If you are interested in exploring the past and the glorious architectures intrigue you, then there is no other city in whole of Portugal that is more beautiful to see than Évora. Although, there are several fascinating cities and towns in the country, rich in historical and cultural heritage, Évora surpasses them all. It would not be exaggerating to say that the city is a jewel in the crown for Portugal. Situated in the scenic Algarve region, famous for its extravagant beaches, Évora is the main city in the Alentejo Province, located south of Rio Tejo or the Tagus River. It is only 130 km from the capital city Lisbon, making it a convenient holiday location for tourist from across the globe.
Since the city still retains most of its historical structures from various eras that are mainly located in the city centre with its well-preserved medieval walls, Évora has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architectural wonders include Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, Renaissance and Mannerist style buildings of which there are 4,000, all based in the rich historical city center. One of the oldest structures dating right back to the 1st century, is the Roman Temple of Évora also known as Diana’s Temple. Built in the popular Roman Corinthian style with its symbolic columns, the temple stands as a famous landmark to the city.
An important Gothic monument in the country is the Cathedral of Évora, built between the 13th and 14th centuries. The main chapel is of Baroque architecture while the pipe organ and choir stalls are representative of the Renaissance period. The main portal of the cathedral with its magnificent statues is worth noting. The S. Brás Chapel, which was built about the year 1480, gives you a perfect insight to Mudéjar–Gothic architecture with its cylindrical-shaped buttresses. The late 15th to early 16th century built Saint Francis Church displays Gothic architecture with several Baroque-style chapels. It also houses the amazing Chapel of Bones, which is a remarkable chapel consisting of human bones.
There are several Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish Palaces that include the Palace of Vasco da Gama, the 17th century Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval, the Moorish Palace of the Counts of Basto and the Ladies Gallery of Manuel’s Palace. The Giraldo Square in the heart of the city consists of the Gothic-style Estaus Palace and the 16th century Fonte Henriquina, a Renaissance fountain. At the north end is the St Anton’s Church with its antependium displaying a priceless bas relief from the 13th century. Other places of interest include the University of Évora, a 16th century Jesuit college also housing a Mannerist church.
The 9km Aqueduct of Silver Water with its gigantic arches was constructed in 1531-1537 to supply water to the city. Quaint shops and cafés along with attractive houses have been built between the arches towards the end of the aqueduct. If you wish to explore places outside the city, the Cromeleque dos Almendres, a megalith situated 15km from Évora and the Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, 10km from the city are great places to visit for sightseeing. There is so much that you can see here at Évora that it can be said that the city evokes excitement and the desire to explore each and every bit of it in detail.
Photo by jabaeyens provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Arturo GarcÃa provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by jabaeyens provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by 4ullas provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Rafael Anglada provided courtesy of Panoramio.com