Insight Guides Pocket Portugal by Insight Guides

Author:Insight Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, Portugal
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2018-09-05T16:00:00+00:00

Évora’s Templo Romano

Lydia Evans/Apa Publications

Évora’s Templo Romano (Roman Temple), sometimes called the Temple of Diana, dates to the 2nd or 3rd century AD. Its 14 Corinthian columns rise skyward from a platform that was in use as recently as the 19th century as a slaughterhouse.

Next to the Temple is the elegant Pousada dos Lóios (for more information, click here), a beautiful state-owned inn, formerly a convent. Abutting the pousada is the privately owned church of São João Evangelista (also known as Lóios, the old church of the same convent; Tue–Sun 10am–6pm). Inside are some of the country’s finest examples of azulejos, created in the 18th century by the celebrated artist António Oliveira Bernardes, depicting the life of São Lourenço (St Lawrence). The church holds several other surprises. Hidden beneath trapdoors on either side of the aisle are a Moorish cistern 15m (50ft) deep and a collection of monks’ bones, plus confession holes opening on to the pousada’s cloister.

The fortress-like Romanesque style of the Sé (cathedral; Tue–Sun 9am–5pm; www.evoracathedral.com), begun in 1186, betrays its crusading origins. The impressive eastern wing was rebuilt by Johann Ludwig, the architect of the Convent at Mafra (for more information, click here), using the multicoloured marble of the Alentejo. The cathedral has an especially beautiful Gothic cloister and Sacred Art Museum, with an extraordinary impressive collection of relics and clerical vestments. The exquisitely carved upper choir has a Renaissance organ dating to 1562 – one of the oldest in Europe.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.