Discover Alcaria Ruiva

Alcaria Ruiva combines historic religious buildings with attractions for nature lovers and hikers. The first parish church was founded in the 13th century, the PR6.1 MTL – Ramal de Alcaria Ruiva starts in the village and heads north, and the Serra de Alcaria Ruiva, at 370 metres, is the highest point in the municipality of Mértola. If you are looking for a hotel in Alcaria Ruiva, you can plan your trip around cultural history, hiking or the landscape.

Churches and religious history

The first parish church in Alcaria Ruiva, Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, was founded in the 13th century. The second religious building, the chapel and parish church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, was founded in the 17th century. This means that different church designations and founding dates separated by several centuries stand side by side. For a cultural and historical stay, you can consider the two names as separate historical points of reference; the dates help you place them in chronological order.

Another religious landmark is the Capela de Nossa Senhora de Aracelis. Its grounds include a walled churchyard. A large pilgrimage took place at the chapel in late August 2020. The site is therefore associated both with an architectural feature and with a specific historical religious event. If a pilgrimage is important to your travel plans, check current dates in advance.

Trails and landscape

The PR6.1 MTL – Ramal de Alcaria Ruiva trail starts in Alcaria Ruiva and heads north. Its starting point and direction give you a basic orientation for this trail; also check local conditions before setting out on a hike. The branch trail should be distinguished from the main route it connects to, PR6 MTL – Entre a Estepe e o Montado. It passes through holm oak montado and cereal-cultivated pseudo-steppe. The trail descriptions thus provide different kinds of guidance: the branch trail is defined by its starting point and direction, while the main route is described by the landscape types it passes through.

The Serra de Alcaria Ruiva offers another landscape highlight: at 370 metres, it is the highest point in the municipality of Mértola. It was formerly known as Serra Danes, and its vegetation is dense and typically Mediterranean. Its elevation, former name and vegetation describe different aspects of this landscape feature: its place within the municipality, its historical name and its natural character. If you would also like to plan your trip around the landscape, the Serra is a clearly identified highlight.

Regional cuisine

Regional cuisine can also be part of your travel plans. The Casa D'Avó restaurant is in the centre of the village of Alcaria Ruiva and serves regional cuisine. Before your trip, check whether it is open if you would like to eat there. This lets you plan a potential restaurant visit as a separate activity, regardless of whether your main interest is cultural history or trails.

Discover more destinations: Cerca, Montalvo, Mértola, São João Dos Caldeireiros.

Go to the main travel overview: Mértola.