• Centro Interpretativo dos Almendres - Embarking on the Megalithic Tour in Évora offers a journey back thousands of years to explore the region’s megalithic monuments. The Évora district boasts over 10 megalithic sites, making this remarkable prehistoric testimony in Alentejo one of the most significant in the Iberian Peninsula and Europe.

These ancient monuments date back to the Neolithic period (5500-4500 BC). They are located on the outskirts of Évora, where the river basins of Portugal’s major southern rivers—Tagus, Sado, and Guadiana—converge. The Alentejo plains were ideal for the last communities of hunter-gatherers to sustain their lifestyle.

• Cromeleque dos Almendres - The Almendres Menhir is found near the Almendres Cromlech, as they are closely linked. From the cromlech, the menhir marks the sunrise during the summer solstice (the longest day of the year).

It is shaped like an elongated egg with a crosier (staff) engraved at the top. This form symbolizes the significance of nature in the Neolithic era, particularly concerning animal domestication.

• Evora Inn - Évora

Towns and Villages

Crowned by a majestic cathedral, Évora is spread over a gently sloping hill rising from the vast Alentejo plain. It protects its historic center with a large outer wall and represents a valuable cultural heritage that UNESCO has designated a World Heritage site.

The city, with its narrow Moorish-origin streets contrasting with light-filled squares, holds two millennia of history. Conquered in 59 B.C. by the Romans, they named it “Liberalitas Julia.” During this period, Évora gained great importance, as evidenced by the remains from that time: the ruins of a fine temple from the late second century, various parts of the wall, and the gateway now known as Dona Isabel, along with the remains of thermal baths beneath the current Municipal Council building.

Little remains from the Visigoth period (5th - 8th centuries). The Moorish period began with the city’s conquest by Tárique and lasted until the Christian reconquest in the 12th century. Yeborah, as it was known, had already absorbed a lasting Moorish influence, most evident in the Mouraria neighborhood.

After the Reconquest, urban development extended beyond the city’s walls. The city hosted the court of various Portuguese kings from the first and second dynasties. During this time, it was enriched with palaces and monuments, particularly during the reigns of kings João II and Manuel (15th and 16th centuries).

Stroll through its streets and experience the secret soul that a diverse range of cultural influences has left in this World Heritage city. There are also excellent restaurants and bars, esplanades, arts and handicraft stores, and the youthful energy of its university students, creating a dynamic present with deep roots in the past.

• Templo Romano de Évora (Templo de Diana) - Roman Temple of Évora

Archaeology

The Roman Temple, over 2000 years old, is Évora’s iconic monument and one of the country’s most important historic ruins.

The Roman temple in Évora was constructed in the first century during Caesar Augustus’s reign. It has a rich history, serving various purposes over the centuries. It was nearly destroyed when the Barbarians occupied the Iberian Peninsula in the fifth century and later served as a bank vault and butcher’s shop for Évora castle in the 14th century.

Its original Roman design was restored in the 19th century, during one of Portugal’s first archaeological interventions. It stands as a testament to the Roman forum of Évora, dedicated to the Imperial cult, clarifying a 17th-century tradition that claimed the temple was dedicated to the goddess Diana. For this reason, it was long identified as the Temple of Diana. Recent excavations have revealed it was surrounded by a portico and water mirror.

• Cathedral of Évora (Sé Catedral de Évora) - From Évora’s Cathedral to Largo das Portas de Moura

Other

Turning from the apse of the Sé, head down Freiria de Cima street to admire the porches and twinned windows that adorn some of the houses.

Continuing along Cenáculo and Freiria de Baixo streets, you will find S. Manços street, where the House of Garcia de Resende (a royal secretary, poet, and writer) is located. The house features three beautiful twinned Manueline windows decorated with small columns and Moorish-style points.

Further along, in Portas de Moura square, in addition to the Mudéjar-Manueline veranda of the Cordovil house, the beautiful Renaissance fountain captures attention.

The interesting angle of the Sé is particularly striking from this spot.

Nearby is the former University of the Holy Spirit, founded in 1559 by Cardinal Henrique for the College of the Company of Jesus.

• Capela dos Ossos - Bones Chapel in Évora – History
  The chapel was constructed in the 17th century by three Franciscan friars. Their aim was to convey the message of the transience and fragility of human life. This message is clearly communicated to visitors of the Bones Chapel right at its entrance with the sign “We bones that are here, for yours we wait.” It reflects the Baroque era’s fascination with the macabre.
• Igreja de São Francisco - Church of São Francisco / Capela dos Ossos - Évora

Monuments

Church of São Francisco - Évora

A notable feature of the façade is a church porch with arches of various styles—a typical example of the “marriage” between Gothic and Moorish styles found in many monuments in this region of Portugal. Above the Manueline doorway, the emblems of the kings who commissioned its construction—D. João II and D. Manuel I—are visible, represented by the pelican and armillary sphere, respectively.

A unique aspect of the Church is its single nave, ending in a ribbed vaulted ceiling, which has the largest span of all Portuguese Gothic architecture. On the sides, there are twelve chapels, all adorned with Baroque carved woodwork. The main chapel, dating from the early 16th century, retains important Renaissance features such as the pulpits. The harmonious decoration of stone, carved woodwork, and azulejo tiles in the chapel of the third order, on one of the transept’s arms, is noteworthy.

Inside, visitors can explore the intriguing Bones Chapel, built during the Filippine period (17th century). The pillars and walls are entirely covered with bones. It’s also worth noting the late Renaissance doorway, where the capitals of the columns appear differently depending on whether viewed from the exterior or interior.

• Private transportation
• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• On-board WiFi
• Bottled water
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• TICKETS NOT INCLUDED

Evora Megalithic Tour

Discover the mysteries of the megalithic era with a guided tour of prehistoric sites in Alentejo, including the Almendres Cromlech and Almendres Menhir.

Évora has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

Begin planning your journey to this stunning city in the heart of Alentejo. The best way to explore Évora is on foot, wandering through its narrow streets and whitewashed houses to uncover landmarks such as the Roman Temple of Diana, constructed in the 2nd century, the renowned Chapel of Bones, and the Church of São Francisco.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.