Évora Day Trip: Chapel of Bones, Roman Temple & Cartuxa Wine Tasting
A journey through two thousand years of history, culture, and Alentejo wine
This Évora day trip from Lisbon takes you deep into one of Portugal's most storied cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by ancient ramparts and layered with Roman, medieval, and Renaissance history. A graduated guide accompanies your small group throughout the day, offering context that no self-guided visit can match. The experience closes with a wine tasting at Cartuxa, one of Alentejo's most respected cellars.
Évora sits at the heart of Alentejo, a vast landscape of cork oaks, golden plains, and prehistoric stone monuments. The city has been continuously inhabited since Roman times, and its compact historic centre preserves temples, a Gothic cathedral, and narrow cobblestone lanes that have changed little over centuries. Your route passes through all of it at a measured pace suited for genuine discovery.
The Chapel of Bones inside the Church of Saint Francis is unlike anything else in Portugal. Built in the 16th century by Franciscan monks using the remains of more than five thousand individuals, it carries a stark inscription above its entrance that has prompted reflection for generations. Admission to the chapel and church is included in this tour. Your guide provides the historical and cultural background that transforms a striking sight into a meaningful encounter.
Alentejo produces some of Portugal's most celebrated wines, and the Cartuxa cellar has been at the centre of that tradition for decades. Before returning to Lisbon, your group visits the estate for a structured tasting that introduces the principal grape varieties and styles of the region. It is a fitting close to a day that moves from ancient stones to living tradition.
Tour Highlights
Walk through the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Évora, enclosed within 17th-century Vauban-style ramparts.
Stand before the Roman Temple of Évora, one of the best-preserved Roman structures on the Iberian Peninsula.
Visit the Gothic Sé Cathedral, the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal and the spiritual centre of the city.
Explore the haunting Chapel of Bones, a 16th-century ossuary decorated with the remains of over five thousand people.
Travel through the world's largest cork oak region on the drive south from Lisbon to Alentejo.
Taste wines from Cartuxa, one of the most esteemed estates in the Alentejo wine region.
Visit the square where the great medieval knight Geraldo Geraldes recaptured Évora, and where Vasco da Gama received his historic commission.
Itinerary
Your driver collects you directly from your hotel in a comfortable vehicle. The route south crosses the Alentejo plains through the world's most extensive cork oak forests, setting the scene for the day ahead.
Upon arriving in Évora, your guide leads a walking tour through the cobblestone lanes of the medieval centre. Key landmarks include the main square, the site associated with Vasco da Gama's commission, and the Praça do Giraldo, named for the knight who recaptured the city.
Entry to the Church of Saint Francis and its Chapel of Bones is included. Your guide provides the historical context behind this 16th-century ossuary, one of the most visited and discussed monuments in Portugal.
The afternoon continues with visits to Évora's Gothic cathedral, the largest medieval cathedral in the country, and the adjacent Roman Temple, whose Corinthian columns have stood for nearly two millennia.
Before the return journey, the group visits the Cartuxa wine cellar for a tasting of Alentejo's signature wines. This estate has been producing wine for centuries and represents the region's winemaking tradition at its most refined.
Your driver returns you to your hotel in Lisbon, completing an 8-to-9-hour round trip that covers history, architecture, gastronomy, and wine in a single well-organised day.
What Is Included and Excluded
Included
- Round-trip hotel pick-up and drop-off in a luxury vehicle
- Admission to the Chapel of Bones
- Admission to Saint Francis Church
- Wine tasting at Cartuxa cellar
- Graduated and experienced licensed guide throughout
Not Included
- Lunch (available locally at traditional restaurants in Évora)
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Any monument or museum entry not listed above
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This Tour
Small-group availability is limited. Secure your spot for an expertly guided day through one of Portugal's most historically significant cities, ending with a wine tasting in Alentejo.
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