11 Art Galleries and Museums in Evora Lisbon

All the art galleries and museums in Evora tell a story about the city and Alentejo.

If you want to understand Evora’s past, visiting the art galleries and museums is a perfect way to do so while walking the streets.

The best part is that the museums and art galleries in the historical center allow you to visit them while exploring the Evora monuments.

Evora is a museum city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. For this reason, you should spend at least a day in this beautiful part of Lisbon.

1. Fórum Eugénio de Almeida

Forum Eugenio de Almeida is a must-visit when in Evora. The building itself is part of Portugal’s history.

It used to be the old Inquisition Palace and has been remodeled. Here, you can find permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Each exhibition focuses on global contemporary art, sculptures, paintings, photography, and more.

Once you enter, you find the Garden of the Painter Houses (Jardim das Casas Pintadas).

The gallery has a partial wall painting depicting the second half of the 16th century. The Renaissance frescoes are unique to Portugal.

The museum is closed on Mondays and is free to enter on Sundays. Visitors aged 65+ and students get a 50% discount.

2. Evora Museum

The Museu Evora is over 100 years old, and its interior is worth visiting. You can find art collections from Dr. Augusto Filipe Simões during the 1870s.

You can also see Moorish, Roman, and Visigoth pieces from Giraldo Square, King Manual Palace, and the Roman Temple.

Yet, the museum highlights the 13 panels representing the Life of the Virgin with six smaller panels of the Passion of Christ. These wall panels date back to the mid-15th century.

Furthermore, you can see paintings by artists like Garcia Fernandes, Theniers, Francisco Henriques, and more. The museum is closed on Sundays.

3. Cadaval Palace

The Cadaval Palace is a 14th-century Evora Wall building emphasizing the Five Corners Tower (Torre das Cinco Quinas).

You can enter the Palace Garden free of charge and visit the Cadaval House showroom.

The museum has old paintings dating back to the 17th century, manuscripts, furniture, an armory, sculptures, and more. Make sure to visit the kitchen. Another part of the property is the Loios Church, which dates back centuries.

Here, you get a view of the Roman Temple, a beautiful church in Evora. Once you enter, the tile panels greet you with their dominant blue. Also, check out the main chapel, sacristy, and the Chapter House.

As with most of the museums in Evora, they are closed on Mondays.

4. Convento dos Remédios

The Convento dos Remedios was founded by the Archbishop of Evora in 1606, and the building has austere lines.

Today, it is part of the building that houses the Regional Music Conservatory. You can explore the church to see the Megalithic Ebora exhibition from the Evora Museological Nucleus.

The place will help you understand what you see along the historic center streets. You can visit from Monday to Friday.

5. Sacred Art Museum of Gothic Evora Cathedral

While the Evora Cathedral was only inaugurated in 2009, the Sacred Art Museum of Evora Cathedral exhibits have been in the Cathedral Treasure for decades.

Today, you can find one of the best Sacred Art collections in the Evora Cathedral. You see the corridors, cells, and chapel on the adjacent house of the Evora Cathedral.

Here, you see pieces of paintings dating back to the 18th century, ecclesiastic garments, sculptures, and jewelry in the Evora Cathedral.

An obvious highlight is the Virgin of Paradise (Virgem do Paraiso) and ivory and silver sculpture.

6. MADE – Handicrafts and Design Museum

You find the Articrafts and Design Museum in the same building where the Handicrafts Museum used to be.

The space showcases design pieces that include industrial design collections of the 20th century.

Here, you can see pieces from Altentefo artisans on display, especially the ones made with pottery, tapestry, wood, and cork.

7. Carriage Museum

While it does not display paintings, the Carriage Museum is a display of art. Here, you get transported back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

The old stables of the St. Miguel Palace, located in the Condes de Basto Palace, also house a small collection of carriages.

The different transportation displays present typologies with coupling and harness equipment to other pieces.

8. Clock Museum

At the Clock Museum, you can see an extensive collection of the founder António Tavares d’Almeida from 1630 to the present.

You can see wrist and pocket watches, clocks, bracelets, and the museum’s brand from the 20th century, which it produces in partnership with German and Russian manufacturers.

In the Restoration Workshop, you can see the tools used.

9. St. Miguel Palace, Condes de Basto Palace

St. Miguel Palace dates back to the Middle Ages. In the 15th century, it became the home of the Counts of Basto.

Here, you can see the profane 16th-century frescoes along the ceilings in some of the rooms.

You can explore the 16th-century galleries, Gothic portals, and the Manueline and Moorish windows.

10. Antiga Central Elevatória das Águas da cidade de Évora

At the Old Water Lifting Unit, they share the history of the water supply in Evora. A highlight is the 1930 lifting unit that includes the last machine used.

Here, you find three electric pumps, and the building has a simple industrial to modern architecture with Art Deco elements.

11. Plato Art Gallery

PLATO is a multi-disciplinary platform dedicated to contemporary art, allowing for creation, experimentation, and production.

It has a rich history, having served as a typography studio and then a fish market before transforming into an art gallery.

PLATO offers a varied curatorial program, including art exhibitions, performances, and critiques, all focused on contemporary culture in the 20th century.

The platform aims to engage audiences locally and globally by fostering dialogue and collaboration among established and emerging artists and curators worldwide.

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Wrap-Up: Art Galleries and Museums in Evora Lisbon

The Evora art galleries and museums offer a rich cultural experience, showcasing diverse artistic creations and historical artifacts.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene and better understand the region’s heritage.

The variety of exhibits and collections make Evora a must-visit destination for art and history enthusiasts.

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