Portugal City Travel Guide: Evora
City Guide I
Turismo I Arrival
I Accommodation
I Entertainment
I Internet Cafes
Evora
- Population 57,000.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Preserved medieval, walled town.
- Templo Romano Roman temple.
- Relaxing town of churches, palaces and historic monuments.
- Situated south east of Lisbon, in the Alentejo.
- One of Portugal's most beautiful cities.
Evora (then Ebora) dates back to Celtic times before
the Romans arrived from 59 BCE onwards. Evora was also occupied by the
Moors in the 12th century, who have left a lasting impression in some
of the winding alleyways of the old town. Evora's heyday was between the
14th-16th centuries when the city grew rich on the local wine trade and
the patronage of the House of Avis. It was during this time that the impressive
3km-long city walls were built, the Jesuit university was founded and
many of the fine Renaissance palaces and churches built. The city's decline
after 1580 with the invasion of the Spanish has left the ancient architecture
mostly untouched and a treasure house for present-day visitors.
The ornate, fortress-like Sé on Largo do Marques de Marialva is
one of the most impressive cathedrals in Portugal. Begun at the end of
the 12th century, the church has some splendid Gothic additions such as
the chancel and the cloister. The cathedral has an interesting museum
full of jewelled religious artefacts. The Museu de Evora is next
to the cathedral and was once the palace of the archbishop. The museum
exhibits Roman and medieval remains as well as religious art by Flemish
painters from the Renaissance.
The lively, historic hub of Evora is Praça do Giraldo, where the
tourist office is now located along with numerous pavement cafes for relaxing
and watching the world go by.
Evora's spectacular Roman remains include the Templo Romano and
the Termas Romanas (Roman Baths). The Templo Romano is one of the
best-preserved Roman monuments in Europe and is thought to date to the
2nd or 3rd century. Fourteen Corinthian columns in granite support a marble
entablature. The temple is popularly attributed to Diana - the Roman goddess
of hunting though Jupiter or the Emperor Augustus are more likely candidates.
The Termas Romanas (Roman baths) were discovered under the Câmara
Municipal or town hall in the 1980s and can be visited Monday-Friday
9am-5.30pm during office hours. The baths include an arched brick doorway,
leading to a room with a circular steam bath (laconicum) 9m in
diameter.
Among Evora's many fine churches, the standout is the Igreja de Sao
Francisco with its macabre Capela dos Ossos. Built in the Gothic
and Manueline style in the early 16th century, the splendid interior has
nautical motifs recalling Portugal's history
of the Age of the Discoveries, when Portuguese sea captains set sail around
the world. The Capela dos Ossos is a small chapel behind the main altar
containing the bones of an estimated 5,000 people and two dessicated corpses,
one that of a child.
Other beautiful churches include the Igreja de Sao Joao with
fine azulejos. Next door the Convento dos Loios has been converted
in to a top-end pousada with a noted restaurant.
The Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Graça (Church of our Lady of Grace)
on Largo da Graça has a bizarre, baroque facade topped by four,
giant, stone Atlases.
Among Evora's Renaissance palaces, the Palacio dos Duques de Cadaval
(Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval) is still owned by the Cadaval family
and located opposite the Templo Romano. Once used by the governor of the
city and as a royal residence, the palace has Moorish, Gothic and Manueline
architectual touches and is dominated by its large tower. The first-floor
rooms (Salas de Exposiçao do Palacio) house a collection of illustrated
manuscripts, family portraits and religious art open to the public.
Evora's other main sights include the Universidade de Evora (Tel:
266 740 800) which lies outside the city walls and has beautiful, Italian-style
courtyards and azulejos-decorated classrooms. The Jardim Publico
(Public Gardens) contains the Palacio de Manuel and the fine Galeria
das Damas (Ladies' Gallery) constructed in a Gothic-Renaissance style.
The 9km-long Aqueduto de Agua de Prata (Aqueduct of Silver Water),
designed by military architect Francisco de Arruda, who also built the
Belem Tower, brought water in to the town and is noted now for the houses,
shops and cafes built under its arches. The Porta de Moura (Moor's
Gate) in Largo das Portas de Moura is surrounded by historic mansions
with a Renaissance fountain in the shape of a globe surrounded by water,
a nod to the Age of Discovery.
Evora's main festivals
are: the Feira de Sao Joao in late June or July and the food
festival - Rota de Sabores Tradicionais - which runs through the
early months of the year.
Evora Tourist Office
Praça do Giraldo 73 (tel. 266 702 671)
Getting to Evora
There are daily trains to Lisbon (2 hours, 30 mins) changing at Casa
Branca as well as trains to Setubal (2 hours, 15 mins), Faro (4 hours,
30 mins) and Lagos (5 hours). The station (tel. 266 742 336) is south
of the Jardim Publico.
Around an hour and a half by car from Lisbon on the A2 and the A6 highways.
From Elvas or Spain (Badajoz), take the A6/E90.
The bus station (tel. 266 769 410) is just off Avenida de Sao Sebastiao.
Fairly frequent buses a day make the 2 hour plus journey to Lisbon.
There are also bus connections to Elvas (90 minutes), Portalegre (90 minutes),
Beja (90 minutes) and Faro (5 hours).
 Featured
Hotel
Pousada Loios Hotel Evora, Largo do Conde de Vila Flor; 32 luxurious
rooms in a converted Renaissance convent
Book
this hotel
Book Hotel Accommodation in Evora
Convento
Do Espinheiro & Spa
Dom Fernando Hotel
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O Aqueduto
Rua Joao de Deus, 5
Award-winning eatery
Tel. 266 706 373, closed Monday.
Bar de Teatro
Praça Joaquim Antonio de Aguiar
Genteel decor and chill music.
List your restaurant/bar/hotel contact Advertising
Internet Cafe
Câmara Municipal
Praça de Sertorio, 9am-5.30pm.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
Get more weather information for Portugal
Map of Evora
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