Location: Evora
Top Things to do in Evora
Top 10 Free Things to do in Evora, Alentejo
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. Cromeleque da Portela de Mogos
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. 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.
4. Centro Interpretativo dos Almendres
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,259 reviews
Reviewed By remcoh127 - Santa Barbara de Nexe, Portugal
The 8,000 year old, Cromeleque dos Almendres near Guadelupe (Évora, Alentejo) dates from the new Stone Age and Bronze Age. The double stone circle is made up of 95 egg-shaped megaliths and is located on top of a hill. There is a rolling landscape with cork oaks all around; the view is beautiful. The standing stones of the Almendres Cromlech are regarded as the finest example of Neolithic structures that remain on the Iberian Peninsula. Thankfully, the local government has not cordoned or fenced off the stones and visitors are free to wander around the entire site and even touch the stones. This relaxed approach extends to the management of the site, there is no entrance fee and the stones are open to visit at any time. You need a car to reach the stones from the visitors centre over a unpaved track of 4 km, walking is not advised because you share the track with cars. The atmosphere is peaceful and you experience a magical sentiment when think this was build 6.000 B.C.
5. Muralhas de Evora
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 492 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
While visiting Évora, in the Portuguese region of Alentejo, it will be impossible to miss the ancient Walls! Nearly untouched after so many centuries ... The "Walls of Évora" are remnants of the Roman years in "Lusitânia", dating partially from the 1st century ... They were later rebuilt by Visigoths and Moors, until Portuguese King Dom Afonso IV, in the 15th century, ordered their enlargement, with the construction of new ramparts, towers and gates, setting the limits of the medieval town. As you will notice, with so many additions, it has characteristics from many different military architectural styles. If time is not a constraint, you can even try to walk the whole perimeter of the awesome "Walls of Évora"! Enjoy!
6. Igreja de Sao Mamede
7. Centro Historico de Evora
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,508 reviews
The city of Evora is world heritage not only for its monuments. Their culture, their streets, whitewashed houses, the latticed balconies, their uneven sidewalks, its Gothic doors and windows, narrow and irregular streets of the Jewish quarter, its whiteness contrasting with the blue sky, its people , traditions and cuisine, among others make Evora is one of the best preserved world heritage cities. Stroll through its elegant medieval arcades and the unpretentious streets breathe history in Romans, Arabs and medieval manor and detail framed by the picturesque. Get regional crafts, indulge in the cuisine of the area and be sure to enjoy their famous wines. With a good hotel infrastructure, with many good restaurants, with warm people and beautiful monuments, Evora awaits your visit.
Reviewed By Paul7407 - Potsdam, Germany
We loved walking from our hotel, on the outskirts of Évora, through to the centre. The houses are beautiful and streets still have that feeling of old! It has a peaceful atmosphere with a colourful feel to it. Add the historical discoveries on nearly every corner and it's just a fantastic tranquil place to visit. We loved it and wished we could stay a few days longer. ENJOY :)
8. Templo Romano de Evora (Templo de Diana)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3,804 reviews
The temple, built in the first half of the first century AD. C., which as we can see today, it is completely surrounded by a portico more evident than was the forum of the Roman city, large square that stretched at its greatest extent, in the north-south direction and trace, in following archaeological work done in that area, we know that occupied all the space goes, roughly, the southern boundary of the garden to the Cathedral and the Palace of the Inquisition until Cadaval Palace. Rectangular in plan, with 25x15m, hexastilo (with six columns on its front) and periptero (with free speaker to involve the entire perimeter of the cell), was built in the Corinthian style with use of local materials, marble column bases and in capitals and granite structure of the podium, the pediments and entablature. A wrap it north, east and west in a tank signinum opus (lime mortar, sand and crushed pottery) created a water mirror certainly connected with the cult.
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In the 1st century AD, the town of "Ebora Liberalitas Iulia" was one of the most remarkable ones of the Roman Lusitania. At its temple, Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar was worshipped as a god (and not goddess Diana, as oftenly mistakenly believed). Outstanding parts of its marble and granite structure survived to our days and can be easily visited at Évora's historic center, surrounded by impressive buildings, as the beautiful "Sé Catedral de Évora". Unmissable! Enjoy!
9. Praca do Giraldo
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,684 reviews
This picturesque central square is adorned with medieval arches and is an ideal place to relax and do some people-watching.
Reviewed By 272henryb - Cape Elizabeth, United States
Évora is surprising - not what we expected as we though it would be an quick stop and leave town. It’s charming and is an easy town to stay for a while in, the Praca do Giraldo is a lovely center of town with many side streets for shopping and eating.
