What to see in Marialva, a beautiful town in Central Portugal

One of the attractions of a trip through Central Portugal is to do the car route of the Historic Villages, which allows you to visit several historic towns that maintain a great charm.

This is the case of Marialva, small town, almost a village, that belongs to the council of Meda, in the Guarda district.

This beautiful medieval village Built on the top of a rocky mountain that is difficult to access, it is located 613 meters high and on the banks of Alva river.

History of Marialva

Its existence has been known since Prehistory, and here the Lusitanian tribe of the Misers, who built the first fort on the hill to defend themselves against Roman invasions.

Later the territory was occupied by Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and Castilians, until 1179. Portugal achieved its independence with the king Alfonso Henriques y Marialva became Portuguese.

The Romans called the town Aravorum, but there is a legend that says that in 1217 the King of Portugal D. Alfonso II He donated the village to one of his lovers, Maria Alva, and hence its current name.

The inaccessible castle It is the fundamental piece of the town, and the population grew around it, becoming one of the most important military squares of medieval times.

Despite having been an important place with fairs attended by people from many places, Marialva was far from Atlantic Ocean, and with it, the discoveries that occurred in subsequent centuries.

Furthermore, the old castles became obsolete and lost their defensive function.

The population progressively decreased until the middle of the 20th century, leaving the town almost in ruins.

What to see on the Marialva sightseeing visit

Walk through this beautiful village It is taking a step back in time, it is entering the medieval era and recognizing the passage of its previous inhabitants, and despite being very sparsely populated, it will be worth your visit.

Its medieval cobbled streets, the Wall and Church of Santiago These are some of the places you will visit on your tour.

Marialva Castle

Marialva It is made up of three different nuclei, on the one hand, the Citadel or villa that is located inside the castle; the suburb or neighborhood outside the enclosure that extends beyond the walled area; and finally, the pasture which is to the south of the citadel, at the foot of the slope, and which is where the center of the population is located.

The Citadel is framed by Wall which extends along a slope with an irregular contour due to the unevenness of the terrain.

The main tower stands out tower of tribute. and three defense towers.

Once inside you will enter a small square where the remains of the ancient city are; Here was the civil and administrative nucleus, the old dungeons dating from the 17th century and the court.

In this square you will see the Pelourinho from the 15th century, which is a beautiful piece of granite four meters high in an octagonal shape that ends in a small cage finishing off the column.

It represented the administrative and judicial autonomy of the medieval council.

Next to the column is The cistern granite, which is a circular structure and had the function of providing water to the population of the Citadel, which was basic when they were under siege.

Also around there are remains of the castle's homes.

The Marialva Castle visiting hours They are, in summer, from June to September, from 10 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m., and the rest of the year, from 9 a.m. to 13 p.m., and from 14 p.m. to 17 p.m.

You get the tickets at the tourist office which is located at the main entrance of the castle.

Churches in Marialva

The other important part within the enclosure is the religious area, which has two churches or with a cemetery.

La iglesia from Santiago It is from the 16th century, it has a beautiful Manueline portal, and inside you can see a baroque altar.

At his side is the Chapel of the Lord of the Steps de Renaissance style, where you will see a temple mannerist with classical inspiration, but what will surprise you most are the beautiful painted drawers on the ceiling of the temple, in addition to the decorative elements and polychrome.

Outside you can see a small pulpit where prayers were said in the ceremonies of the Easter Thursday and Friday.

In 1978 the entire set of Marialva It was declared National Monument.

 Legends of Marialva

As in all medieval towns, they circulate legends that have been transformed over the centuries, and one that has Marialva It is that of the maiden with the goat's feet.

Legend has it that a long time ago a beautiful young woman lived in the village, and that one day a nobleman who was passing by fell in love with her.

Such was his infatuation that he immediately wanted to marry her and to ask her to marry him, he ordered some beautiful shoes from a shoemaker to offer the young woman.

Since they did not know what size foot he wore, the shoemaker suggested that he spread flour at the foot of the bed so that he could get the mark of his feet when he got up.

When the shoemaker saw the mark, all surprised, he realized that the maid had the feet of a goat, but like a good professional he fulfilled the order and kept silent about what he discovered.

When the maiden received the gift, she realized that her secret had been discovered, and, terrified, she threw herself from the top of the tree. tower of tribute of the castle. This maiden was called Maria Alva.

From the viewpoint of The Chapel of Saint Barbara, which is a temple with a square floor plan and a semicircular arch, you will be able to see some nice views of Marialva and the landscape of the region.

Marialva is located on the old pilgrim route, and today the day of the Apostle Santiago on July 25 and its annual fair are still celebrated.

Hotels to sleep in Marialva

In addition to enjoying the historical complex, in your Marialva's visit you can consider one relaxing stay with spa and pool included in The Houses of Côro, where you will find all kinds of comforts in a super quiet and relaxing natural environment.

They have rebuilt houses in the town, turning them into a cozy hotel.

There are those that only have one bedroom for romantic getaways, with two and three rooms for families, and some suites with beautiful views of the Portuguese Beira Interior and the walled enclosure.

With an impressive gastronomy, as well as the quality of its wines, they are the project of Carmen y Paulo Romaor, its founders, to give life to Marialva, and today they are a reference in the hotel sector.

Another option you have near Marialva, in the town of Buoy, is the Longroiva Rural Hotel and Spa, with its incredible hot springs and treatments for all types of ailments, or to spend a few days relaxing in a beautiful natural environment.

In addition to the rooms that a hotel of these characteristics may have, it has bungalows in case you want to have more independence.

Either place will be a great idea to take a few days off and do a route through the historic villages and the Sierra de la Estrella. where you can visit other charming towns such as Castelo Rodrigo o Trancoso.

How to get to Marialva in Portugal

Marialva It is located 50 kilometers north of the city of Guarda, in the Center of Portugal, and an hour and a half northwest of Ciudad Rodrigo, in the province of Salamanca.