Day 4 - Evora and the Alentejo

Today we checked out of our hotel in Estoril and drove to Evora which is deep in the heart of Portugal. Portugal is divided into regions and we are now in the Alentejo region which is hot and arid. Evora dates back to over 2,000 years ago, because remember Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe. Evora was once a Roman town and still has sites where you see the evidence.

Roman Temple dating back 2,000 years. Part of the forum and main square.

Everything I read said how dry it always is there, but not today. It started raining and while not a downpour was pretty steady. The locals said it was a blessing. They grow grapes and olives so really needed some rain. We next went to see the Evora Cathedral which dates back to the 12th century. It is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles and is most known for a 15th century painted statue of the Blessed Mother pregnant. Apparently that didn’t go over well so the statue was removed and hidden for 200 years. Now it is beloved and a symbol for mothers and their love of their children.

You can see her round belly and her hand resting on it.

The Cathedral also has a very old (16th century I believe) organ that is still played. The horizontal pipes sound like trumpets.

We tried to see another church called Saint Francis but there was a wedding and nervous groom getting ready to start, so instead went next door to see the Chapel of Bones. Yep bones! Sounds creepy and it actually kind of was. It was the work of three Monks that got the bones and skulls from various churchyards in the area. They were concerned about society’s values at the time and thought this was a good way to remind people that we are all the same regardless of wealth. In the end we all die and money doesn’t make a difference in the bigger picture. Still true today.

The sign in Portuguese at the entrance says “We are here and waiting for you.”

It stopped raining and cleared up nicely so I was able to go back and take a picture of the Evora Cathedral. You can really see how old it is.

Time for lunch! We wandered down some little side streets and settled on a place that only had 4 tables. It was great but I forgot to take pictures of our food🤦🏼‍♀️ Melted sheep cheese with tiny toasted bread and a roasted chicken salad over cold pasta and greens. Delicious! Bottom right was the sink to wash your hands. So unique!

We had some additional time so just walked around the main square and browsed in some cute shops. It was very quiet in town - maybe the rain kept people away? Only about 10,000 people live within the walls and there is a university there also.

Our egg tart quota has not been met for the day so found an adorable coffee and pastry shop down one of the tiny little streets. Only 1 euro for this delicious piece of heaven.

Tonight we are staying in a nice hotel in a vineyard close to Beja so when a wine tasting was offered we had to say “why not?”

The white was my favorite. Got to go down into the cellar too.

For dinner we ate in the hotel and had a very forgettable meal so no pictures to post. The highlight was gelato with chocolate sauce. Not every meal can be a winner so I’m not complaining. More sites to see tomorrow!

My current summary of Portugal is GO!! It’s beautiful, relaxing, delicious food and wine, lots of history and the people are so nice. Check back soon as tomorrow we are heading further south.