_Portugal tour packet usually combined with the Spanish tour, because the location of the two adjoining. Even if pulled back into the past, they are sworn enemies. Nation equally explorer, who tried to find riches at the end of another world. Until last year the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1493 to make them share power by pulling an imaginary line from pole to pole. Spain took the western part of the border and Portugal to the east.
Before Portugal became one of the largest imperialist rulers of the world by mastering an area 23 times larger than their own country, he was none other than a small country helpless. Waddled up against the occupation of other nations.
Noted the Romans, Spanish, until the Moors who occupied Portugal for five centuries of history carved these republics. Heritage trail of the Romans and the Moors were still visible in some corner of Portugal.
Among them the Evora, the old city was included in UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is located about 130 km from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, it kept a lot of historical monuments. One of them Roman Temple of Evora or often called Temple of Diana, who comes from the 1st century BC and is now the icon of Evora.
While the legacy of the Moors, among others, can be seen from the Palace of the Counts of Basto, which is a Moorish castle and residence of the family dynasty Afonsine. Mentioned architectural style of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance.
Evora is ranked number two in the Portuguese most livable cities survey of living conditions published yearly by Expresso. It was ranked first in a study concerning competitiveness of the 18 Portuguese district capitals, according to a 2006 study made by Minho University economic researchers.
Due to its well-preserved old town centre, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and a large number of monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman Temple, Evora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Many monuments erected by major artists of each period now testify to Évora’s lively cultural and rich artistic and historical heritage. The variety of architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque), the palaces and the picturesque labyrinth of squares and narrow streets of the city centre are all part of the rich heritage of this museum-city.
Evora Sightseeings
* Água de Prata Aqueduct (Aqueduct of Silver Water): With its huge arches stretching for 9 km, this aqueduct was built in 1531–1537 by King João III to supply the city with water.
* Cathedral of Evora: Mainly built between 1280 and 1340, it is one of the most important gothic monuments of Portugal. The cathedral has a notable main portal with statues of the Apostles (around 1335) and a beautiful nave and cloister.
* S. Brás Chapel: Built around 1480, it is a good example of Mudéjar-Gothic with cylindrical buttresses. Only open for prayer.
* Saint Francis Church (Igreja de São Francisco): Built between the end of the 15th and the early 16th centuries in mixed Gothic-Manueline styles. The wide nave is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. Contains many chapels decorated in Baroque style, including the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos), totally covered with human bones.
* Palace of Vasco da Gama: Vasco da Gama resided here in 1519 and 1524, the dates corresponding to his nomination as the Count of Vidigueira and Viceroy of India.
* Palace of the Counts of Basto: Primitive Moorish castle and residence of the kings of the Afonsine dynasty. Its outer architecture displays features of Gothic, Manueline, Mudéjar and Renaissance styles.
* Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval: The palace with its 17th-century façade is constituted in part by an old castle burnt in 1384; it is dominated by the architectural elements of the Manueline-Moorish period and by a tower called Tower of the Five Shields. This palace of the governor of Evora served from time to time as royal residence. The first-floor rooms houses a collection manuscripts, family portraits and religious art from the 16th century.
* Lóios Convent and Church: Built in the 15th century, contains a number of tombs; the church and the cloister are Gothic in style, with a Manueline chapterhouse with a magnificent portal. The church interior is covered in azulejos (ceramic tiles) from the 18th century. In 1965 it has been converted into a top-end pousada
* Ladies’ Gallery of Manuel I’s Palace (Galeria das Damas do Palácio de D. Manuel): Remnants of a palace built by King Manuel I in Gothic-Renaissance style.
* Roman Temple of Evora: Improperly called Diana Temple, this 1st century-temple was probably dedicated to the Cult of Emperor Augustus (but some texts date it to the second or even the third century). It is one of a kind in Portugal. The temple was incorporated into a mediaeval building and thus survived destruction. It has become the city’s most famous landmark. The temple in Corinthian style has six columns in front (Roman hexastyle) with in total fourteen granite columns remaining. The base of the temple, the capitals and the architraves are made of marble from nearby Estremoz. The intact columns are 7.68 m (25.20 ft) high. It can be compared to the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, France.
* University of Evora: Formerly a Jesuit college built by Cardinal-King Henrique in 1559, it includes the 16th century Mannerist church and the academic buildings surrounding the large 17th-18th century cloister.
* Renaissance fountain at Largo das Portas de Moura: Built in 1556 in Renaissance style. This original fountain has the shape of a globe surrounded by water, a reference to the Age of Discovery.
* Giraldo Square (Praça do Geraldo): Centre of the city; in this square King Duarte built the Estaus Palace which even today maintains its Gothic look.
* Cromeleque dos Almendres, 15 km from Evora: Megalithic monument, a cromlech with archaeoastronomical interest.
* Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, about 10 km from Evora near Valverde: It is the larger dolmen in the region.
Total, there are approximately 4000 historic buildings can be found in Evora, from the palace, square, street corners in downtown narrow featuring rich history and culture of various periods. No wonder even got predicate Evora city museum.