Holiday in Évora

What makes Évora special as a destination?

Évora, the heart of Alentejo, is a living museum with over 2,000 years of history and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. The city, surrounded by medieval walls, preserves treasures from Roman, Moorish, and Christian eras in a compact space. The Templo Romano, often incorrectly referred to as the Temple of Diana, has stood in the heart of the city since the 2nd century and is one of the best-preserved Roman temples on the Iberian Peninsula. The Igreja de São Francisco houses the famous Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), whose walls and columns are made from the bones of around 5,000 monks — above the entrance, an inscription warns: "We bones, who lie here, await yours." The Gothic cathedral Sé from the 12th century offers a panoramic view of the Alentejo plain to the horizon from its roof. Évora is also a vibrant university town: the Universidade de Évora, founded in 1559, brings youth to the historic streets. On the Praça do Giraldo, the central square, people gather in the street cafés under the arcades. The Alentejo cuisine reaches its peak here: Migas with pork, Ensopado de Borrego, and the famous Alentejo wines. The surroundings attract visitors with megalithic sites such as the Cromlech dos Almendres — older than Stonehenge — and the marble quarries of Estremoz. Évora is the perfect starting point for a journey of discovery through Alentejo.