After four months touring northern Spain and Portugal, it was finally the time to set sail in the direction of home, with a bit of sadness. We flew back from Azores to Lisbon, collected our car from the valet parking company and got to the storage unit were we left our bikes. It was midnight, nobody around, and our access code didn’t work. After half an hour calling all available numbers, I got a back up code, we collected the bikes and set on a two-hours drive to Évora.
After a brief sleep, we took a slow morning, enjoying the garden and the pool of our hotel. Then went to the city for lunch and sightseeing. We wanted to visit Évora for quite a long time but never got the chance. So our expectations were set pretty high. That is probably the reason we weren’t that mindblown by the city as some people are. But nevertheless, it is still a beautiful place.
The cathedral’s interior boasts a beautiful contrast of light and dark marble, which was used even at the toilets 🙂. There is a collection of nativity scenes from all around the world at the upper floor.
The Ossuary cannot be compared to the one in Kutná hora, Czechia, but is still a nice place to visit. There is also a huge and beautiful nativity scene in one of the rooms.
The Roman Temple caught our attention, though. Built in 1st c., it still towers on a hill overlooking part of the city and beyond. It’s location has had a big religious significance throughout history and you can find many religious buildings around there still today.
What did blow our mind, on the other hand, was Toledo, when we have crossed the Spanish borders. Charming medieval city with cobbled streets, ideal to get lost in. The cathedral is stunning and the audioguide gives just the right amount of information. Remember to bring cash as a deposit though. Next to the cathedral is a little museum of manchego cheese, together with a tasting room and a shop. The staff will recommend a good wine pairing, too. Up on the hill, overlooking the plains below, is the Alcázar. Seemingly taking up half of the city, it is that huge. There is a viewing platform and on the other side, we recommend the Go Alcázar pizzeria.
