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Capela dos Ossos, Evora

4.3
#1 of 993 in Things to do in Alentejo
Must see · Religious Site · Church
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View the human skulls and bones decorating the interior walls of Capela dos Ossos. A Franciscan monk built this chapel in the 16th century to encourage contemplation about the afterlife and our fleeting time on earth. At the entrance to the Church of St. Francis, you will find this small chapel, which contains the skeletons of approximately 5,000 monks. Skulls and bones cover the eight pillars inside the structure, as well as its walls, and two skeletons hang from ropes. The ceiling is brick and painted with themes of death. Though not for the faint of heart, this site represents a look into a particular time and belief system. Inspirock's itinerary builder makes planning a Evora trip simple and quick.
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Capela dos Ossos reviews

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Google
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TripAdvisor
  • I picked Évora over Obidos primarily because of Chapel of Bones. Interesting chapel with 2 mummies in it too. Small but worth a visit, plus Évora is such a beautiful town, not to be missed. 
    I picked Évora over Obidos primarily because of Chapel of Bones. Interesting chapel with 2 mummies in it too. Small but worth a visit, plus Évora is such a beautiful town, not to be missed.  more »
  • One of the definite things to do in Evora. The bone chapel is fascinating in its own right, but there is more to see throughout the rest of the church, so definitely worth the entry fee. Allow... 
    One of the definite things to do in Evora. The bone chapel is fascinating in its own right, but there is more to see throughout the rest of the church, so definitely worth the entry fee. Allow...  more »
Google
  • Sure, it’s a little macabre, but the history and uniqueness is worth the trip. The story about why the bones were used, the poem within, and the inscription above the door are beautiful. It’s a fairly small room, especially considering it’s supposedly made up of 5,000 corpses, and most people were in-and-out in less than 5 minutes. The entrance fee is €5, cash or card, and includes some other artifacts, a nativity museum upstairs, and a nice view of the town from the balcony.
  • A simply amazing place in Évora! Definitely, a must on the list of any traveler. The chapel is beyond impressive and it's unique. The pictures speak for themselves. If you have an issue with seeing bones and death, heads up, there are also mummies exposed there and there are bones all over the walls.

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