Our hotel in Evora the M’ar de Ar Aqueduto overlooked the Agua de Prata Aqueduct, a luxury hotel in a converted 16th Century Chapel.

The Aqua de Prata built back in the 16th century  provided clean drinking water to Evora by connecting the city to the nearest constant flowing river, 9km to the north. The channeled water flowed through a complex set of structures that included long tunnels, deep valleys and most impressively, over massive stone aqueducts. This clever design meant that the water from the river could flow unassisted into the Praça do Giraldo, the main plaza of Evora.

Inside the city walls, the arches of the aqueduct reduce as they reach the terminus of the water flow. Under these arches, charming little houses and shops have been constructed, and now the aqueduct appears as almost a secondary wall to the city. The best streets to view the aqueduct are around the Rua do Cano, Rua do Salvador and Travessa das Nunes.

 

 

Our guide was taking us on a walk through the old town and we were meeting around 5.

I already knew this town was one I have to go back to.  Tiny little streets with so much history.

Evora was a major trading and religious centre although it shouldn’t be brushed aside as a sleepy old town.  It has a large student population that attends one of the worlds oldest universities.

We all met in the foyer of the hotel for our walk.  We already knew from past “walks” that our guide will race along with no thought to those who want to take photos or who are a little slower in walking.  Somehow we managed to keep up, just taking photos as we went.

So many amazing little shops and cafes that we passed as we walked along the cobblestone streets.

Passed through the main square that was a significant site of the 16th century Spanish Inquisition Court.  Today its filled with cafes and boutiques.

 

We eventually came to an amazing structure that looked like we had been transported to Rome or Greece.  We learnt this structure was the Roman Temple of Evora.  It is the best preserved Roman structure on the Iberian Peninsula.

 

 

Muriel and I took a few photos and then began to wander back through the cobblestone streets in search of somewhere to eat dinner.  I had looked on google on the coach on our way to Evora and there was a gluten free bakery nearby  so we went in search of it.  Finally found it however it was closed.

We may have time to get there in the afternoon of the next day.  We found a little restaurant where we decided to have dinner.  It was very small but the service and attention to detail were second to none.  They assured me that everything would be gluten free and fish free. Our meal was amazing and the wine certainly did the trick.

 

We walked back to our hotel after dinner wandering through the small cobblestone streets and checking out all the shops.

 

The following day would be a late start around 10 am.  We would be heading to a Winery for lunch.  More Wine you say, Of course we say!

More on Evora on our next post. Of course more photos on the Instagram page 3sistersabroad don’t forget to follow us there.