Virtual Cycle - Evora - Portugal

6K - 148 Minutes

Évora is the capital of Portugal’s south-central Alentejo region and one of the country’s most atmospheric historic cities. Encircled by medieval walls, its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for quiet squares, narrow lanes, and whitewashed houses trimmed in traditional yellow or blue.

A standout monument is the ancient Roman Temple of Évora—often called the Temple of Diana—an impressive 1st-century structure whose Corinthian columns recall the city’s importance in Roman Lusitania. Close by rises the Cathedral of Évora (Sé de Évora), a massive granite church begun in the 12th century that blends Romanesque foundations with Gothic additions; visitors often climb to the roof and towers for panoramic views across the Alentejo plain.

Another major landmark, the Igreja de São Francisco, combines Gothic and baroque features and is especially famous for the nearby Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), a small chapel lined with human bones and skulls as a stark memento mori. Beyond the main monuments, Évora rewards wandering: the Praça do Giraldo is the central meeting point with cafés and arcades, the city has a long academic tradition through the University of Évora, and the remains of the Aqueduto da Água de Prata (Silver Water Aqueduct) still shape parts of the urban landscape.

The wider region is known for cork oak landscapes, megalithic sites, hearty Alentejo cuisine (like açorda and migas), and respected local wines—making Évora a great base for exploring the countryside as well as the city itself.