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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
106 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
60
Average
25
Poor
2
Terrible
2
KathleenR_28
Port Dover, Canada6,731 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
On our way back to Castelo Branco from Evora, my friend and I took a detour and stopped by Arraiolos. Although it was the first day of the town festival, it was still quiet, with only a handful of visitors walking about. Lucky us that we were able to see the carpet-making process, from the shearing of the sheep, to cleaning the wool, dyeing, etc.
This is a quiet and charming town, judging from our visit. I think it’s worth a drop-in.
This is a quiet and charming town, judging from our visit. I think it’s worth a drop-in.
Written June 27, 2021
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.
minnesotans4
Saint Paul, MN3,104 contributions
Mar 2012
Arraiolos is a small town about 16 miles north of Evora. There are many shops selling the world famous hand-embroidered wool rugs. Most of the owners could speak English. It was so interesting to go from shop to shop looking at the different rug designs and colors. We were told that the origin can be attributed to the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. One shop gave me a brochure that explained the rugs. "The Arraiolos rugs are worked with strands of thick wool of many colors in oblique stitches on a foundation of linen, tow, cotton or sacking. The ornamental quality of their designs which varies according to the different periods in which they were created survived up to now without losing their originality and beauty." The rugs ranged in size from very small to room size. These beautiful rugs could be hung on a wall or on the floor. We chose two from different shops. Each rug came with guarantee of authenticity. We carried our rugs back in our suitcase but they will ship as well. I would recommend these shops: Sempre Noiva at 33 Rua Alexandre Herculano and Casa Quintao. If you had any questions, I do have the e-mail address for the first shop. semprenoiva@gmail.com. These rugs are high quality and truly are heirlooms. I know they sell these in Lisbon and in New York City as well.
Written April 1, 2012
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.
r00m_with_a_view
United Kingdom1,210 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
We stayed at the nearby Pousada and had a wonderful day discovering Arraiolos.
Lots of interesting things to see or just to sit in the central square and have a coffee .There's the castle (14th c) with amazing views and the carpet museum with its walk on glass floor to see the ruins below . Don't forget to view the wall paintings and the rugs on display are quiet unique.
In the square is an unusual Pillory dating from the 16th century. Also definitely worth a visit is the Misericordia church to see the wall tiles dating from 1753.
If you can arrange a visit to the Town Hall's Assembly Room then you can see magnificent paintings depicting the regional landscape and life in times gone by. It shows how much has changed in such a short time.
Arraiolos has lots of little streets with churches and rug shops .Try one of their traditional chicken pies. Excellent !!!!
Lots of interesting things to see or just to sit in the central square and have a coffee .There's the castle (14th c) with amazing views and the carpet museum with its walk on glass floor to see the ruins below . Don't forget to view the wall paintings and the rugs on display are quiet unique.
In the square is an unusual Pillory dating from the 16th century. Also definitely worth a visit is the Misericordia church to see the wall tiles dating from 1753.
If you can arrange a visit to the Town Hall's Assembly Room then you can see magnificent paintings depicting the regional landscape and life in times gone by. It shows how much has changed in such a short time.
Arraiolos has lots of little streets with churches and rug shops .Try one of their traditional chicken pies. Excellent !!!!
Written July 7, 2014
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.
Touché G
Skive, Denmark1,141 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
World famous for its special technique of making woollen rugs. You'll find more than a dozen small shops selling their own creations. In some of them you can see the artisans at work. The traditional patterns are to be found in most of the shops and are rather overwrought. We thought the prices were slightly over the top compared to other handmade rugs that we saw on our trip in the Alentejo.
The town is very pretty and in itself worth a visit.
The town is very pretty and in itself worth a visit.
Written January 18, 2013
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.
Keith R
Hong Kong, China523 contributions
Oct 2019
Teh centre of this lovely little village is worth exploring, cafes and bars in the squares, and interesting churches and museums scattered around.
Written October 6, 2019
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.
hans-jaguar
Santa Comba Dao, Portugal24,225 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
What you have to know is that “Arraiolos” is known for its ancient tapestry who was already in the 4th century B.C important in the region, and still is.
On top of this location you have the Castle and on his inside you have the huge Salvador Church, an interesting 16th century construction, surrounded by the town walls.
In the city centre you have the “Misericordia Church” and the “Chafariz dos Almocreves” which is a Rural Fountain and important monuments of this village.
Although a nice place to have a walk around after you have visited the Castle.
On top of this location you have the Castle and on his inside you have the huge Salvador Church, an interesting 16th century construction, surrounded by the town walls.
In the city centre you have the “Misericordia Church” and the “Chafariz dos Almocreves” which is a Rural Fountain and important monuments of this village.
Although a nice place to have a walk around after you have visited the Castle.
Written November 28, 2015
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.
PeterReigate
Otley, UK408 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
We arrived at mid-day and spent most of our time in a restaurant. However we did enjoy walking in the central streets and up to the castle
Written June 28, 2013
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.
Oenedgar
Simpsonville, SC168 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
Arraiolos is charming and colorful and the people very, very welcoming. It's streets are narrow and welcoming. Very quiet in the mid-afternoon. Lots of rug stores with women working at creating some beautiful pieces. We were in one store and after looking and speaking with the saleslady, we felt as though her "hand crafted" rugs were perhaps made somewhere else and perhaps enmasse. If you buy a piece make sure you see examples of completed work by the people that are there is the shop.
Written January 19, 2013
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.
Joontns
Lisbon764 contributions
Dec 2010 • Friends
Arraiolos town center is a nice area to stroll around. Composed by many small white houses, churches (like the rococo baroque Matriz and the XVI century Misericórdia) and clean and well managed streets. The pelourinho or pillory from the XVI century still stands in town.
Here and there, there are some stores of the famous Arraiolos tapestry, the local and world renowned tapestries that take long time to do and last for generations.
As any Portuguese town, Arraiolos has a local sweet, called Toucinho Pastries (Pastéis de Toucinho). The dough is made with wheat flour, lard, tepid water and salt, while the filling is composed by cream with sugar, bacon, almonds and egg yolks.
The town has 3.450 inhabitants.
Here and there, there are some stores of the famous Arraiolos tapestry, the local and world renowned tapestries that take long time to do and last for generations.
As any Portuguese town, Arraiolos has a local sweet, called Toucinho Pastries (Pastéis de Toucinho). The dough is made with wheat flour, lard, tepid water and salt, while the filling is composed by cream with sugar, bacon, almonds and egg yolks.
The town has 3.450 inhabitants.
Written November 26, 2011
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.
FWontheroad
Vancouver, Canada245 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Arraiolos was a surprise. A great little town full of traditional portuguese architecture and historical sights. Known for its tapestry work through the centuries the town has many shops and studios selling modern versions. Historic dye pots and fine antique examples can be found in the museum off the centre square. The pedestrian streets are covered with sails to protect you from the sun or rain and the town presents a pleasant layout to wander with many restaurants to refuel.
Written July 16, 2018
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.
Are some of the rug shops in Arraiolos open for business on Sunday?
Written February 26, 2016
Hello,
I do not like it to put you on a false leg with my answer on your question, so as we live in Portugal I would say that some of them could be “eventually” open on Sunday, but I am not sure, this because I also passed there on a visit. I do think when it is really your intention to do business, you should be better off to plan a visit on a week day. We do hope that we could help you out with our answer.
Sincere greetings from Portugal.
Hans & Lucy.
Written February 27, 2016
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