Évora was wrested from the moors by Geraldo the Fearless (geraldo giraldes o Sem Pavor) in 1166 and flourished as one of the most dynamic cities in the Kingdom of Portugal during Middle Ages. The court was resident here for long spells and Évora became the scene for many royal weddings and a place where many important decisions were made. Particularly thriving during the Avis Dynasty (1385-1580), it was formerly a major centre for the humanities. The university was founded by the Company of Jesus in 1551. In the 18th century, the Jesuits, was expelled, the university was closed and Evora went into decline. The university was reopened in 1973.
The many monuments erected by the major artists of each period now testify to Évora’s lively cultural, artistic and historical past. The variety of architectural styles (romanic, gothic, manueline, mannerist, baroque), the palaces and even the squares and narrow streets are all part of the rich heritage of this museum-city.
Today, the beautiful historical centre has about 4000 buildings and a surface of 105 ha.
Picture By: PhillipC
Pictures of holidays in portugal 