Évora

Évora is the capital of the Alentejo region, a university town, and a former home of Portuguese kings. The Igreja de São Francisco was built by the Franciscans in the 14th century and handily a Mass was just starting as I arrived. The attached monastery is famous for its Chapel of Bones, which the monks built to remind people not to focus on material things. The message above the chapel’s entrance says “We bones that are here await yours.”

I also visited the Roman temple, because I can’t resist Roman ruins. This temple has quite a history. It was built in the first century CE and largely destroyed by invading Germanic tribes in the fifth century. Then it was filled in and used as part of a castle, subsequently spending almost 400 years as a slaughterhouse. Finally, in the 19th century, it was restored as a temple. There's also a lovely little garden with a sweeping view of the city and surrounding countryside across the street.Read more