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With the city becoming a rural backwater there was never any reason for redevelopment and this is why Évora’s historic and architectural heritage is so well preserved. This relative obscurity continued until the 20th century when a major restoration programme was put in place which culminated in Évora becoming a World Heritage Site in 1986. The university was reopened in 1970 and, nowadays, Évora is a thriving, vibrant and characterful regional capital with a population of around 56,000 - still little more than half of the number in Medieval times.
LOOKING AROUND
Park your car outside the city walls - especially in summer when tourist numbers can be quite substantial. We recommend parking in the Rossio Ocidental or Rossio de São Bras car parks right opposite the Dom Fernando Hotel on the Avenida Dinis Miranda section of the ring road.
If, like us, you choose to stay at the Orbitur Évora campsite, you simply drive towards town along the N380 road, turn right onto the ring road and these two car parks are a few hundred yards along on the left. Don’t expect to see car park signs - just look for two large patches of bare earth.
From the car parks, walk towards the city walls. Cross the road and enter the walled zone along Rua da República which leads straight to Évora’s attractive main square, the Praça do Giraldo. Don’t walk all the way to the square just yet, though, because there’s an opportunity to take in some of Évora’s wonderful attractions along the way.
On your left, immediately after entering within the walls, is the Jardim Público, Évora’s public garden, which provides an attractive walkway along the southern section of the walls towards the Bull Ring.
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