A fortified gothic church, the Evora Se is the largest cathedral in all Portugal.
On the exterior, look up at the asymmetrical towers stretching up towards heaven. In the north tower, there is part of the valuable collection held by the Museum of Religious Art, including pieces that are both unique and priceless. Also on the exterior, attention is drawn to the impressive central cupola, built at the end of the 13th century and extremely rare in Portuguese churches. To the side of porch, a beautiful, highly expressive, roman-gothic apostle invites you into the church.
On the interior, the three naves end in a transept, set off by the lovely cupola. At the end, the main chapel is a reconstruction of the baroque period in substitution for the previous apse, removed in 1718. The work of Ludovici, the architect who worked for king João V and also responsible for the convent of Mafra, the chapel is decorated with wide variety of marble, contrasting with the great austerity of the rest of the church.
In the central nave, there is the altar to Our Lady of O. Her polychromatic stone likeness is counterbalanced by a statue of the Archangel Gabriel, in finished wood, attributed to Olivier de Gand. In the upper chorus, there is a highly valuable renaissance pew in oak and an enormous 18th century organ.
Visits can also be include the gothic cloisters and by going up onto the terrace, there is a lovely view over Évora. |