Two Days in Evora…And “Them Bones,Them Bones,Them Dry Bones”. “We, the bones that are here await yours.”

I thought I had visited Evora in the Seventies,but I was mistaken- I was either confusing it with Beja or Avila.

This museum-city, whose roots go back to Roman times, reached its golden age in the 15th century, when it became the residence of the Portuguese kings. Its unique quality stems from the whitewashed houses decorated with azulejos and wrought-iron balconies dating from the 16th to the 18th century. Its monuments had a profound influence on Portuguese architecture in Brazil.

There is a lot to see in Evora, as the compact city has the second largest number of national monuments of Portugal, being second only to Lisbon.

The Praça Do Giraldo is the centrepiece of the city, with its fountain,apparently where the still standing aqueduct used to bring water into the city.

Having toured the city and marvelled at its many fascinating churches,squares,courtyards and panoramas, it is not a city you forget. Just a short bus ride from the lovely Orbitur campsite,directly into the main square. Checked in to the Turismo for a helpful city map and decided to go with the trail in the guidebook.

Starting with the” See “- Portuguese term for Cathedral – and a rooftop tour to enjoy a panorama of the city – views across the Alentejo to the far horizon.

Guide books describe the mismatched,twin towers as creating a forbidding setting; wasn’t my impression.

This city has a good many churches,enticing alleyways, public gardens and monuments.

The church of San Francisco houses a chapel mainly constructed from the bones of Franciscan monks, whose remains had been disinterred from their graveyards. They were running out of graveyard space!

It is a fascinating if gruesome place – with spines,fibulas,skulls aligned geometrically – estimated at 5000! Unforgettable, macabre Capela dos Ossos.

The restaurants are renown for their Alentejan cooking – pity it wasn’t dinner time as I don’t like big lunches, so it was a “meal deal” in the park – tasty sandwich and a drink.

Doorways, sculptures and views. Something of interest at every corner.

It’s most famous monument is from Roman times. Long known as ” Diana’s Temple”- it was probably Jupiter’s or the Emperor’s preferred deity.

Just a couple of photos to finish with, the aqueduct and five gypsies in a horse and trap, traversing the car pork at the Continente Hypermarket in Evora, this morning.

Now for another great city – Caceres and if I remember rightly a great campsite and pool.