Evora’s UNESCO Sites and the Enchanted Village of Monsaraz
Discover the city of Évora and the village of Monsaraz in an experience that combines history, culture, and wine. Enjoy seamless transfers with pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation. Start in Évora’s UNESCO-listed historic center, visiting the grand Cathedral with its impressive Gothic architecture, the iconic Roman Temple, and the haunting Chapel of Bones, where walls are lined with human bones. After exploring, enjoy a traditional Alentejo lunch at a local restaurant, celebrating the region’s rich flavors and fresh ingredients. In the afternoon, journey to Monsaraz, one of Portugal’s most beautiful and best-preserved medieval villages. Wander through its cobbled streets, admire the whitewashed houses, and take in panoramic views of Alqueva Lake and the Alentejo plains. The ancient castle and serene atmosphere will transport you to a Portugal where time stands still. The program does not include entrance fees to the monuments.
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Evora’s UNESCO Sites and the Enchanted Village of Monsaraz
Pickup included
What's included in Evora’s UNESCO Sites and the Enchanted Village of Monsaraz
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Evora
Travel from the Lisbon region (visitor accommodation) to Evóra, in a comfortable and spacious vehicle, a 9-seater Mercedes Vito.
Chapel of Bones
The Chapel of Bones was built in the 17th century on the initiative of three Franciscan friars whose aim was to convey the message of the transience and fragility of human life. This message is clearly conveyed through the inscription: “We bones who are here, await yours”. It basically shows the macabre taste of Baroque man for necrophilia. The Chapel of Bones, full of skulls and other bones, is made up of three naves measuring approximately 18.70m long and 11m wide. Natural light strategically enters these naves only through three small gaps on the left side. It is a very dark place! Be brave… The walls of the Chapel of Bones and the eight pillars that make it up are covered with carefully arranged human bones and skulls, joined together with brown cement. The vaults are made of white plastered brick and painted with motifs that symbolise or allude to death.
Cathedral of Evora (Se Catedral de Evora)
The Cathedral of Évora or Sé de Évora, its real name is Basílica Sé de Nossa Senhora da Assunção. It is the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal and has no parallel in the rest of the country. The Sé de Évora “protects” the city from its highest point, the chosen location for other iconic buildings in Évora such as the Roman Temple of Évora (Temple of Diana), the Évora Museum or the Eugénio de Almeida Art and Culture Centre. The Cathedral of Évora, whose construction began in 1186 and was consecrated in 1204, was only completed in 1250. It is a fascinating and imposing monument. Made entirely of granite, it is marked by the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. It was improved during the 15th and 16th centuries, with the upper choir, the pulpit, the baptistery and the arch of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade or Capela do Esporão (1529) all from this period. This chapel in the Évora Cathedral is an unusual example of hybrid Plateresque architecture.
Inclusions
- All Fees and Taxes
- WiFi on board
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunch
- Visitors' personal expenses
- The program doesn ́t include the entrance fees in the monuments.
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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Pickup and Dropoff
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Additional Information
indicate the address of your accommodation, and we will pick you up at that location.
