Arraiolos

Évora is the capital of the Upper Alentejo, an old city surrounded by crenellated walls, where you'll still find alive the remains of Roman presence, Arab culture and Portuguese history spanning across the last 900 years. A royal residence for long periods, Évora still keeps the glamour of the best aristocratic architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries. Tens of monuments can be explored and discovered inside the ancient medieval city featured with twisted alleyways ripped in the urban mesh of whitewashed houses with ocher painted strips. Évora is known as the Portuguese Museum City and was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1986. On this trip, you'll explore monumental Évora on a guided tour where the main monuments will be visited, like the Roman Temple and Bathes, the Gothic Cathedral, the St. Francis Church and its Chapel of Bones, the Giraldo Square, the Mudejar styled Chapel of St. Brás and much more. Walking around the city, you'll feel the history in every corner, square and alleyway. Visit the town of Arraiolos, wind up to its medieval castle and appreciate the traditional handmade embroidered rugs in famous specialized shops. Traveling in the surroundings of Évora, you can admire the beautiful landscape of the Alentejo region featured with plains, cork tree forests, olive tree groves, whitewashed houses and the bluer blue sky of Portugal. The tour begins at 08:45 and finishes about 9 hours later at your hotel.

Discover the wonders of the ancient city of Evora on this customized tour. Want to see the finest Gothic building in Portugal? Then visit the 13th-Century Cathedral of Evora. Stop off where you like and see the sights you want to at your own pace. Start off your sightseeing experience with a pickup from your driver, jump in the car and enjoy the ride. Immerse yourself in this old but vibrant city, known for its cobbled streets, medieval palaces, and plazas, all within its ancient walls. Visit The Roman Temple of Évora, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Want to see something chilling? Be sure to stop at the Church of St Francis. The eerie Bones Chapel is decorated with human bones and skulls, which will send shivers down your spine.

The ruins of the Temple of Diana are a good example of the Roman presence in Évora , while the cathedral is from medieval times. The historic city center is surrounded by walls built in the 17th century. Back in Lisbon you'll pass the Alentejo village of Arraiolos, located about 20 km northwest of Evora. The highlight is the 14th century castle and the marvellous San Francisco Church, a Gothic monument with staggering Baroque inner decoration (re-built in the 19th century). You must also take some time to visit the famous Arraiolos carpets which have been woven since the 13th century, and are embroidered in wool on a jute fabric, cotton or linen. Another glorious aspect of the tour is the visit to one of the best wineries in Portugal, and the subsequent wine tasting of course.

Explore Lisbon's surroundings and discover two other beautiful Portuguese cities. Visit Evora and explore a museum city which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Marvel at the Diana Temple, once the city's landmark, and explore Portugal's largest medieval cathedral, the Se Cathedral. At the St. Francis Church, take a look inside the famous Bone Chapel. Then head to the town of Arraiolos, which owes its name to the world-famous Arraiolos Tapestries. Learn all about the origin, history, methods and manufacturing techniques of the famous tapestries in the Arraiolos Tapestries Interpretive Center.