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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Unique place and not for some who are squeamish but I thought it was beautiful. Former church now a museum. The monks realised they were running out of room to bury people so used their bones to...
Unique place and not for some who are squeamish but I thought it was beautiful. Former church now a museum. The monks realised they were running out of room to bury people so used their bones to... more »
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Well, it is very good but not sure about it as a tourist attraction. I was expecting a few bones - as in a few bones of a saint that you often get in cathedrals, etc. Nope - it's absolutely full of...
Well, it is very good but not sure about it as a tourist attraction. I was expecting a few bones - as in a few bones of a saint that you often get in cathedrals, etc. Nope - it's absolutely full of... more »
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It's small, but it is striking. You will remember it forever if you go there. It's a single large room so it won't take long for you to see all there is to see. But do take your time to read all about it and take a few minutes in silence ponder on all the people that end up there. Don't miss if you are on Evora.
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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.
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