Marble Tour in Vila Viçosa

The tour starts at the center of Vila Viçosa, the Portuguese Marble Capital. It's one of the most stunning villages in the country and marble can be found everywhere. Join our local guide who will introduce you to the entire marble world: from the ground selection strategies to an outstanding variety of final art pieces that can be seen everywhere you look. At our headquarters you’ll be given an introduction to the marble world at the Marble Interpretive Center, where geology, geography and history will be thematics. Here you will also have a clear idea how important the marble industry is for the local community, not just from the economical point of view, but also, and mainly from the social perspective. After, while heading to the industry, learn also why there is such an unforgettable and unique landscape totally shaped by the opening of the marble quarries through the centuries. It’s time to absorb all the beauty of this very unique landscape. Next is time to explore and enjoy the marble industry sites with a visit to a few quarries where you will see the marble extraction taking place and identify the machinery used but also the dangerousness associated with it. Once marble isn't ready to be applied right after the extraction, you will also visit a factory where the marble will get the final shapes before being applied or sent to the market to be sold. Last but not least, as marble can be the perfect material to give shape to an art masterpiece, be sure to visit artisans workshops to watch the handmade shaping of the marble while being stunned by some really overwhelming marble art masterpieces. The different colours ors of Portugueses marble have been appreciated since the Romans were the rulers of the Iberian Peninsula, and since then the Alentejo marble was used and exported to the whole world mainly from the quarries of this small but cozy town called Vila Viçosa.