as he ended the rule of the Spanish Filipinos in Portugal. It was during his reign that many Portuguese border fortresses were built, and it is because of him that Nossa Senhora da Conceição is the Patroness of Portugal.

Equestrian statue of King João IV in Vila Viçosa

3. Visit the Church and Convent of the Augustinians, Pantheon of the Dukes of Bragança

The Augustinian Convent was the first to appear in Vila Viçosa, in the 13th century. It is located opposite the Ducal Palace, in honor of Nossa Senhora da Graça.

Under the influence of the Dukes of Bragança, the convent was restructured in the 16th century, acquiring the main façade that today faces Terreiro do Paço. Since the mid-17th century, it has been the Pantheon of the Dukes of Bragança, with the tomb of D. Afonso, the first Duke, inside.

Church and Convent of the Augustinians to visit in Vila Viçosa

4. Visit the Royal Convent of the Wounds of Christ, Pantheon of the Duchesses of Bragança

This is another of the monuments next to Terreiro do Paço in Vila Viçosa. It dates back to the 16th century and was built at the request of the House of Bragança as the Pantheon of the Duchesses of Bragança.

Nowadays, it houses the “Pousada de D. João IV”, where you may want to stay during your visit, and the cloisters and tiled decorations stand out in the interior. Don’t forget to visit the gardens.

5. Visit the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa

Finally, the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, built by the 4th Duke of Bragança, D. Jaime, at the beginning of the 16th century, as the permanent residence of the House of Bragança. Its main façade is completely covered in marble from the region’s quarries.

In the 20th century, with the Implantation of the Republic, the House of Bragança Foundation was created, which today offers guided tours of the Palace. The various rooms that can be visited reminded me of the Palace of Versailles in France.

The exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, furniture and tapestries, among others, are impressive. It was a shame I wasn’t allowed to photograph the interior. See more pictures in the official website of the palace.

Armory Section of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa – This allows visitors to see collections from the Bragança dynasty related to hunting and shooting, as well as all the weaponry acquired by the family.
Treasure Section of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa – Highlights include the Cross of Vila Viçosa and dozens of other pieces of civilian goldsmithery from the 18th and 19th centuries. There are also collections of tapestries, paintings and ceramics of great value.
Porcelain Section of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa – One of the most incredible, if not the most impressive collection of Chinese porcelain (blue and white) on the Iberian Peninsula, with dozens of pieces on display dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Kitchen of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa – With lots of copper kitchen utensils. Impressive!
Gardens of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa and Porta dos Nós – The guided tour ends in the Gardens of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, and you exit the grounds through Porta dos Nós.

Interior Cloisters of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa

Gardens of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa

6. Visit the Medieval Castle of Vila Viçosa

After a brief stop at the Municipal Garden on Avenue Dukes of Bragança, head towards the castle.

You’ll first come across the medieval walls, and I recommend that you enter the walled enclosure via Rua de Estremoz, which leads to the square where the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição stands.

The medieval castle dates back to the 13th century, during the reign of King Dinis, and was the residence of the House of Bragança from 1461 until the Ducal Palace was built.

One of the entrances to the Castle of Vila Viçosa

Rua de Estremoz with Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in the background

7. Visit the Fortress of Vila Viçosa

Vila Viçosa Fortress is located in the castle grounds and dates back to the Restoration Wars. It houses two museums, one for archaeology and the other for hunting.

Hunting Museum – The more impressive of the two, with exhibitions of hunting trophies from Africa, for example.
Archaeology Museum – Less interesting (at least for me), it presents some archaeological discoveries in the region up to the Roman period.
From the top of the fortress or the castle’s medieval walls, you have awesome views of Vila Viçosa’s Republic Square and, in the background, the Church of São Bartolomeu.

Fortress of Vila Viçosa - inside — Fortress of Vila Viçosa – inside

8. Visit the Church of Nossa Senhora de Conceição

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição is also the mother church of Vila Viçosa. Its origins date back to the construction of the Chapel of Santa Maria do Castelo on this site, ordered by Nuno Álvares Pereira.

Highlights include the tiles inside, the marble columns and the image of Nossa Senhora da Conceição. It was D. João IV, King of Portugal after the restoration of independence, who, as I mentioned earlier, declared her the patron saint of Portugal.

The festivities in her honor take place on December 8th.

9. Visit the Republic Square and Pillory of Vila Viçosa

The Pillory dates back to the early 16th century and stands in front of the medieval walls, through which you will exit towards Vila Viçosa’s Republic Square. It is in the Gothic-Manueline style and has a kind of crown decorated in marble at the top.

From the Republic Square I would highlight the many orange trees on both sides of the avenue. No less important than the Church of São Bartolomeu in the background, there are also the following points of interest to see:

The Bust of Florbela Espanca.
The statue of Bento Jesus Caraça.
And Misericórdia Church of Vila Viçosa.

10. Visit the Church of São Bartolomeu in Vila Viçosa

This church is also called the Church of St. John the Evangelist. It was also built by the Dukes of Bragança in the 17th century as a Jesuit college. Its fortified façade features marble typical of the region.

Igreja de São Bartolomeu — Church of São Bartolomeu

11. Visit Vila Viçosa Marble Museum

A must-see for anyone who wants to learn more about the extraction and processing of marble in the region, and about its history. After all, marble is the driving force behind the county’s economy.

Inside you’ll have access to exhibitions showing the tools and instruments used in the industry.

12. Take a guided tour of the Vila Viçosa quarries

Since this region is responsible for a large part of Portugal’s ornamental stone production, it’s a must to visit the quarries where this rock / marble is extracted.

With all due care, take a walk around the quarries and get to know more of the places where the “white gold” of the Alentejo is extracted.

That’s what I did, and I managed to capture some cool drone footage. I don’t recommend getting too close to the quarries, because of the risk of falling or having an accident. Rather than risk it, opt for a guided tour with Viator.

Other places to visit in Vila Viçosa

Tin Museum in Vila Viçosa – Museum of pewter works and artifacts by Apeles Caetano Coelho, a native of Vila Viçosa. He has won several national and international awards.
Vila Viçosa Municipal Forest – the town’s green space of choice, with plenty of shade, so I couldn’t fail to recommend it.
The Chapels of the Processional Steps, which represent stages of the Way of the Cross. There are several throughout the Alentejo, the most monumental of which are in Borba and Vila Viçosa.
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Lapa. The Cross of Vila Viçosa in front of the church and is a national monument, with the Crucified Christ wrapped in a serpent.
The Agricultural and Ethnographic Museum of Vila Viçosa, dedicated to agricultural work, with tools used by people who work in the fields, such as ploughs, yokes, hand tools, etc. It is located in the old CP station.
Vila Viçosa Museum of Sacred Art – in the Church of the Convent of Santa Cruz.
Florbela Espanca’s house – right next to the Museum of Sacred Art. She was a famous Portuguese poet who was born in Vila Viçosa in 1894.
Bento de Jesus Caraça Museum – Another personality from Vila Viçosa, whose house has been restored and refurbished for visitors. He was an important Portuguese mathematician and fought against the war and fascism. “If I’m not afraid of error, it’s only because I’m always ready to correct it!” – Bento de Jesus Caraça, 1933
Capuchos Church and Convent – It is a convent with a church dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade, next to Vila Viçosa’s Bullring. The square in front of it stands out, with its bandstand, where one of Vila Viçosa’s main festivities takes place in September.