Cathedral de Évora

Visit the monumental Cathedral of Évora and its Religious Art Museum during your holidays in Alentejo, Portugal.

Cathedral de Évora
© Celestino Manuel

The Sé or Cathedral of Évora is considered the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal. Built between the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th centuries, it is transitional-Gothic in style with some Romanesque details. It is as well known as Cathedral of Santa María, to whom it is dedicated.

Its granite facade is flanked by two robust towers crowned by Gothic spears. The walls in the main and lateral naves are topped by battlements; and its western façade is adorned with a representation of the apostles.

Its inside is made up by a great central pointed-barrel-vault nave. On the left, there is a Baroque-in-style altar with a statue of the Pregnant Virgin (11th century) in polychromed stone, located in front of a golden wooden carving by Olivier de Gante representing the Archangel San Gabriel (16th century).

Octagonal Dome Cove
© Celestino Manuel

Cloister
© Celestino Manuel

The wonderful octagonal dome covers the transept, lightened by two Gothic rosettes windows. In the left side of the transept stands out the facade of one of the chapels, adorned with a marble carving by Nicolás de Chanterene. The right side houses the tomb of the humanist Andrés de Resende (16th century).

It is also recommended to visit the main chapel, refurbished by Federico Ludwig in the 18th century. He was the same architect of the Mafra National Palace.

Located in the high choir, it is also worth to visit the oak wood ashlar, sculpted during the Renaissance. The ashlar is adorned with profane and sacred motifs. Next to it, there are pretty panels of tiles showing what daily life was like in ancient times.

The Religious Art Museum exhibits liturgical vestments and an important religious silverwork collection, standing out a beautiful 13th-century ivory Virgin and a golden-silver Cruz-relicario do Santo Lenho (Reliquary) in vivid enamel colours . This one is adorned with more than 1,500 precious stones.

The robust cloister is Gothic in style. It was built between 1322 and 1340. Each one of its corners is adorned with the statue of an Evangelist. From there you will have wonderful views to the Romanesque bell tower and from its terrace amazing views over Évora. The founder bishop’s tomb is located on an annexed chapel, where it is possible to see San Gabriel statues and a polychromed Virgin.

More information:

Location:

Largo do Marquês de Marialva, Évora.

Ticket Price:

Cathedral: 1,50€
Cathedral + Cloister: 2,50€
Religious Art Museum: 3,50€.

Horario:

Cathedral: From Tuesdays to Sundays from 9h00 to 17h00. Mondays from 9h00 to 12h30 and from 14h00 to 16h30.

Religious Art Museum: From Tuesdays to Sundays from 9h00 to 11h30 and from 14h00 to 16h00.

Telephone:

(+351) 266 759 330.

Mapa Interactivo:

Évora

What to see:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal