Evora is the district capital and largest city at the southern part of Portugal or the Alentejo region. It is known as Portugal’s ‘museum city’ and has been declared by UNESCO in 1986 as a World Heritage Site. Medieval roman walls still partially surround this antiquated town, and is filled with narrow streets, arcades, monuments, old aqueducts and buildings designed during the Roman and Moorish period.The town square of Evora near the cathedral is a good place to begin any tour.
The cathedral is one of Portugal’s most cherished Gothic monuments and was built around the 12th c. The figures of the twelve disciples on the doorway of the cathedral are masterworks of Portugese early gothic sculpture. Several Christian artworks made of gold and silver are also housed in the south tower of the cathedral. It also includes the famous ivory-hinged tablet painting of the Virgin and Child.
Constructed during the 16th century, the “Aqueduct of Silver Water†has massive arches that extend to nine kilometers. Today, homes, cafes and shops are constructed between the arches at the end of the aqueduct where visitors can relax and enjoy the scenic view.
At the center of the square is the ‘Renaissance fountain’ built in 1556. It is well photographed by tourists for its beauty and symbolism. The elevated sphere at the center of the fountain represents the birth of the new age. While at the Southern part of the square is ‘Casa Cordovil’, an exquisite palace built in the 16th century of Moorish and Manueline architecture. And at the palace’s opposite side are steps that lead down to the courtyard of a church built in the 17th century by the former Convent of Carmo.
Tourists find the ‘chapel of bones’ made by the Monks during the 16th century intriguing. The morbid fascination of tourists is increased as they view some of the human bones that had fallen from the interior walls. Reminder of death, according to the monks who built the chapel, helps people live their lives better.
People who enjoy touring palaces can also visit the ‘Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval’ built in the 14th c. with its tower of five shields, and the ‘Palace of the Counts of Basto’ where kings of the dynasty of Alfonsine lived. On the other hand, people who admire historic sites can also visit the Roman Temple or ‘Temple of Diana’ which dates back to the 2nd and 3rd century A.D. and is one of the most popular and well preserved Roman edifice in Portugal. Praca do Giraldo, is also worth including in any historical tour because it is the site where the victims of the Inquisition were executed. Finally, visitors can examine the souvenir shops as they stroll along Rua 5 de Outburo, which will eventually lead them back to Evora’s town square.
