So what is it like to stay in a convent? Fabulous! We arrived at the Convento do Espinheiro for an overnight before touring Evora. The rooms were all integrated and restored in the old convent, and the food and the grounds were exceptional. Cheryl and I pampered ourselves at the spa in the pool and hot tub the next morning before heading out.
The entire walled city of Evora is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It dates back to before the Roman era. There are many Roman ruins including walls, a Roman bath, and a temple which unfortunately is undergoing restoration and was behind scaffolding. Beautiful homes and numerous cathedrals from the 11th century on dot the city. The explorer Vasco de Gama also lived here. The two standout cathedrals were the Church of Se’ and also St. Francis. The St. Francis Cathedral has a “Chapel of Bones” constructed with skeletal remains of over 5000 monks and parishioners who were buried in town. As you enter the chapel there is a sign stating “We bones in here wait for you to join us.” Personally I hope that they have a very long wait.
Leaving Evora we visited two other Megalith sites. The Menhir and Cromoleque dos Almendres. The two sites line up with the sun on the equinox. These Neolithic people from 4000 years ago were pretty smart.
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