Évora: History & 10 Must-See Sites

This stunning city has been inhabited since the 2nd century BCE. Since then, Celtic tribes, the Romans, the Moors, and even kings have made it their home. Due to its strategic location, Évora was always a relevant city, in politics and for commercial trade.

The first people to settle in the Évora area date back to the 6th century BCE. At the time, the region was home to Neolithic people, some of whom dedicated their time to building cromeleques (a type of stone circle). The most notable construction is the Cromeleques dos Almendres, a display of 95 granite menhirs, the largest of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula. Due to its dimensions and historical significance, some even call it the Portuguese Stonehenge.

Although there have been many excavations in Évora city center over the years, no evidence was found that these Neolithic tribes inhabited the city. However, a few historians believe the Eburones founded Évora in the 8th century BCE. They were a Gaulish-Germanic tribe of Celtic origin, who, at the time, occupied present-day Andalusia (in Spain) and the Alentejo and Estremadura region (in Portugal).

During their presence in what is now Portugal and Spain, they founded other cities, such as Évora, near Alcobaça, and Elbura, in Andalusia. Historians believe the name Évora derives from the ancient Celtic word “eburos.”

Later, during the Punic Wars, Évora saw a clash of cultures between the Iberian tribes and the Carthaginians. Even though the Carthaginians never occupied the city, they still left their mark. In 1992, archeologists found evidence of Carthaginian Walls near Évora’s Roman Temple.

The Roman Empire in Ebora

It is hard to say when the Romans arrived in Évora. However, it is easy to understand why they decided to settle here.

Located on a high point between three watersheds and at the crossroads of several military roads, Évora acquired considerable importance, especially for military purposes. As a result, Julius Caesar granted Ebora the honorific title of Ebora Liberalitas Julia in the 1st century CE.

During the Roman occupation, Ebora was concentrated around the highest point in the area, also known as the Acropolis. Here, you can find Évora’s Cathedral and the Roman Temple.

The city walls extended along 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) and had four city gates, aligned with the cardinal points, which allowed people in and out of the city, and were directly connected to the Empire’s road system. A few remains of the ancient city walls were later integrated into newer constructions, while others are still visible today. One example is the Roman Arch of D. Isabel, which corresponds to the Northern Gate.

Today, you can explore the golden era of the Roman occupation by visiting the Roman Baths. In the Tourega Roman Villa, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) away from Évora city center, you can witness how the Roman nobles enjoyed living in the countryside.

For a brief period, the Visigoths ruled the city they named Elbora. It was a crucial bishopric, of which we know today the names of at least seven bishops. During this time, gold and silver coins were minted here.

With the Moors’ arrival in 714, the Visigoths were expelled from Elbora, and the city became Yabura. Sometime between the 9th and the 10th century, Yabura belonged to Badajoz, currently a Spanish city, founded by the Moor Ibn Maruane.

In 913, during the Reconquista, King Ordonho II from Galiza and Leon mounted a siege and conquered Yabura. The governor was killed inside a mosque, and Ordonho left the city with more than 4,000 captives. In the following year, Abdullah ibn Maruane Aljiliqui, lord of Badajoz, repopulated the city and rebuilt the ancient Roman wall.

Due to its privileged location, Yabura was brought back to life during Moorish rule. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the city developed significantly and surpassed Beja as the most significant Moorish city in the Alentejo region.

In the 12th century, Yabura possessed two distinctive areas. The new castle (or álcacer) and the mosque matched the area of the ancient Roman Acropolis, occupying 1/8 of the city’s total area. The remaining space was the medina.

Outside the city walls, each community had its neighborhood. North of the city was the Mozarabic suburb of São Mamede, to the west was the Jewish suburb, and to the south was the Muslim suburb. Later, these suburbs became the center of the Christian development of Yabura.

Over the years, the Moorish influence on the urban layout gradually became more pronounced and overlapped with the Roman organization of the city. Although the city has an irregular street layout, the Mouraria (where the Moors stayed the longest) is where a few Islamic features are more evident. Here, you will find narrow streets that suddenly widen or suddenly change orientation, ending in courtyards or dead ends. The narrower streets provided shade to protect the population from extreme heat during the summer.

In the 12th century, the newly-founded Kingdom of Portugal, led by King D. Afonso Henriques, continued expanding south, on a quest to reconquer the Moorish-occupied territories.

In Alentejo, the king enjoyed the help of a fearless knight named Giraldo Sem Pavor (which translates to Giraldo Without Fear). Giraldo conquered several cities and towns in this region, including Évora.

He reached this historic Alentejo town in 1165, captured it from the Moors, and offered it to King D. Afonso Henriques. Due to his influence on the city’s history, Giraldo became a semi-legendary figure to Évora’s inhabitants.

One year later, in 1166, D. Afonso Henriques granted Évora a charter and converted the city into a strategic and political center. In 1176, the king established a new military order that played a significant role in defending the city.

To strengthen the Portuguese presence in Évora, the first landmark built was the Cathedral. Also, in the 13th century, noble palaces were built in the ancient Roman forum and Moorish castle.

Later on, due to the city’s strategic location and political significance, the court settled in Évora during the reigns of King Afonso III, King Dinis, King Afonso IV, King Pedro I, and King Fernando. Although this was only temporary, it helped enrich and develop the city.

As a result, the city grew. As people from all over the countryside arrived, they had to settle outside the city walls, since there was not enough space inside for all of them.

The same happened to the Moorish and Jewish neighborhoods. As people arrived, these neighborhoods also expanded and converted into the parish jurisdictions of S. Mamede and St. Antão. Due to the population growth, several religious orders settled outside the city walls, where they built monasteries and convents. By the 14th century, Évora had grown so much King D. Dinis ordered the construction of a new city wall.

By the 16th century, Évora was a cultural and artistic city favored by kings and noble families. Some of them settled here and built their palaces.

One of the most well-known is Palácio D. Manuel. Here, you can admire a combination of Mudejar, Manueline, and Renaissance styles. During this golden age era, King D. João III built the Igreja da Graça, a Renaissance church, at Praça do Giraldo.

In 1540, the Évora diocese became an archdiocese. Ten years later, Cardinal D. Henrique, the city’s first archbishop, founded the University of Évora. During the 17th and 18th centuries, several buildings were refurbished or built in the Mannerist style.

In the centuries that followed, up until today, there were many changes to the city layout. At Praça do Giraldo, the city jail was demolished, and gave way to the current Bank of Portugal building. São Francisco Convent was also demolished. In its place, you can find today a residential building and the local market.

In 1986, Évora became a World Heritage Site due to its influence on the Portuguese architecture of São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Also, Évora is the perfect example of a Portuguese golden age city after the destruction of Lisbon in the 1755 earthquake.

Historic Sites You Must Visit While in Évora

With so many stunning buildings to admire, it is challenging to decide where to start. That is why we will show you what landmarks you cannot miss.

1. Praça do Giraldo

People say “All roads lead to Rome.” In Évora, locals say “All streets lead to Giraldo.” This square, named after the iconic knight Giraldo Sem Pavor, is the center of Old Town Évora, and the truth is that all streets lead here.

Scholars believe the Moorish founded Praça do Giraldo as a space for open-air prayer. However, the first references to this square date back to the 13th century, when it was called Terreiro de Alconchel. At the time, this was the location of the daily market.

In the 16th century, the square was refurbished. The striking white marble fountain replaced the ancient Roman triumphal arch, and the renovation of Santo Antoninho hermitage transformed the small temple into the Igreja de São Antão you can still visit today.

The square only became Praça do Giraldo in the 19th century, in homage to Geraldo Sem Pavor, for his bravery in conquering the city in 1165.

This is one of the oldest and busiest streets in Old Town Évora. Besides the traditional houses and colorful façades, you can find plenty of local shops selling souvenirs. However, in the past, this street was quite different. The Romans defined this path, while the Moors made it more tortuous to accommodate Yabura’s suq.

Throughout the 13th century, this street had many names based on the workshops and items sold there. Rua dos Mercadores (Merchant’s Street) and Sapataria (Shoes) are only a couple. Yet, the name that persisted the longest is Rua da Selaria. This name derives from the workshops where saddles (selas in Portuguese) were made and sold. Since 1910, it has been called “5th of October Street” as a tribute to when the Portuguese monarchy ended and a new republic began.

3. Évora’s Cathedral

Once you leave Praça do Giraldo behind and wander the narrow Rua 5 de Outubro, you will come across a sudden widening of the street, as the Moorish urban layout intended. You will then be baffled by the imposing Cathedral standing in front of you. It is the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal!

Construction began in 1186 and finished in 1250. Made of granite, one of the Cathedral’s main features is its stylistic transition from Romanesque to Gothic. The cathedral was improved in the 15th and 16th centuries, with the high choir, pulpit, and baptistery dating from this period.

The chancel built in the 18th century enriched the cathedral with marble from Estremoz, a small village famous for its marble quarries.

Besides the fascinating artwork on the façade, you can also admire the intricate details of the gilded wood altar of Nossa Senhora do Anjo. Close by, you can observe the ancient chapels of São Lourenço and Santo Cristo and Chapels of the Relics and Blessed Sacrament, all decorated with gilded carvings.

The 14th-century cloisters are a testimony of Gothic architecture. Here, you can see the statues of the Evangelists and the funeral chapel of Bishop D. Pedro, the Cathedral’s founder.

Once you have seen everything inside, it is time for one more surprise. Follow the narrow spiraling stairs in the southern tower bell and walk the Cathedral’s roof. At the top, you will be mesmerized by the incredible view over Évora and the surrounding countryside.

The Roman Temple in Évora is an iconic landmark and the city’s trademark image. It is also one of the most well-preserved Roman temples in the Iberian Peninsula.

This Corinthian-styled Roman temple, built in the 1st century, sits in the heart of Old Town Évora. What is most impressive is that after more than 2,000 years, the temple still holds to its original design.

Heavy granite blocks as high as 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) make up the rectangular base, topped with its original 14 Corinthian columns with capitals made of marble. The floor, which archaeologists believe was once covered in a mosaic, is completely gone.

For a long time, this monument was called Diana’s Temple, due to a 17th-century legend that perceived the temple as a tribute to Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting. Later on, investigations revealed Évora’s Roman Temple was a tribute to Emperor Augustus. It was refurbished in the 2nd and 3rd centuries and almost destroyed in the 5th century.

In the 14th century, the Roman Temple served as a safe house for the city castle and it was later modified to work as a slaughterhouse. In the 19th century, restoration works tried to bring the temple back to its former glory.

5. Colégio do Espírito Santo

Founded in 1559 by Cardinal D. Henrique, Évora University is the second oldest university in Portugal. Today, it is one of the most reputable universities in the country, where students pursue their academic careers.

Colégio do Espirito Santo is the University’s main building and its oldest. Here, you can admire the cloister’s traditional Portuguese blue and white tiles and a beautiful white marble fountain.

The Sala dos Atos, an 18th-century Baroque-style room, is one of the university’s most stunning spaces. You will find 17th-century tiles, stuccoes, and oil portraits of King Sebastião and Cardinal-King D. Henrique.

On the first floor is the octagon, a union of tiles, sculptures, and paintings under a dome, representing all four natural elements. From there, you can access the library and admire the 18th-century painted ceiling with Our Holy Mother as a central figure.

Porta de Moura is an ancient Roman square and the main north-south road connecting Ebora Liberalitas Julia to Pax Julia (today Beja). Its name remains unchanged in 1286, suggesting this was the location of the first Moorish neighborhood in Évora.

From the 14th century onwards, noble families established their homes here. Along with Praça do Giraldo and Largo Luís de Camões, Porta de Moura is one of the main terraces outside the city walls.

The white marble fountain, inaugurated in 1556, was part of the urban refurbishment ordered by Cardinal D. Henrique as Évora Archbishop. It is a masterpiece that represents the challenge of bringing water to this part of the city. Additionally, the fountain marked the beginning of Mannerist-style fountains in Évora.

7. Igreja de São Francisco

Built between 1480 and 1570, Igreja de São Francisco is one of the best examples of Gothic and Manueline styles combined. Beside the church, there was a Franciscan convent here, the first of the Franciscan Order in Portugal. Following the Rule of St. Francis, the church had three naves and communicating chapels.

In the 15th century, the church was renovated and transformed into a single nave in a Latin cross floor plan. Above, there is a remarkable Gothic Manueline vault, 24 meters high (79 feet).

The Igreja de São Francisco was annexed to the Royal Palace and considered a Royal Church, where kings and queens got married. During this period, the Igreja de São Francisco was luxurious, contrasting with the humble lifestyle practiced by the Franciscan Order.

In 1834, when the religious orders were extinct in Portugal, the convent was abandoned and, over time, became a ruin. It was demolished, and only the church was left standing.

Beside the Igreja de São Francisco is another iconic landmark in Évora. Built in the 17th century by three Franciscan monks, the goal of the Capela dos Ossos was to show people how fragile and ephemeral human life is.

At the entrance, you will find the words “Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos,” which translates to “Us bones who are here, for yours we wait.” A chilling message for all visitors.

However, besides the philosophical intention behind the construction of this chapel, there was also a practical purpose. At the time, Évora had too many cemeteries taking up space the population could repurpose. That is why the skeletons were removed from the ground and used to build and decorate the chapel.

The Capela dos Ossos was built with more than 5,000 skeletons. Inside, it has three naves, 18 meters in length (59 feet) and 11 meters (36 feet) wide, with only a tiny window allowing a minimal amount of natural light.

Around the walls and pillars, you can observe the human bones and skulls. The vaults are made of white plastered brick and painted with motifs alluding to death. Yet, the most chilling detail is the two complete skeletons hanging on one of the walls: one of a child and another of an adult. Not suited for the faint-hearted.

9. The Roman Baths

Built between the 2nd and the 3rd centuries, the Roman Baths were discovered only in 1987 during excavations inside the City Council building.

Covering an area of more than 300 square meters (3229 feet), archaeologists believe this was the largest public building in Évora during the Roman occupation. It has three distinct areas: the Laconium, the Praefurnium, and the Natation.

The Laconium is a circular room with a ribbed and star-shaped vault used for hot and steam baths. At its center was the hypocaust, a heating system surrounding a circular tank built on the floor.

The Praefurnium was a central heating system for both water and air. Here, you can still see the wood furnace used to warm the air temperature.

The Natation was an open-air pool surrounded by porticoes. Archaeologists believe the pool water came directly from the aqueduct that preceded the current Aqueduto das Águas de Prata.

The Roman Baths played a significant role in Roman society. Besides obvious hygiene issues, this was also where people got together to socialize and do business.

When you see Évora’s Aqueduct, you might think it is from the Roman era. Yet, the Aqueduto das Águas de Prata was built in the 16th century.

Due to the city’s growing population and the constant presence of kings and their courts, Évora needed an aqueduct. The lack of sufficient water was especially troubling during the warm and dry summer. King D. João III ordered the construction of a new aqueduct and the result was a complex hydraulic project for its time.

Built in just six years, the aqueduct stretches for 18 kilometers (11 miles) to its supply at Herdade do Divor. The Renaissance-style granite pipes and arcades were probably built on top of the old Roman aqueduct.

Constructors added new fountains directly connected to the aqueduct, within the city walls. The goal was to provide enough water to the population while making the city more splendid. Portas de Moura and Praça do Giraldo are just a few examples.

Over its 500 years of existence, the aqueduct was refurbished several times. In the most recent intervention, the City Council added a walking and cycling trail beside it. The trail provides the perfect opportunity to admire this incredible piece of engineering and enjoy the view of rural Évora.