5/5 - Trip to Evora.

Évora is located in the Alentejo province, a region of wide plains to the south of the Tagus River. The distance from the capital, Lisbon, is some 130 km.

Due to its well-preserved old town centre, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and a large number of monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman Temple, Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Évora has a history dating back more than two millennia. It may have been the kingdom of Astolpas and may be named after ivory workers. The Romans conquered the town in 57 BC and expanded it into a walled town. Vestiges from this period (city walls and ruins of Roman baths) still remain.

Évora was wrested from the Moors through a surprise attack by Gerald the Fearless in September 1165. The town came under the rule of the Portuguese king Afonso I in 1166. It then flourished as one of the most dynamic cities in the Kingdom of Portugal during the Middle Ages, especially in the 15th century. The court of the first and second dynasties resided here for long periods, constructing palaces, monuments and religious buildings

The many monuments erected by major artists of each period now testify to Évora's lively cultural and rich artistic and historical heritage. The variety of architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque), the palaces and the picturesque labyrinth of squares and narrow streets of the city centre are all part of the rich heritage of this museum-city.

The Capela dos Ossos or Chapel of Bones.

The Almendres Cromlech megalithic complex, located near Guadalupe, Évora, (38°33′28″N 08°3′41″W), is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest inEurope.

This megalithic monument originally consisted of more than one hundred monoliths, some of which have been taken away for other uses. A recent dig showed that the complex had undergone several building phases during the Neolithic period (5000 - 4000 BC).

The axis of the ovals is oriented along an east-west direction. The complex's position latitude is about the same as the maximum moon elongation (38.55 degrees for 1500 BC); the other latitude at which that happens is that of Stonehenge, 51.18 degrees for 2000 BC.

About a dozen monoliths present some form of carved drawings, four of which exhibit only small circular holes. Monolith number 8, with a cut flat top at about breast level and showing several dimples, might have served for finer astronomical observation, especially spring equinox observation, by putting small stones on them. It is believed that the monument had religious purposes and functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory.

Click here to see previous post / Cliquer ici pour voir le message précédant