Marble Tour in Vila Viçosa
5
Marble Tour in Vila Viçosa
By Rota do Mármore AE
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About
This is one of the most surprising Industrial Tourism experiences that can be carried out in Portugal.
The visit begins at the meeting point with a brief explanation of the geography, geology and history of the sector at the Núcleo Documental do Mármore.
The program includes a visit to a quarry to learn about the marble extraction processes, followed by a visit to a sawmill where the marble is transformed for subsequent application.
The visits take place in Alentejo, municipalities of Vila Viçosa and Borba, 50 minutes from Évora and 2 hours from Lisbon.
During the visit, visitors are provided with a helmet and a vest for mandatory use during the visit and which will be returned at the end.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 7-99, max of 10 per group
Duration: 2–3 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Portuguese, English, Spanish
More
- Professional yet informal local guide
What's not included- hotel pickup
- Hotel drop-off
- Food (including meals) and drinks, unless otherwise specified
- Private transportation
- Start:
- Rota do Mármore AE, Av. Duques de Bragança 4, 7160-209 Vila Viçosa, PortugalAt the headquarters of the AE Marble Route
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 274073P5- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Mandatory use of closed footwear
- Own vehicle to travel between the meeting point and the places to visit.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 274073P5
From
AU$41.94
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travellers
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Av. Duques de Bragança 4, 7160-209 Vila Viçosa, PortugalAt the headquarters of the AE Marble Route
- 1Visit to the Marble Quarry Center in the region with passage and presentation of several quarries, with emphasis on the marble extraction processes, existing dangers, used machinery, economic and artistic aspects. Visit to a construction site where the artisanal and manual transformation of marble, the techniques, the existing dangers, the machinery used in the final work and the personal histories of the construction site deserve special mention. Visit to a marble sawmill / industrial marble transformation workshop where mechanized industrial marble transformation will be presented, the different machines used, the existing dangers, the different examples of final products and the entire operational context of a sawmill.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- kedarnatha20150 contributionsWalking Tour of The stremozIt was one of the nicest walking tours I have ever been given! Not just informative but thoroughly enjoyable too! Since there was just at one ne other person that n the tour who more or less my age we were able to proceed at a leisurely Andante instead of the Allegro of so many other tours I’ve been onWritten 18 May 2024
- edwortj0 contributionsA personal perspective on Vila VicosaAn excellent tour through the history of Vila Vicosa, with stories about the wars with the Spanish, the history of the castle, the Dukes of Briganza and the fortunes of more recent characters. Our guide grew up within the castle walls and is truly an expert when it comes to the history of her town. This gave the tour a nice personal touch.Written 12 April 2024
- edwortj0 contributionsA tour around a beautiful city of marble.The tour guide took us around the new town and finished in the old town. I got an insight into the history of the city, its origins and the importance of Queen Isabella to its people. The highlight was a visit to a chapel at the castle which is usually closed to the public.Written 12 April 2024
- juliedawnf20240 contributionsInteresting EstremozDoing this tour gave us acess to some places we wouldn't normally have seen, e.g. inside the city hall and the chapel of Saint Isabel. We learned a lot about the history and culture of the city, which added depth and insight to our time there. The guide did have a tendency to point out somewhat obvious/uneccessary things but in general, we enjoyed the experience.Written 12 April 2024
- juliedawnf20240 contributionsGreat walking tourOur guide, Joaquina, was born and bred in Vila Viçosa so her knowledege and love of the town was evident throughout. We learned lots of interesting historical details and stories that brought the place to life in a way that we would never have accessed without her insights.Written 12 April 2024
- 895cherieg0 contributionsExceptional tour and guide! A must do!What an incredible experience! We loved our walking tour through this beautiful town to learn its history and admire the gorgeous architecture. Our tour guide, Joaquina a local resident, born and raised in the town gave wonderful insight with passion. She is a fantastic guide! One of the best we have had in all our travels through Europe! Thank you again for a wonderful afternoon. Highly recommend this tour!Written 11 April 2024
- stilltravlin0 contributionsDon't miss this truly Portuguese experience!This was a great experience to have a personalized introduction to Borba. You are truly visiting the small family run businesses that are catering to the local people as they go about their regular daily routines. It included a bake shop that no more than 8 people could fit into as well as bars where the local men get together at 11:00 am each day to socialize. The snacks were a varied selection of typical local faire and served right off of the grill for our enjoyment. The locals are so welcoming that you fit right in and become part of the village immediately !Written 28 February 2024
- Herminianq0 contributionsAmazing.Despite not having a beautiful sun or even heat, the visit was incredible. We strolled through the chapels, monuments, views and even managed to visit the city's flea market. I highly recommend it, thank you for all the care and attention from the tour guide and the association.Written 14 January 2024
- Herminianq0 contributionsCultureBeautiful culture, wonderful food and an amazing, friendly tour guide. Wonderful experience. It's very worth doing. Very good tour.Written 14 January 2024
- Excursion655119254110 contributionsFascinating!A wonderful tour! I would not have considered marble and mining could be so informative and interesting a subject! But with a kind, fun, knowledgeable guide, we would recommend it! And maybe one day we will be sourcing some marble for our business! João was delighted and we will tell future friends and clients to attend his tours!Written 17 November 2023
- pepelevoo0 contributionsFascinatingIn a few years, Estremoz will very well be a top destination in Portugal. Right now with its booming restaurants in amazing architecture and friendly people. It’s well worth visiting before the world discovers it. This walking tour conducted in many languages is such a great way to get to know the city better and understand it’s fascinating past from scenes to warriors to wars and heroes there’s a lot to learn and enjoy here.Written 5 November 2023
- abeg3130 contributionsFood tourThe food was good and the people very nice. We found a lot of places we did not know where there so that's a bonus. The guide got distracted a few times on the walkWritten 4 August 2023
- 855chasl0 contributionsHaving a knowledgeable guide make so much difference in the visit, to an unspoiled Portuguese medieval town.Had a great tour of the castle town of Estremoz. Our guide Joaquina, made the town come alive, through history. Pointed out various interesting observations of the marble work I would never have noticed. The doors of the old medieval town, where talking to us, through our guide.Written 10 June 2023
- estelapatricias0 contributionsWalking tour of EstremozWe really recommend this walking guided tour of Estremoz. Our guide, Joaquina, was very friendly and knowledgeable, showing us all the historical buildings and pointing out interesting local details that we would otherwise have missed. We started at 9.30am and finished around 12.30pm, bring comfortable shoes and a hat! Highly recommend this tour.Written 14 May 2023
- Dave J0 contributionsNot your usual “tourist” tour but one of our best ever.We signed up for the tour on the advice of friends who did the same tour last fall. They raved about the experience and showed us their incredible photos. Photos do not do justice to the scale and visual impact of visiting the quarries in person. We learned so much about marble in general and especially Vila Vicosa marble. Joao from the Portugal Marble Route Team was so informative and helpful that he made the tour fun and very personal. He answered all our questions and more.Written 7 April 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
276 reviews
Excellent
260
Very good
16
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Brimfam1
Lufkin, TX28 contributions
Sept 2022
It's always fun to get a glimpse of another world - in this case, the quarrying and manufacturing process that takes place well before artists sculpt their beautiful creations. Joao was a great tour guide. We met at the headquarters where he gave us some background information about the geology of the region where marble is found, learned about the different types of marble, etc. Next we visited the quarry - what an experience! We were astounded by its size and mesmerized by watching the various steps in the extraction and finishing of the giant blocks of marble. We traveled a short distance to the workshop facility where the blocks are further processed/milled, then to a sculptor's studio to learn how he transforms the marble into a work of art. All so fascinating! The tour is 3 hours in length, and the time flew by. Highly recommended for all ages!
Written 13 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your description and sympathy. We hope you can come back!
RH
Written 10 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lubliner
Warszawa64 contributions
One of the most worthy visits we took. A lot of knowledge about the marbles and the region in a local museum followed by the breathtaking tour in the quarries. We were guided by a very professional local guide. Thank you for visit!
Written 3 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the visit!
RH
Written 23 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JH Simoes
3 contributions
July 2022
We spent the afternoon with Joao, exploring the quarry in Pardais and then the mill in Bencatel. Really interesting! You get access to go inside the working marble quarry and see these amaing pits, deep into the earth. We all learned so much - and had a great time! Very much fun.
Written 31 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you a lot for your visit!
Safe trips!
RH
Written 24 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BRUNO
Lyon, France5 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
It’s a unique experience to approach this quarries, out of the world, marble is fascinating each piece is unique by the color and the pattern.
My guide Joaquina was really knowing this subject and talked about it with enthousiasme and passion.
I highly recommend !
Obrigado
My guide Joaquina was really knowing this subject and talked about it with enthousiasme and passion.
I highly recommend !
Obrigado
Written 31 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Bruno,Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful feedback on our tour Marble Tour !. We're delighted to know that you had a great time with us and that Joaquina was friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. It's wonderful to know that we provided you a great experience. We hope to have the opportunity to take you on more exciting adventures throughout Alentejo. See you soon! Yours sincerely, Portugal Marble Route team 🌍🗺🇵🇹🌟
Written 25 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nicole B
1 contribution
Oct 2023
The gentleman who provided the tour was most pleasant and knowledgeable. His English skills were sufficiently strong that everyone in my party of four agreed that the time spent on the tour was truly worthwhile. May I suggest that fabric wall hangings, or a carpet be added to the room where we received the pre-tour talk, because as it is, the sound reverberates making it difficult for people hard of hearing or who wear a hearing aid to hear clearly.
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Nicole, We were truly delighted to receive your message! It brings us immense satisfaction to learn that your experience with us was enriching. We sincerely appreciate your warm words about our Marble Tour. It is especially rewarding to hear that the attention and knowledge provided by João were well-received. We acknowledge the pivotal role that guides play in making each journey unique and memorable. We look forward to the day when we can welcome you again, offering new and exciting adventures in the breathtaking region of Alentejo. Rest assured that you will always be warmly welcomed! Best regards, The Rota do Mármore AE Team 🌍🗺🇵🇹🌟
Written 25 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lynherlynda
Arronche61 contributions
Feb 2023
What an interesting tour! We have often driven by the 'marble mountains', so to be able to go into a quarry, and what a quarry, the deepest in the area, to see it being worked was a real treat. The explanation given by Joaquina beforehand made understanding the whole process much easier and seeing how the huge and irregular lumps of marble became fine tiles, basins and sculptures was fascinating. Really good value,, especially as we had Joaquina to ourselves.
Written 18 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your visit and feedback!
RH
Written 10 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Barbara D
Satellite Beach, FL150 contributions
I had heard this tour was excellent but I was not prepared for how extraordinary it was. Our guide Joao was enthusiastic and knew so much about the way Portuguese marble has contributed to the history, culture and community of Vila Vicosa. He starts at the very beginning with the formation of marble and then the process of extraction and finishing. Then he takes you to the quarry and let me tell you nothing can prepare you for how truly spectacular it is. Just go. I doubt this kind of experience will be available to the public much longer. Go.
Written 30 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Barbara, We were truly delighted to receive your message! It brings us immense satisfaction to learn that your experience with us was enriching. We sincerely appreciate your warm words about our Marble Tour. It is especially rewarding to hear that the attention and knowledge provided by João were well-received. We acknowledge the pivotal role that guides play in making each journey unique and memorable. We look forward to the day when we can welcome you again, offering new and exciting adventures in the breathtaking region of Alentejo. Rest assured that you will always be warmly welcomed! Best regards, The Rota do Mármore AE Team 🌍🗺🇵🇹🌟
Written 6 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patricia R
7 contributions
We enjoyed this tour very much, as João said this is an experience “out of the box”. We visit this part of Portugal often, and it was the first time we heard about it. Besides the historical interest the tour is very well thought out. Our guide João is very enthusiastic and you can tell is love for the tour and region, which makes the tour that much interesting! We absolutely recommend!
Written 18 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Patricia & Gonçalo, We were truly delighted to receive your message! It brings us immense satisfaction to learn that your experience with us was enriching. We sincerely appreciate your warm words about our Marble Tour. It is especially rewarding to hear that the attention and knowledge provided by João were well-received. We acknowledge the pivotal role that guides play in making each journey unique and memorable. We look forward to the day when we can welcome you again, offering new and exciting adventures in the breathtaking region of Alentejo. Rest assured that you will always be warmly welcomed! Best regards, The Rota do Mármore AE Team 🌍🗺🇵🇹🌟
Written 25 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PeterW37
Ghent, Belgium387 contributions
This 3 hour tour was really nice. As there were no other persons registered, our excellent guide gave us a private tour for the same price. The visit of the quarries was really impressive! Also the factory visit was also very instructive.
Written 7 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot for visit Peter!
Safe trips!
RH
Written 24 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Francis J
1 contribution
July 2023 • Family
We did that tour me and my wife after doing some researches on the Web to find cool stuff to do in Estremoz that would be different than visiting castles and churches.
The tour was incredible and the guide was passionate. We had he chance to visit multiple quarry site during our tour.
It is not each day that you can visit a quarry work site while worker are still at work. It was an amazing experience that we will never forget.
I would recommend that tour to any body that is curious and wants to know more about where building materials comes from and what is required to extract these pieces of stone from mother nature. None of the pictures on internet that you see can really give you the real experience of being on the site near these incredible big and deep holes.
The tour was incredible and the guide was passionate. We had he chance to visit multiple quarry site during our tour.
It is not each day that you can visit a quarry work site while worker are still at work. It was an amazing experience that we will never forget.
I would recommend that tour to any body that is curious and wants to know more about where building materials comes from and what is required to extract these pieces of stone from mother nature. None of the pictures on internet that you see can really give you the real experience of being on the site near these incredible big and deep holes.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello we are a group of 4 adults. Is the tour in a car or van between the locations? One of us walks fine, but not for very long distances.
Thank you!
Andrea
Written 4 July 2022
Hi there - I'm so sorry - I've only seen your message now. You definitely need a car. We took our own car and followed the guide in his car. Hope I"m not too late..
Written 1 August 2022
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