Chapel of Bones
Capela dos Ossos
A chapel inside the Church of St Francis, whose walls and pillars are built from about 5,000 human skeletons, with an inscription above the doorway reading 'We bones here await yours.'
The chapel was built by Franciscan friars in the 16th century. At that time the city's cemeteries were overcrowded, so the friars used about 5,000 skeletons to decorate the walls and pillars as a reminder of the brevity of life. The Portuguese inscription above the entrance reads 'We bones are here, awaiting your bones.' Tickets cost about 6 euros and include the Church of St Francis, the Museum of Sacred Art and a collection of nativity scenes. Flash photography is not allowed inside. It is open from about 9:00 to 18:30, with shorter hours in winter.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–18:30 (until about 17:00 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Public Garden & Palace of King Manuel
- Praça do Giraldo
- Évora Museum (Frei Manuel do Cenáculo)
- Évora Cathedral
- Roman Temple of Évora
- Lóios Church & Cadaval Palace
- University of Évora (Colégio do Espírito Santo)
- Água de Prata Aqueduct