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Visit to Évora
18 July, 2024 | Reading Time – 5 min
Imagine yourself on a journey through long plains, with huge cork oaks, the sun on the horizon, places that inspire history and the slowing down of life at every step… Yes, that’s one-day visit to Évora.
Évora is considered to be a place of great historical importance and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
Because it’s a small city, it’s not so well known on tourist routes, but it’s a fantastic destination for any trip.
What’s more, you can visit it in just one day!
This place has a huge mix of cultures, since it was conquered by various peoples until it returned to Portuguese rule.
Évora was first settled by the Celts, then conquered by the Romans. It was later conquered by the Moors, who remained there for many years until the Portuguese reconquest.
However, all these conquests have ensured that Évora has a rich history, present in every nook and cranny.
Let’s spend a day in Évora!
Where is Évora?
The city of Évora is located in the Alentejo region. It’s about 134 kilometers from Lisbon, which means you’ll have to drive about an hour and a half.
You can also get to Évora by public transport, bus or train.
The Alentejo is a very characteristic region of Portugal, with cultural and gastronomic traditions that are very different from the rest of the country, and the area is also known for its calm, slow-paced lifestyle.
Walking through the streets of the city of Évora you’ll be able to smell the smells and taste the flavors of the Alentejo, and you’ll also get to know the friendly personality of the inhabitants, who always have a big smile and a good snack to offer!
Why put Évora on your itinerary?
With around 56,000 inhabitants, Évora is a true museum city. No matter where you look, there’s always some monument or interesting place to discover.
The typical architecture of the Alentejo, characterized by whitewashed houses with yellow details, looks like it’s straight out of a postcard.
The city of Évora has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historic center. It is also part of the Network of the Oldest European Cities, with the presence of Roman peoples.
Finally, Évora has to be on your itinerary for its gastronomic wonders. From Évora’s queijadas to Sericaia and Pão de Rala, all of them will make you eat and cry for more!
Have we convinced you to visit this city yet?
Good, because now we’ve prepared for you a one-day itinerary in Évora, with everything you can’t miss!
What to do in one-day visit to Évora
With a huge historical universe, Évora offers visitors many tourist attractions.
So, we’ve prepared the key points for your one-day visit to Évora!
Roman Temple
We started the day by visiting the Roman Temple. Dating back to the 1st century AD, it is undoubtedly Évora’s main attraction.
Also known as the Temple of Diana, it is historical evidence of the Roman presence in Portugal. Considered one of the best preserved temples on the Iberian Peninsula, it is very easy to find, as it is located in the historic center of the city of Évora.
So it’s only natural that when you turn a corner you’ll come across this monument with its rectangular base and four original columns.
Finally, right in front of the Roman Temple is the wonderful Diana Garden, with fantastic views over the city. Definitely a visit not to be missed.
Giraldo Square
After visiting the Temple, we headed to Giraldo Square. This is the city’s main square, which once housed the Town Hall and was the site of an important market and the famous bullfights.
This square is currently on the UNESCO Heritage list and stands out for its iconic fountain.
Take a few minutes out of your day to visit this square and capture memories of every detail.
Walls of Évora
After a few minutes we reach the city walls of Évora. These were built to protect the city from invasion.
They were built by order of King Afonso IV of Portugal in the 14th century. Once you reach this place, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time.
You can also visit the observation towers and the Gates of Aviz in the same area.
Dona Isabel Roman Arch
We continue our journey back in time, this time through the Dona Isabel Roman Arch. This structure corresponds to one of the gates in the old Roman wall of the city of Évora.
It is a structure built between the 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD. Today, the arch no longer has the original portholes, but it is a place that deserves your stop and your attention for the details that have been well preserved to this day.
Chapel of Bones
Finally, we ended our day at the most peculiar monument in the city, dare we say the country.
The Chapel of Bones, and no, the name isn’t a metaphor, it’s literally real – the chapel is decorated with bones! Scary? Not at all, we’ll tell you the story surrounding this place.
The Chapel of Bones was built in the 17th century on the initiative of a friar who wanted to remind his companions that life is transitory.
This idea is mirrored in a phrase you’ll find at the entrance to the chapel: We bones who are here for you wait.
For its history and characteristic tradition, this monument is worth a visit, both for its curiosity and for the different way it makes us understand death and, consequently, life.
Phew…one-day visit to Évora can be really long, but very fun and enriching! From discovering a Roman Temple to exploring a church made of bones. There’s everything in this peaceful place. But above all this city is a memory and feeling.
Enjoy it! Finally, we recommend that you visit one of the many typical restaurants and enjoy the wonderful gastronomy of this city.
And if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll find a typical Alentejo singing group to liven up your dinner!
See you in Évora.
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