Évora is a city of about 50,000 people in southern Portugal (70 mi east of Lisbon: two hours by bus, less by car, three hours by train).

The historic center of Évora has significant religious, historical and architectural importance, which led UNESCO to grant it World Heritage status in 1986. The Évora region has been settled since prehistoric times — megaliths from around 4,000 BC lie a few miles from the city — and in 80 BC the Roman city of Liberalitas Julia was founded here. Later, Évora was ruled by the Visigoths and then the Moors (from 715). The city was recaptured by Christians in 1166 and became a favored base for the court of the Kingdom of Portugal. The Jesuits were active here from the 16th to 18th centuries, and Évora's university was an important center of learning.

Today, the small town of Évora incorporates within its walls a variety of architectural styles (Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque) that reflect its rich history. There are several sites of religious interest here, including a cathedral, a Roman temple, a Franciscan chapel decorated with human bones, and a nearby stone circle. You can even sleep in a historical religious site: many of Évora's hotels are former convents.

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