Location: Evora
Top Things to do in Evora
10 Churches & Cathedrals in Evora That You Shouldn't Miss
Time seems to stand still in Evora, a well-preserved medieval town that features protective walls, a 13th-century cathedral, several palaces,and a 1st-century Roman temple. No surprise that the town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even though it’s kind of creepy, don’t miss the Chapel of Bones, where the remains of nuns and monks are arranged in a haunting mosaic.
Restaurants in Evora
1. Capela dos Ossos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,483 reviews
The walls and pillars of the chapel, built in the century XVII, are lined with thousands of human bones and skulls. Ceilings with murals realtivas death. Written on a plaque next to the door, the phrase "We bones that are here for your hope", reminds us how fleeting passage through life.
Reviewed By jonahNJ - Pennington, United States
The one place I was really looking forward to visiting in Portugal was the Chapel of The Bones. Once inside this relatively small chapel, it exceeded my expectations! Note that the chapel is small, so there is a staggering of groups admitted to the chapel. However, the visitors moved along well during my visit. Just outside of the chapel is a poem which compels travelers to ponder their existence. If that was not enough of a prompt, just over the entrance to the chapel is the engraved warning “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos” which loosely translates to “We bones that are here, we are waiting for yours." I then entered the chapel and sure enough all of the walls and pillars are covered in a variety of human bones and skulls. Skulls are also used to trim portions of the ceiling. During my visit, I learned that approximately 5,000 skeletons from church cemeteries in Evora were used to “decorate” the chapel. Visiting this small chapel was one of the most surreal experiences of my life and a must see for visitors to Evora.
2. Igreja de Sao Francisco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 457 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
You are about to visit "Igreja de São Francisco", a beautiful church at the historic center of Évora. It is considered to be the very first Franciscan Order church in Portugal, dating from the 13th century. Later, between 1475 and 1550, it was remodeled, acquiring Gothic and Manueline architectural characteristics, which are still seen. Along the years, the Portuguese Royal Family chose the church complex as its lodging place while visiting Évora, appointing "Igreja de São Francisco" as the "Royal Chapel". Generous donations from the Portuguese Crown helped creating its refined and luxurious interior, with beautiful altars, gilded sculptureworks and Renaissance and Baroque choir stalls. Ten open chapels, five on each side, reflect the richness of its decoration. Restoration efforts, dating from 2015, brought back its former splendor. Visit the church, altars, baptismal font, side chapels and the adjoining "Capela dos Ossos" (literally, "Chapel of Bones" in English), one of the most famous tourist attractions of Évora. Enjoy!
3. Sao Joao Evangelista Church (Evora)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 158 reviews
The Duke of Cadaval Palace Church, called Saint John the Evangelist, is considerd to be one of the most beautifull private churches in Portugal. The Saint John the Evangelist Church was founded in 1485. You enter by a Gothic porch of the fifteenth century along with a tombstone-shaped canopy, with the inscription of its foundation and with the coat of arms of its founder, D. Rodrigo de Melo, 1st Earl of Olivenza. The nave has Gothic ribs and is covered with abeautiful and excepcional collection of tiles, by the painter Antonio de Oliveira, dated 1711 and signed by the author. On the floor of the church can see the tombs of the Dukes of Cadaval and their ancestors. At the center of the church you can admire two of the many curiosities of this church, a crypt with the bones of the monks of the convent of Lóios and an Arabic cistern - the church was built on the ruins of an Arab castle, destroyed during the riots in favor of the Master Avis in 1384. The wall of nave has a tribune of the seventeenth century, beautiful example of architecture of this century, built by the 1st Duke of Cadaval, Dom Nuno Alvares Pereira de Melo.The spectacular main altar is in the Mannerist style, transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque. The images represent St. John the Evangelist. The walls are covered with polychrome tiles of the seventeenth century. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament has a golden altar of the eighteenth century with a renaissance of the sixteenth century tomb, belonging to Don Francisco de Melo, adviser to John III. The construction of this tomb is attributed to the French architect Nicholas Chanterene. On the other wall of this chapel is the tomb of Manuel de Melo, Governor of Tanger.
Reviewed By PAlaw - Philadelphia, United States
This small church is simply stunning with walls covered in 17th century blue and white tiles and a magnificent gold altar. Even more beautiful than most of the famous monasteries. It is off the beaten tourist track but easy to find near the Roman Temple. Don't miss it!
4. Igreja da Misericordia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By IndySig - Indianapolis, United States
You won’t find this in many tourist write ups, but I did read about it in a travel blog. I’m so glad I marked it on our map. This was a great little chapel to visit with beautiful tiles and paintings. Be sure to drop a coin in the maintenance box on your way out.
5. Igreja de Sao Mamede
6. Ermida de Nossa senhora do O (Evora)
7. Igreja de Sao Sebastiao
8. Loios Convent
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 145 reviews
Reviewed By Traveler07Boone_NC
Traveling in Portugal and Spain one has the opportunity to stay in the paradores and pasadas. The governments of Iberia have taken these older properties, upgraded them for the modern traveler and allow stays where others who came before were living/working/worshiping!! This convent is one of these properties and staying there allows the visitor to think back to what it would have been like when it was a convent. While not a 5 star property ot has the benefit of allowing one to experience the past and imagine. If you like to "imagine" what things were like in the past, then this is one of the properties you'd enjoy. If you want every amenity, then better look for one of the "cookie-cutter" properties!!
9. Convento da Cartuxa
10. Igreja e Convento de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 9 reviews
the nossa senhora dos remedios Convent was located outside the walls, next to the alconchel gate, in evora. it was founded in 1606 by the archbishop of evora d. teotonio de braganca, for the friars of the order of the discalced carmelites, and was intended to replace the former convent next to the ermida nossa senhora dos remedios, in raimundo street.
