Marvão Guide: Museu Municipal de Marvão
Museu Municipal de Marvão
The Museu Municipal de Marvão in Marvão in the Alto Alentejo region has a diverse range of exhibits including archaeological finds from various nearby Neolithic tombs (dolmen), pottery, glass and metal from the Roman era, religious art as well as traditional costumes from the surrounding area.
The museum is located in the former Santa Maria church (no longer a place of worship), which may have been built over an earlier mosque in the 13th century, though the present structure is mainly from the 16th century. The museum opened in 1987.
Exhibits
The quirky collection of exhibits, some of which were donated by the local community, include a granite Iron Age megalithic sculpture of a wild boar (berrão), and an idol plaque or 'pedra de raia' found among grave goods at a Stone Age dolmen in Marvão.
Also on display are pieces of jewelry, various weaponry from the village's history as a fortress, a large collection of religious statues and other artifacts, as well as pieces excavated from the Cidade Romana de Ammaia, a small Roman period town located about 7 km south of Marvão on the road to Portalegre. Ammaia was once linked by road to Emerita Augusta (present-day Mérida in Spain).
Wall panels in both Portuguese and English help to explain the exhibits on display.
The 13th century church building itself which houses the museum is noted for its fine azulejos tiling, wooden Baroque altars and crosses of the Knights Hospitaller, a Catholic military order, that once controlled the town, on the outer walls.
Hours & Information
Hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. (Closed December 25).
Address: Largo de Santa Maria 7330-101 Marvão
Tel: 351 245 909 132
Nearby
The main attraction in the hilltop village is the impressive Castelo de Marvão which has its roots in a fortress constructed by the Muslim lord Ibn Marwan in the 9th century. After the fall of the castle to the Christians Dom Dinis built the keep and strengthened the walls.
The small town of Castelo de Vide with many similarities to Marvão is just 10 km west. Castelo de Vide boasts a 14th-century castle, the Castelo de Castelo de Vide and a 14th-century synagogue in its Judairia (Jewish Quarter) - the oldest surviving synagogue in Portugal. There's also a pelourinho (pillory) and rows of pretty white-washed houses.
Marvão Tourist Office
Marvão Tourist Office
Rua de Baixo 12
7330-111 Marvão, Portugal
Tel: 245 909 131.
Find information on where to stay and eat in Marvão.
Getting to Marvão
Train Travel in Portugal
Marvão is not connected by railway. Marvão-Beirã Station, 9 km to the north, closed in 2011 and has now been converted into accommodation, the Train Spot Guesthouse.
The nearest train station is in Portalegre, 20 km to the south. There are daily trains from Portalegre to Lisbon (3 hours, 30 mins) changing at Entroncamento or Abrantes - take a shuttle bus from the bus station to the Estação de Portalegre.
Car Travel in Portugal
Marvão is off the N359 from Portalegre.
Evora (1 hour, 40 minutes on the IP2), Elvas (1 hour, 20 minutes) and Estremoz (1 hour, 10 minutes) are all within easy driving distance. Lisbon is 234 km away.
Bus Travel in Portugal
Marvão has bus connections with Portalegre and Castelo de Vide.
From Portalegre there are fairly frequent buses to Sete Rios Bus Station in Lisbon. Journey times vary from 2 hours, 45 minutes to over 4 hours depending on the route and stops on the way.
There are also bus connections from Portalegre to Elvas (90 minutes), Evora (90 minutes), Castelo Branco (110 minutes) and Estremoz (50 minutes).
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
Recommended places to stay in and around Marvão include the four-star Pousada de Marvão. This pousada offers a restaurant and spectacular views from its rooms.
Also recommended are the homely, holiday home Casa O Arco Alojamento Local on Rua do Terreiro, the three-star Dom Dinis Marvão hotel, the El-Rei Dom Manuel, also a three-star hotel with restaurant and the Estalagem de Marvão - Casa de Campo right in the center of the village with a regional store Mercearia de Marvão.
See here for a complete listing of hotels and guest houses in Marvão.
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Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Tramcars, and Yellow Boat River Tour
Eating
Try the local cuisine of Alentejo at the recommended Mil-Homens south of town on Rua Nova. Within the village walls are O Castelo on Rua Dr. Matos Magalhães and Varanda do Alentejo at Praça do Pelourinho 1-A, the latter has a good selection of wine and vegetarian options to go with meaty favorites such as Espetada de porco à Alentejana. The restaurant also has a nearby guesthouse Varanda do Alentejo.
Drinking
Natural Bar at Tv. do Chabouco has great views and great cocktails.
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Internet
Your hotel or guest house should provide free WiFi.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
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