Evora

Evora (ancient Ebora), one of the most interesting cities of Portugal, capital of the province of Alentejo, is charmingly situated on a fertile and well-cultivated plain, 72 miles E. of Lisbon by rail. It is surrounded by ancient walls long since in a hopelessly ruinous condition, and to some extent by modern fortifications as yet unfinished. It is a very ancient city; Quintus Sertorius took it in 80 B.C., and it was also conquered by the Moors in 715, but recovered from them in 1139. Among the famous Roman antiquities of Evora are the temple of Diana, with fine Corinthian columns; an aqueduct erected by Quintus Sertorius, and restored in the 16th century, which still supplies the city with water; and the beautiful tower, surrounded by Ionic columns, which rises in the city at the extremity of the aqueduct, and which, although it has existed since 70 B.C., is in almost perfect preservation. The town itself is not well built, and the streets are narrow, winding, and dirty. It has a cathedral, founded in 1186, and afterwards restored in the Gothic style. It has been the see of an archbishop since 1540, and has an archiepiscopal library, containing, besides some 25,000 volumes, several pictures of great merit. There are some manufactures of cotton, cloth, and hats, and a trade in wine. Pop. 13,046.