About Évora
Évora: the city
Évora is the capital of Alto Alentejo, city of an outstanding beauty, embraced by its fortress walls, filled with historic memories in each street, each home, each inhabitant…Its squares and monuments tell us national history, religion and culture episodes and its townsfolk are proud of both past and present times.
The natural beauty of this region combined with the monumental richness of this town-museum that nowadays is also a modern and touristy city, classified by UNESCO, since 1986, World Heritage. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, the archaeological landscape that surrounds the city presents important monuments, such as the Cromeleque dos Almendres (Almendres cromlech) and the Anta Grande do Zambujeiro (dolmen). Many were the ancient people that have been here, but the Romans were those who transformed Evora into an imperial town. They called it Ebora, named after the Roman Imperator Julius Cesar as Liberalitas Julia, and left several signs of their passage, from which the roman temple, known improperly as "Templo de Diana" (Diana´s Temple), stands out.
In 715 AD, the city was conquered by the Arabs but there are only a few archaeological evidences of that time. In 1165, Giraldo Sem Pavor (Fearless Giraldo), on a sudden incursion, took the city from the Moor, and that event was printed on the city coat-of-arms. The importance of Evora is undeniable along the centuries: during the Avis Dynasty (1385-1580) the city became the chosen place of the court, which settled here frequently, to the detriment of Lisbon or Coimbra. Cardinal King D. Henrique founded, in 1551, the Colégio do Espírito Santo (Holly Spirit College), which became the Evora University in 1559, when it received Rome's approval.
In 1759 it was closed by order of Marquês de Pombal, on the Jesuits expulsion, reopening again in 1973. As a reaction to the Filipes' dynasty domination, Evora became a battles' stage for the national independence. But after the throne was reclaimed, the court turned away from the city. Since the XX century, one can notice a rousing will to recover from the wasted time, restore the monuments and embellish the city. The historic centre of Évora, as a monumental ensemble of great historic and cultural value, was classified by UNESCO, in 1986, World Heritage. (C.M.E. DPT - Divisão de Promoção Turística)
Travel: from Lisbon Airport to Évora
OPTION 1: BY BUS
The bus connections from Lisbon to Évora depart from:
- “Sete Rios” bus station.
You can buy the tickets at the station or purchase online: http://www.rede-expressos.pt/
Each ticket costs €12,50 | Duration: 1h30
- “Oriente” station.
You can buy the tickets at the station or purchase online: https://www.flixbus.pt/ or http://www.rede-expressos.pt/
Ticket costs depends on seat availability | Duration: 1h30
To get from Lisbon airport to “Sete Rios” bus terminal station you can use:
AEROBUS
Buses departing from Lisbon Airport stop outside the Arrivals Hall in Terminal 1.
METRO (from 6.30am to 1:00am)
Take the red line to “S. Sebastião” and then change to the blue line (in direction to “Amadora Este”); Get out two stops after at “Jardim Zoológico”.
The trip will take about 35 minutes.
The bus station should be reached from the underground station.
TAXI (there are Taxis waiting at the Airport exit)
The trip duration will depend on the traffic but at best it will take about 15 minutes to get to “Sete Rios” and cost about €10 – €12.
To get from Lisbon airport to “Oriente” station you can use:
AEROBUS
Buses departing from Lisbon Airport stop outside the Arrivals Hall in Terminal 1.
METRO (from 6.30am to 1:00am)
Take the red line and Get out three stops after at “Oriente”.
The trip will take about 10 minutes.
The train station should be reached from the underground station.
TAXI (there are Taxis waiting at the Airport exit)
The trip duration will depend on the traffic but at best it will take about 10 minutes to get to “Oriente” and cost about €6 – €8.
OPTION 2: BY TRAIN
The train connections from Lisbon to Évora depart from “Oriente” station.
You can buy the tickets at the station or purchase online: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/pt
Each ticket costs €16,65 (1st class) and €12,50 (2nd class) | Duration: 1h30
To get from Lisbon airport to “Oriente” station you can use:
AEROBUS
Buses departing from Lisbon Airport stop outside the Arrivals Hall in Terminal 1.
METRO (from 6.30am to 1:00am)
Take the red line and Get out three stops after at “Oriente”.
The trip will take about 10 minutes.
The train station should be reached from the underground station.
TAXI (there are Taxis waiting at the Airport exit)
The trip duration will depend on the traffic but at best it will take about 10 minutes to get to “Oriente” and cost about €6 – €8.
Accommodation: where to stay
The Noble House Hotel****
- www.thenoblehouse.pt
- Distance to meeting venue: 5 min walking
Évora Olive Hotel****
- www.artsoulgroup.com/evoraolivehotel/
- Distance to meeting venue: 10 min walking
M'Ar de Ar Muralhas****
- www.mardearhotels.com/mar-de-ar-muralhas
- Distance to meeting venue: 15 min walking
Hilton Garden Inn Evora****
- www.hilton.com/en/hotels/liseagi-hilton-garden-inn-evora/
- Distance to meeting venue: 16 min walking
Selina Hotel****
- www.selina.com/pt/portugal/evora/
- Distance to meeting venue: 18 min walking
Vila Galé Évora Hotel****
- www.vilagale.com/pt/hoteis/alentejo/vila-gale-evora/
- Distance to meeting venue: 20 min walking
Stay Hotel Évora Centro***
- www.stayhotels.pt/stayhotelevoracentro/home
- Distance to meeting venue: 10 min walking
Ibis Hotel***
- www.ibis.accor.com/
- Distance to meeting venue: 20 min walking
Moov Hotel**
- www.hotelmoov.com/hoteis/evora/
- Distance to meeting venue: 15 min walking
Other Recommendations
- Albergaria do Calvário
- M’Ar de Ar Aqueduto
- Évora Hotel
- Casa Morgado Esporão
- Vitória Stone Hotel
- Pousada Convento Évora
- Tivoli Évora Ecoresort
- Convento do Espinheiro
