Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), Evora

Capela dos Ossos, Bone Chapel, Evora, Portugal

Facade of the Church of St. Francis in Évora, known for its Chapel of Bones. Photo Mick L. Click to enlarge and see our
Chapel of Bones Photo Gallery for more.

Opulent interior of the Church of St. Francis. Photo caffeine obsessed.

Entrance to the Chapel of Bones. Photo caffeine obsessed.

"Crown molding" in the Capela dos Ossos. Photo Mick L.

General view of the chapel. Photo Nuno Sequeira André.

Wall of bones in a side aisle of the chapel. Photo Nuno Sequeira André.

Up close and personal with common human destiny. Photo Mick L.

Wall of bones and a hanging corpse. Photo Mick L.

The Igreja Real de São Francisco (Royal Church of St. Francis) in Évora is best known for its chapel that is not for the faint of heart. In the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), the walls and central pillars are covered with human skulls and other parts of skeletons, held together by cement.

History

The Church of St. Francis itself was built in the Gothic style with Manueline influences between 1460 and 1510. Its Capela dos Ossos was created by a few Franciscan monks in the 16th century as a practical solution to a problem - as many as 42 monastic cemeteries were taking up valuable space in Evora, so they moved all the bones to a single consecrated chapel. Seeing an opportunity to contemplate and communicate the inevitability of death, the monks chose to display the bones prominently rather than storing them away.

What to See

The main Church of St. Francis is opulently decorated with golden altars and walls of painted blue tile. The Chapel of Bones is entered next door, through a large arch bearing a painted rhyme reminding visitors of their own mortality: Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos: "Our bones that are here wait for yours!"

Inside, human bones and skulls completely cover the chapel's walls and pillars - the number of skeletons has been estimated at 5,000. Legend has it the bones come from soldiers of a major battle or plague victims, but in reality they are people from all walks of life who were buried in Evora's medieval cemeteries.

Interestingly, the bones of the monks who assembled the chapel are not on display - they are kept in a small white coffin in the chapel. In addition to all the bones, there are two full corpses hanging high on a wall. Their identities are unknown, but there are plenty of legends: one popular story says they are an adulterous man and his infant son, cursed by his jealous wife.

At one end of the chapel, an altar with a crucifix reminds visitors of the way to overcome death. The rib-vaulted ceiling of the chapel continues the theme, painted with small scenes accompanied by Latin phrases such as "I leave, but I don't die," "I die in the light," and "The day that I die is better than the day that I was born."

Evora's Capela dos Ossos is not the only church decorated with human bones. See our category "Dead on Display" for similar sites around the world.

Quick Facts

Site Information

Names:	Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones); Ossuary Chapel; Igreja de São Francisco; Church of St. Francis
Dedicated to:	St. Francis
Location:	Evora, Alentejo, Portugal
Category:	Churches
Faith:	Christianity
Denomination:	Catholic
Order:	Franciscan
Status:	active
Date:	16th century
Architecture:	Renaissance

Visitor Information

Coordinates:	38.568968° N, 7.908568° W (view on Google Maps)
Address:	Praça 1 de Maio, Evora, Portugal
Phone:	26/670-45-21
Hours:	Mon-Sat 9am–12:45pm & 2:30–5:45pm, Sun same hours but opens at 10am
Cost:	€1
Photography:	Permitted

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources for Evora

Evora Map - our detailed interactive map of Evora, plus hand-picked links to more
Evora Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Evora
Evora Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
Evora Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
Evora Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
Evora Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Evora tourism

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones). Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Evora Map.

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

Frommer's Portugal, 19th edition.
Igreja de São Francisco and around - Rough Guide to Portugal
Peeling Back the Layers of Evora's History - Rick Steves' Europe
Traveler Reviews of the Chapel of Bones - TripAdvisor
Igreja de São Francisco (Évora) - Portuguese Wikipedia
Capela dos Ossos - English Wikipedia
Godspeed! Chapel of Bones, Évora, Portugal - video tour by Fr. Roderick (chapel tour starts about 5 minutes in)

Article last updated: 07/13/2009.