Hotel - Hospedaria D'El Rei, Évora - Alentejo (en)

Historically, there are traces of human occupation in the city or surroundings since the Upper Palaeolithic, although it has been the scene of human moves in the neolithic proven by the existence of hundreds of megalithic monuments.

The Latin Municipality was founded in 59 B.C., by the Emperor Caesar Augustus, and it was called Liberalitas Julia.

After the Roman colonisation, it was occupied by the Arabians for 5 centuries, having definitely been conquered by the Christian guerrilla Giraldo Sem Pavor in 1165 and integrated in the Kingdom of Portugal.

During the two periods when Portugal was reigned by Castilla (1383/85 and 1580/1640), Évora was recognised for the resistance movements and decisive actions in regaining independence, as well as during the French Invasions in 1808.

During the 15th and 16th Centuries the city witnessed the biggest growth and development - the fact that it was the Court's headquarters for long periods, allowed the construction of Palaces, Churches, Convents, military buildings and important civil engineering infrastructures such as the Aqueduct and the city's water supply. It was in Évora that King D. Manuel, the First, gave Vasco da Gama the instructions and the command of the ships that sailed in the search of the maritime route to India. The most renowned Portuguese renascence characters passed by or lived here, which influenced the city's personality.

The city of Évora was founded on a hill and it softly extends over the hillside. Any observation angle is strongly marked by a characteristic profile, which highlights the Cathedral and other historical monuments, being the Roman Temple the ex-libris.

The city was kept inside the walls until the last Century and only in the last decades has it grown to nearly 50,000 inhabitants.

It is currently a modern city with an important Historical Centre; it is the pole of the wide region it belongs to. Services are the main source of employment, although it holds a developing industrial sector. The cultural tourism and the fact that the University is getting bigger, more dynamic and more prestigious are the main reasons for the city to have a stronger presence in the regional and national urban networks.

True gems of the nation's heritage and culture, the historical value of Évora is inestimable and its precious monuments are the witnesses of seasons, conjunctures, people and populations.

Praça do Giraldo (Giraldo's Square)
Museu de Évora (Museum of Évora)
Largo da porta de Moura (Square of the Moura Door)
Cathedral
Convento dos Lóios (Convent of Lóios)
Palácio dos Duques de Cadaval (Palace of the Cadaval Dukes)
Public Library
Paços dos Condes de Bastos (Palace of the Counts of Bastos)
University
Igreja do Carmo (Carmo Church)
Igreja da Misericórdia (Mercy Church)
Igreja de S. Vicente (S. Vicente Church)
Igreja do Convento da Graça (Convento da Graça Church)