About Évora

Évora is the capital of the Alentejo and one of Portugal's best-preserved historic cities. Its walled centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, layered with a Roman temple, a medieval cathedral, Renaissance palaces and whitewashed streets that still set the rhythm of daily life.

Beyond the monuments, Évora is a working cultural hub for the region — home to the University of Évora, a year-round programme of music and contemporary art, and musicians who have settled here from across Portugal and beyond.

What to see

• Templo Romano — the so-called Temple of Diana, one of the best-preserved Roman temples on the Iberian Peninsula.
• Sé Catedral de Évora — the fortress-like cathedral with a climbable roof terrace over the roofs of the old town.
• Capela dos Ossos — the Chapel of Bones at Igreja de São Francisco, lined with human remains as a memento mori.
• Praça do Giraldo — the main square and social centre of the historic core.

Getting there

Évora is about 135 km east of Lisbon, roughly an hour and a half by car on the A6 or by direct CP train from Lisbon's Oriente station. Rede Expressos coaches link Évora with Lisbon, Beja and Faro. The historic centre is compact and best explored on foot.