Description
The Chapel of Bones is located in the Church of São Francisco, situated at Praça 1º de Maio, Évora. It is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM during the summer months (June to September), and from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the winter months (October to May). The chapel is closed on Sundays, January 1, Christmas Eve afternoon, and Christmas Day. It also closes for lunch from 12:50 PM to 2:30 PM on weekdays.
Admission to the Chapel of Bones is €5.00 for adults, which includes access to the chapel, the Church of São Francisco, the Nativity Scene Museum, and the museum of religious art. Discounted tickets are available for students and seniors, and children under 12 can enter for free.
The chapel is renowned for its unique interior, which is entirely decorated with human bones and skulls arranged in artistic patterns. This design serves as a memento mori, reminding visitors of the transience of life. The chapel was constructed in the 16th century by Franciscan monks who exhumed remains from overcrowded cemeteries to create this solemn space. The inscription above the entrance reads: “Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos,” meaning “We, the bones that are here, await yours.”