Summary of Évora’s Attractions
A picturesque city in Alentejo, Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in Roman and medieval heritage.
The city flourished in the 1400s when Portuguese royalty established their residence there, and Évora’s streets still echo that influx of nobility from five centuries ago.
The Romans were the initial settlers, constructing defensive walls and leaving behind the ruins of a temple.
Évora is also home to the second oldest university in Portugal, an impressive cathedral, numerous churches, and a chapel entirely adorned with human bones.
Lastly, the Neolithic monuments located at Almendres and Zambujeiro indicate that civilization has existed in this region long before the Romans arrived.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Évora:
1. Évora Roman Temple
Situated at the highest elevation of the city where Évora’s ancient forum once existed, this is potentially Portugal’s most significant Roman monument.
This Corinthian temple was constructed in the 1st century and is believed to have been dedicated to Diana.
Upon close inspection, one can observe the contrasting materials; the fluted columns are crafted from granite while the bases and capitals are made from marble sourced from Estremoz, located approximately 40 kilometers to the northeast.
This monument has withstood the test of time as its walls were filled in during the medieval period when it was converted into a small fortress, and subsequently restored in the 1870s.
2. Évora Cathedral
Atop the town stands Évora’s striking pink granite cathedral, easily recognized by its robust towers with conical spires.
This structure was completed in stages starting from the early 13th century, featuring a blend of architectural styles, including a vast Gothic nave, a Manueline choir with intricate vaulting, and Baroque chapels.
The monument is fully accessible for visitors, allowing access to the rooftop terrace for panoramic views of Évora or entry into the Gothic cloisters, adorned with orange trees in their garden.
A small museum exhibits a remarkable collection of liturgical gold and silver artefacts.
3. Museu de Évora
The city’s museum is housed in the former episcopal palace, dating back to the 1500s and containing approximately 20,000 items reflecting Évora’s historical significance.
Exhibits include paintings, sculptures, jewelry, furniture, textiles, goldwork, and ceramics.
Among the must-see items is the polyptych consisting of 19 panels that once graced the altar of the cathedral.
This piece, painted in Bruges during the early 16th century, illustrates events from the life of Mary and the Passion.
Additionally, visitors can appreciate Renaissance paintings by Francisco Henriques, a Flemish artist renowned in Portugal, as well as works by Gregório Lopes, the court painter of King Manuel I.
4. Évora University
Portugal’s second-oldest university can be found in Évora, established in the 1500s by Pope Paul IV and the future King Henry I, then a cardinal.
Initially, for two centuries, it functioned as a Jesuit college until the expulsion of this order from Portugal in the 1750s.
Visitors can explore the elegant arcades and galleries in the main courtyard and view classroom decorations featuring azulejos that vary by academic discipline.
Notable imagery depicts Aristotle instructing Alexander the Great and Plato guiding his followers.
5. Historic Centre
As a World Heritage Site, Évora encompasses the entirety of the old town within its city walls, rising towards the Cathedral and Roman Temple.
If you seek an ideal afternoon of unstructured exploration and capturing picturesque moments, the historic streets of Évora will be delightful for you.
The maze-like streets and elongated squares feature whitewashed houses adorned with wrought iron balconies and charming azulejos.
Most structures date back to the 1400s to 1700s, a period when Évora was favored by the royal court.
During this time, Portugal expanded its influence to the New World, and the city notably impacted Brazilian architectural styles.
6. Noble Houses
When Portuguese monarchs relocated to Évora in the 1400s and 1500s, they endowed the city with numerous distinguished residences that can be admired as you wander.
Among them is the Paço dos Duques de Cadaval, which features towers integrated into the city walls alongside period furniture and artwork within its interior.
The Paço dos Condes de Basto is linked to the Roman fortifications, distinguished by its loggia and Moorish-style arches.
Casa Garcia de Resende exhibits remarkable Manueline stonework above its main window, while Casa Soure is adorned with a lofty, conical spire above its arcaded gallery.
7. Praça do Giraldo
The principal square of Évora was established in the 16th century, serving as the venue for the Spanish Inquisition court that pronounced numerous severe sentences.
Conversely, it features the elegant marble Fonte Henrique, located at the site of an earlier 16th-century fountain constructed to celebrate the Agua Prata aqueduct.
With eight spouts, the fountain channels water to each street that branches off from the square.
The striking facade of the Church of Santo Antão graces the north side, while the east side showcases a continuous arcade housing cafés and specialty shops.
8. Capela dos Ossos
This chapel, adjoining the Church of São Francisco, is not recommended for the faint-hearted.
It serves as an ossuary, with walls, arches, and supporting pillars embellished with bones and skulls arranged in intricate designs.
The remains of several thousand monks were collected from various crypts and cemeteries during the 16th century.
The intention behind this Franciscan chapel, established during a fervent counter-Reformation period, was to remind congregants of the ephemeral nature of existence.
A Latin inscription at the entrance declares, “We bones, that are here, for yours await.”
9. Church of São Francisco
The church housing the Capela dos Ossos also merits a visit, particularly as it was a site of worship for nobility.
This is evidenced by the portal sculpted in the Manueline style during the early 1500s.
Among the ornamentation is an armillary sphere, emblematic of King Manuel I, alongside a pelican symbolizing King John II. The grandeur of the nave is noteworthy, as it boasts the largest church interior of its type in Portugal, and the groin vaults in the ceiling invite admiration.
A unique feature of the choir is that the opposing stalls were crafted in different periods; the right side comprises 16th-century Renaissance pieces, while the left showcases 17th-century Baroque elements.
10. Agua de Prata Aqueduct
One of the most remarkable structures around Évora is the 16th-century aqueduct, which has conveyed water to the city for nearly 20 kilometers.
It is believed that this Renaissance marvel follows the same path as the original Roman aqueduct, incorporating remnants of its stonework.
Within Évora’s residential districts, houses have been constructed interspersed within the aqueduct’s arches.
In 1537, an elaborate celebration took place in Praça do Giraldo, attended by King John III and his court upon the aqueduct’s completion.
For a memorable day, consider a taxi ride to the source and walk back along the route through cork oak forests, offering stunning views of the city.
11. Évora’s Walls
Upon your arrival in Évora, it is advisable to visit the tourist office to obtain a useful map showcasing the key locations for viewing the city’s fortifications.
The current walls, towers, and gates stem from the reign of King Afonso IV in the 1300s, although their origins extend back to the 3rd century, highlighting traces from the Moorish period of the early middle ages.
The enclosed area spans more than 10 hectares, and the wall extends approximately two kilometers, offering various attractions to explore.
A great starting point is the Jardim Público, located just a short distance from the Capela dos Ossos, where a portion of the ramparts forms a scenic barrier within the park.
12. Convento dos Lóios
This convent dates back to the 1400s and was constructed atop the remnants of a medieval castle.
Some monastic buildings, including the refectory and monks’ cells, have been repurposed into a heritage hotel. Visitors may enter the church, which is far more opulent internally than its exterior suggests.
This is because the facade was remodeled after the catastrophic earthquake of 1755.
It features a nave with intricately designed Gothic vaulted ceilings, along with walls adorned with blue and white azulejos.
Additionally, the church houses the tombs of the Counts of Olivença, particularly Rodrigo Afonso de Melo, who served as the chief guard to King Afonso V.
13. Almendres Cromlech
Located a short distance west of Évora, this remarkable Neolithic site dates back 8,000 years and was actively utilized for three millennia.
It represents the largest grouping of menhirs in Iberia, and among the most extensive across the continent.
The site comprises 95 standing stones arranged in two vast circles, and it is remarkable to consider that it had remained undiscovered for millennia until excavated in the 1960s.
The intrigue of this transformative monument is enhanced by the various carvings adorning many of the stones, featuring circles, spirals, crescents, dimples, and inverted shepherd’s crooks.
14. Anta Grande do Zambujeiro
Closer to Évora than Almendres lies another enigmatic megalithic monument dating back over 5,000 years.
Rather than a stone circle, this site features a funerary chamber at the end of a corridor formed by granite stones.
Discovered concurrently with Almendres, the artifacts unearthed here are showcased at the Évora Museum.
The structure is remarkably well-preserved, allowing visitors to glean insights into the technical prowess of Neolithic builders in the region.
You can peer inside the chamber to observe how the enormous stones were meticulously arranged to create a cohesive structure.
15. Regional Dishes
Experience the local culinary traditions in Évora and savor some classic Alentejo dishes, characterized by their rusticity, heartiness, and ability to sustain generations of agrarian laborers.
Açorda is a type of paste made with garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, typically served with a poached egg nestled atop slices of bread.
Migas com carne de porco combines leftover bread soaked in water, garlic, and spices with braised pork.
Additionally, Alentejo is renowned for its desserts, such as sericaia, a delightful egg pudding infused with orange zest and cinnamon, or pão de rala, a traditional bread pudding prepared in convents with lemon zest, spices, ground almonds, and eggs.
