The place to Barca d'Alva was built on a Roman "locus". It may have been a port of access to the Roman city of Aquae Flaviae. The name Barca d’Alva comes from an old boat that was the connection between the two banks of the River Douro, and Barca d'Alva was on the ‘transmontana’ side.
Barca d'Alva is in a deep valley on the border with Spain which is separated by the river Águeda.
It is 21Km from Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo and at the lower area of the county, with 142 meters of altitude.