Évora : UNESCO World Heritage Site

It was fun getting lost in Évora (pronounced with a short ‘e’ as in ‘ever’) because, just when I thought I’d seen everything, something would surprise me. It’s an ancient walled city with streets going off in all directions, uphill and down, so easy to get disorientated.

This morning, a couple asked me for directions to Diana’s Garden which I was happy to be able to do, telling them it was my favourite place in Evora – but, first, had they noticed the Manueline window on the house in front of us?

However, just to put me in my place, I promptly got lost again. It’s a small town, but I managed to clock up 10 or more kilometres each day, according to my health app.

Here are some highlights:

At the Jardim Publico:

There was acanthus in abundance too, and that creeping tradescantia of which I’ve been gradually ridding my own garden.

I discovered this amazing church this morning: Sao Joao Evangelista, with its 18th century azulejos (painted tiles).

There was a small hatch open in the floor to reveal this gruesome sight:

Perhaps they’re the bones of the nuns from the former convent next door.

A more happy discovery was an African exhibition in the light and bright Palacio Cardaval which has a lovely climbing plant with papery flowers (bougainvillea) on the terrace,

and stone parquet flooring inside.

Included in the exhibition were these ingenious portraits:

Very appropriate at the moment (World Cup Football). The exhibition was on loan from Paris.

Below is the main square Praça de Giraldo, which has cloisters for shade along one side, and seats where men sit to chew the fat.

And here’s a bookshop which was closed when I discovered it, but it has an intriguing frontage.

I’m pleased I visited Évora. Thanks to Peta Matthias for the recommendation!