Évora
Encyclopedia
Évora (ˈɛvuɾɐ) is a municipality
in Portugal
. It has total area of 1307 km² (505 sq mi) with a population of 55,619 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Évora District and capital of the Alentejo region. The municipality is composed of 19 civil parishes
, and is located in Évora District.
It contains the city of Évora.
The present Mayor is José Ernesto Oliveira of the Socialist Party
. The municipal holiday is June 29.
of Santo Antão, São Mamede and Sé e São Pedro in the historical centre and the urban parishes of Bacelo, Horta das Figueiras, Malagueira and Senhora da Saúde outside the ancient city walls where most of the population in fact reside. The remaining civil parishes in the municipality are rural or suburban and do not form part of the city for statistic purposes.
The freeway that serves Évora is the A6/E90. The municipality can be reached by the following motor routes:
Travel time from Lisbon by car (due east) via the toll road[A6] is about one and a half hours. Secondary, scenic roads can be taken, but the trip time is much longer (up to 3 hours). Due to a limited amount of tourist signs, a list of interesting points compiled prior to driving a route to Évora is important. Motor assistance services are reasonable but aimed at local commerce, not tourism.
The municipality consists of 20 civil parishes:
Other cities, towns and villages in the Alentejo are Elvas, Portalegre, Castelo de Vide, Marvão
, Estremoz, Vila Viçosa
, Beja
, Moura, Serpa
, Mértola
, Monsaraz
, Alcácer do Sal
, Grândola
, Tróia
, Santiago do Cacém
, Vila Nova de Milfontes
and Zambujeira do Mar
.
and services center. It is home to several institutions with great importance for the region, like the state-run University of Évora
and district hospital. Évora has tried to develop the aerospace
sector, and expects soon Embraer
industrial facilities.
Évora, as well as the surrounding area, has many hotel, bed-and-breakfast and various styles of accommodation. From the very expensive - Convento do Espinheiro, Heritage Hotel & Spa - to camping sites, there is a great variety, with something for all tastes and budgets.
to Lisbon and Madrid
is planned.
There is a small airfield, the Évora Municipal Airport
, currently without commercial airline service.
The closest major airports are: Beja
, Lisbon, Faro
and Badajoz
.
Municipalities of Portugal
In Portugal, municipality or concelho is the most stable subdivision of Portugal since the foundation of the country.Portugal has an entirely separate system of cities and towns. Cities and towns are located in municipalities, but often do not have the same boundaries, even if built-up is continuous...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. It has total area of 1307 km² (505 sq mi) with a population of 55,619 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Évora District and capital of the Alentejo region. The municipality is composed of 19 civil parishes
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
, and is located in Évora District.
It contains the city of Évora.
The present Mayor is José Ernesto Oliveira of the Socialist Party
Portuguese Socialist Party
The Portuguese Socialist Party was a political party in Portugal.The party was founded in 1875. During its initial phase the party was heavily influenced by Proudhonism, and rejected revolutionary Marxism. The party suffered constant factional struggles...
. The municipal holiday is June 29.
Physical geography
Évora (latitude 38.33º, longitude 7º57', altitude 300 m) is situated in Alentejo (southern Portugal). It is the chief city of the district. The seat of the municipality is the city of Évora, composed by the civil parishesFreguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
of Santo Antão, São Mamede and Sé e São Pedro in the historical centre and the urban parishes of Bacelo, Horta das Figueiras, Malagueira and Senhora da Saúde outside the ancient city walls where most of the population in fact reside. The remaining civil parishes in the municipality are rural or suburban and do not form part of the city for statistic purposes.
The freeway that serves Évora is the A6/E90. The municipality can be reached by the following motor routes:
- from LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, take the 25 de Abril Bridge25 de Abril BridgeThe 25 de Abril Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon, capital of Portugal, to the municipality of Almada on the left bank of the Tejo river. It was inaugurated on August 6, 1966 and a train platform was added in 1999...
, then the A2 and the A6 - or take the Vasco da Gama Bridge, then the A12, A2 and A6
- from SetúbalSetúbalSetúbal is the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 inhabitants....
, take the IC3, then join the A2 and take the A6 - from Elvas or SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(BadajozBadajozBadajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
), take the A6 - from the interior north and center, take the A23 (free), then the IP2; if you want freeway only, (IP2 being a highwayHighwayA highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
) take the A23 (free), then the A1 to SantarémSantarém, PortugalSantarém is a city in the Santarém Municipality in Portugal. The city itself has a population of 28,760 and the entire municipality has 64,124 inhabitants.It is the capital of Santarém District....
, where you will cross the TagusTagusThe Tagus is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula. It is long, in Spain, along the border between Portugal and Spain and in Portugal, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. It drains an area of . The Tagus is highly utilized for most of its course...
river, then A13 and A6.
Travel time from Lisbon by car (due east) via the toll road[A6] is about one and a half hours. Secondary, scenic roads can be taken, but the trip time is much longer (up to 3 hours). Due to a limited amount of tourist signs, a list of interesting points compiled prior to driving a route to Évora is important. Motor assistance services are reasonable but aimed at local commerce, not tourism.
Climate
The weather tends to be warm and often hot (32-35°C), and rarely goes below 5 °C (41 °F) in winter.Human geography
Évora is in the heart of Alentejo region, an area consisting mostly of a soft rolling hills and plains. Alentejo's capital and largest city, Évora is a quite pleasant medium sized city and has numerous monuments. Due to its long history, monuments and buildings are its main attraction to outsiders. However there are numerous "Festas Populares" celebrating saints, holidays, "Feiras" (fairs) and cultural events (such as televised musical presentations) sponsored by the municipality and other organizations Such events are so common that locals hardly make reference to them. The city's wonderful backdrop is often featured in concerts.The municipality consists of 20 civil parishes:
- Bacelo
- Canaviais
- Horta das Figueiras
- Malagueira
- Nossa Senhora da Boa Fé
- Nossa Senhora da Graça do Divor
- Nossa Senhora da Tourega
- Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe
- Nossa Senhora de Machede
- Santo AntãoSanto Antão (Évora)Santo Antão is a parish in the municipality of Évora. The population in 2001 was 1,474, its density is 5,455.6/km² and the area is 0.27 km².-Main sites:*Santo Antão Church*Giraldo Square*Garcia de Resende Theatre...
- São Bento do Mato
- São Mamede
- São Manços
- São Miguel de Machede
- São Sebastião da Giesteira
- São Vicente do Pigeiro
- Sé e São Pedro
- Senhora da Saúde
- Torre de Coelheiros
Other cities, towns and villages in the Alentejo are Elvas, Portalegre, Castelo de Vide, Marvão
Marvão
Marvão is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 154.9 km² and a total population of 3,739 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 4 parishes, and is located in Portalegre District....
, Estremoz, Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 195.0 km² and a total population of 8,745 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 5 parishes, and is located in the District of Évora....
, Beja
Beja (Portugal)
Beja is a city in the Beja Municipality in the Alentejo region, Portugal. The municipality has a total area of 1,147.1 km² and a total population of 34,970 inhabitants. The city proper has a population of 21,658....
, Moura, Serpa
Serpa
Serpa is a municipality in Portugal, in Alentejo Region, with a total area of 1104.0 km² and a total population of 16,178 inhabitants. The Guadiana River flows close to the town of Serpa....
, Mértola
Mértola
Mértola is a municipality in southeastern Portugal next to the Spanish border. It has a total area of 1,292.87 km² and a total population of 8,712 inhabitants . In terms of land area, it is the sixth-largest municipality in Portugal. The resultant population density of 6.74 persons/km² is the...
, Monsaraz
Monsaraz
Monsaraz is a civil parish and municipal seat of the municipality of the Reguengos de Monsaraz, on the right margin of the Guadiana River in Portuguese Alentejo region, near its border with Spain...
, Alcácer do Sal
Alcácer do Sal
Alcácer do Sal is a municipality in Portugal, located in Setúbal District. It has a total area of and a total population of 13,624 inhabitants.-History :-Earliest settlement:...
, Grândola
Grândola
Grândola is a town and municipality in Portugal with a total area of and a total population of 14,543 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 5 parishes and is located in Setúbal District....
, Tróia
Tróia Peninsula
Tróia is a peninsula located in Grândola Municipality , Portugal, next to the Sado River estuary. Tourism is the peninsula's main activity due to its long beaches facing the Atlantic. There is a ferry boat connection between the peninsula and the city of Setúbal...
, Santiago do Cacém
Santiago do Cacém
Santiago do Cacém is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 1060.0 km² and a total population of 30,305 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 11 parishes, and is located in Setúbal District....
, Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova de Milfontes is a parish in the Odemira municipality of Portugal. It is cornered between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mira River, in the Sudoeste Alentejano and Costa Vicentina Natural Park.- History :...
and Zambujeira do Mar
Zambujeira do Mar
Zambujeira do Mar is a small fishing village on the Portuguese coast, a civil parish of Odemira municipality, in the Alentejo region.Amalia Rodrigues had a summer house in Zambujeira.-Sudoeste Festival:...
.
Economy
Évora is the chief city of the Alentejo region, and plays a role as an important agriculturalAgriculture in Portugal
Agriculture in Portugal is based on small to medium-sized family-owned dispersed units, however, the sector also includes larger scale intensive farming export-oriented agrobusinesses backed by companies...
and services center. It is home to several institutions with great importance for the region, like the state-run University of Évora
University of Évora
The University of Évora is a public university in Évora, Portugal.-History:The University of Évora, the second oldest in Portugal, was founded in the 16th century by Cardinal Infante Dom Henrique , and by the Pope Paul IV, and it was delivered to the Society of Jesus.The Jesuit college...
and district hospital. Évora has tried to develop the aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
sector, and expects soon Embraer
Embraer
Embraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
industrial facilities.
Évora, as well as the surrounding area, has many hotel, bed-and-breakfast and various styles of accommodation. From the very expensive - Convento do Espinheiro, Heritage Hotel & Spa - to camping sites, there is a great variety, with something for all tastes and budgets.
Transport
Évora can also be reached by bus or train. The construction of a high speed train linkHigh-speed rail in Portugal
The government of Portugal plans to build a high-speed rail line from Lisbon to Madrid. The €7.8 billion plan, announced in February 2009, is part of an effort to stimulate the country's economy. The government argued that the plan would create 100,000 jobs...
to Lisbon and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
is planned.
There is a small airfield, the Évora Municipal Airport
Évora Airport
Évora Airport is a municipal airport that serves Évora, Portugal. Among the services available, are a Flight Information Service , a non-directional beacon and sunrise to sunset operation. The airport has two runways, the main runway being 01/19...
, currently without commercial airline service.
The closest major airports are: Beja
Beja Airport
Beja Airport is a portuguese airport that opened doors to civilian flights on April 15, 2011, having scheduled several charter flights to the United Kingdom and to Cape Verde. It is the only portuguese airport in Alentejo, the biggest portuguese region, with an area comparable to the size of...
, Lisbon, Faro
Faro Airport
-Incidents and accidents:*On 21 December 1992, Martinair Flight 495 skidded off the runway in bad weather at Faro Airport killing 54 passengers and two crew out of a total of 340 people on board....
and Badajoz
Badajoz Airport
Badajoz Airport is an airport located east of Badajoz, a city in Extremadura, Spain.The airport shares its runway and control tower with the Talavera la Real Air Base , an air base of the Spanish Air Force, named for the nearby municipality of Talavera la Real.- Airlines and destinations :-...
.
External links
- Town Hall official website
- Évora´s Article by Gina Modesto in Accessible Travel Magazine, October 2007 (Error 404 2009-6-4)
- Map of Évora
- Évora Bilíngue PT/BG
- Turist Information