Ebora

Ebora, in Latin Ebora Liberalitas Julia, is the ancient name for the city now known as Évora, located in the Alentejo region of Portugal. It was an important Roman settlement in the civitas of Lusitania and later a major medieval episcopal see. The name Ebora survives in classical sources and is the etymological root of the modern name Évora.

Situated on a limestone plateau in central Portugal, Ebora sits above the fertile Alentejo plains and along historic routes linking Lisbon with the interior. The historic center preserves a layered record of Roman, medieval, and early modern architecture, and in 1986 the Historic Centre of Évora was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved urban fabric and monuments.

In the Roman period Ebora was a provincial capital with public buildings and religious complexes. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire it remained an important episcopal center in the Christian kingdoms. During the Reconquista it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Portugal, where it grew as a dynastic and intellectual hub. The University of Évora, established in 1559, contributed to a long-standing scholarly tradition.

The city retains several notable features, including the surviving Roman temple ruins commonly identified as the Temple of Diana, the Évora Cathedral, and the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos) in the Church of São Francisco. The central Praça do Giraldo is a historic square dating to medieval and Renaissance periods.

Today Évora remains a regional center for administration, tourism, and education, with a population in the tens of thousands. It is closely associated with Portuguese history and culture, and its monuments attract visitors seeking a compact record of the country’s urban development.