Évora

Évora is a city and a municipality in the district of Évora, in the Alto Alentejo region of southern Portugal. Due to its well-preserved old town centre, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and many monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman temple, Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network.

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21 places

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Almendres Cromlech

Cromeleque dos Almendres

Megalithic complex, an important megalithic monument in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the largest extant group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe. It's about 10 km from Évora, going by Guadalupe.

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Capela dos Ossos

Chapel of Bones

Totally ornamented with human bones, surreal, perhaps creepy to some but a must-see. Contrary to what is often said, it is not unique.

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Cathedral of Évora

Basílica Sé de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Catedral de Évora, Sé de Évora

Mainly built between 1280 and 1340, it is one of the most important gothic monuments of Portugal. The cathedral has a notable main portal with statues of the Apostles (around 1335) and a beautiful nave and cloister. One transept chapel is Manueline and the outstanding main chapel is Baroque. The pipeorgan and choir stalls are renaissance (around 1566).

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Chapel of São Brás

Ermida de São Brás

Built around 1480, it is a good example of Mudéjar-Gothic with cylindrical buttresses. Only open for prayer.

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Fountain of Portas de Moura

Chafariz das Portas de Moura, Fonte da Porta de Moura

The Renaissance fountain (in the Largo das Portas de Moura) was built in 1556, and an original design that includes globe surrounded by water (referencing the Age of Discovery).

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Holy Spirit College of the Order of Christ

Colégio do Espírito Santo, Colégio da Companhia de Jesus, Universidade de Évora

Today a nucleus of the University of Évora, the former Jesuit college was ordered constructed by Cardinal-King Henrique in 1559, and includes 16th-century Mannerist elements, in addition to academic buildings constructed between the 17th-18th century (including cloister).

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Lóios Convent and Church

Igreja dos Lóios

Built in the 15th century, contains a number of tombs; the church and the cloister are Gothic in style, with a Manueline chapterhouse with a magnificent portal. The church interior is covered in azulejos (ceramic tiles) from the 18th century. In 1965 it has been converted into a top-end pousada.

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Palace of the Counts of Basto

Palácio dos Condes de Basto, Paço de São Miguel da Freiria, Palácio do Pátio de São Miguel

A primitive Moorish castle and later residence of the Afonsine dynastic kings. Its outer architecture displays features of Gothic, Manueline, Mudéjar and Renaissance styles.

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Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval

Paço dos Duques de Cadaval, Palácio dos Duques de Cadaval

a 17th-century palace, built from the remains of an old castle (burnt down in 1384), and later serving as Governors and Royal residences. The palace includes Manueline-Moorish architectural elements (including the Tower of the Five Shields), and whose first-floor houses a collection of manuscripts, family portraits and religious art from the 16th century.

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Prata Aqueduct

Aqueduto da Água de Prata

Designed by military architect Francisco de Arruda (who previously designed the Belém Tower, it was built during the reign of by King João III between 1531 and 1537, the huge arches which stretched 9 km (6 miles) to supply water from the interior to Évora. The aqueduct extended to the Praça do Giraldo, and bisected the city, resulting in the construction of houses, shops and cafés built between the arches (such as in the areas of Rua da Cano, Travessa das Nunes and Rua do Salvador street). A segment of the Roman wall and foundations of period buildings are preserved along Travessa Alcárcova de Cima, a narrow lane in the historic center. This structure was mentioned in the epic poem Os Lusíadas by Luís de Camões.

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Restaurante O Parque dos Leitões

Traditional Alentejan cooking specializing in roast suckling pig.

Tue–Sun 12:00–15:30 & 18:30–22:00, closed MonEUR 12-20

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Restaurante O Templo

Small, friendly restaurant serving authentic Alentejan cuisine.

Mon 19:00–21:30, Tue–Sat 12:00–15:00 & 19:00–21:30, closed SunBudget

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Roman Temple of Évora

Templo romano de Évora

Improperly referred to as the Temple of Diana, was a 1st-century (in some references 2nd or 3rd century) temple, dedicated to the cult of Emperor Augustus, that was incorporated into mediaeval building and, thus, survived destruction. Évora's most famous landmark, it is constructed of 7.68 m (25.20 ft) Corinthian columns and fourteen granite columns, and whose base, capitals and the architraves of marble excavated from Estremoz.

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Royal Palace of Évora

Palácio de Dom Manuel

Remnants of a palace built by King Manuel I in Gothic-Renaissance style. According to some chroniclers, it was in this palace, in 1497, that Vasco da Gama was given the command of the squadron he would lead on his maritime journey to India.

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Saint Francis Church

Igreja de São Francisco

Built between the end of the 15th and the early 16th centuries in mixed Gothic-Manueline styles. The wide nave is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. Contains many chapels decorated in Baroque style, including the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos), totally covered with human bones.

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