Évora

d architectural influences, is a real national treasure and certainly merits its status as a UNESCO world heritage site. Temple of Diana: The Corinthian-like imperial temple, with its twelve granite columns, believed to have been dedicated to Diana the Goddess of the hunt. The 12th century Roman-Gothic cathedral is the largest in Portugal and houses the Sacred Art Museum. Capela dos Ossos: Beyond the beauty of the cathedral lies another important church which houses something quite different. The Manueline-Gothic church of Sao Francisco features a chapel decorated entirely with human bones from approximately 5000 people collected in the 17th century from graveyards by monks whose intention was to convey the message of the transitory nature of life. Above the entrance to the Capela dos Ossos notice the inscription that translates roughly as “We the bones which are here, for yours await.”