São João Evangelista and Lóios Convent, Evora
Facade of São João Evangelista with Roman temple in the foreground.
Photo
Marco Mazzei.
Facade of São João Evangelista, Evora. Photo
Vitor Oliveira.
Courtyard of the Lóios Convent, now a hotel. Photo
Chuck Burgess.
Stairway in the convent-hotel. Photo
Alexandre Nakonechnyj.
Location map and aerial view of São João Evangelista and Lóios Convent. For a larger interactive view, see our Evora Map.
Standing opposite the Temple of Diana in Évora, the Gothic-Mudejar São João Evangelista (St. John the Evangelist) was the church of a 15th-century convent. There are many interesting things to see inside.
History
Lóios Convent was founded in 1485 by Count Rodrigo Melo on orders of King João II. It was constructed over the ruins of Evora's Arabian castle, which was mostly destroyed by fire in the revolution of 1383-85 that led to João II becoming king.
In 1755, Evora suffered a major earthquake that destroyed most of the Convento dos Lóios; it was reconstructed by the Priest Mestre José de Santa Marta. In 1834, the monastery was closed along with all others in Portugal by royal order. Finally, after extensive renovations, the monastery reopened as a pousada (historic hotel) in 1965.
What to See
The church is the private property of the Duques de Cadaval, who still occupy a section of their palace next door. The facade is a large porch-tower, painted white with bright yellow accents. Entrance is through a large Gothic portal under the tower.
Inside, the greatest attraction is a floor-to-ceiling collection of blue azulejos by António Oliveira Bernardes (early 1700s), which depict scenes from the life of São Lourenço Justiniano, founder of the Lóios order.
In the middle of the church among the pews, trapdoors open to reveal a Moorish cistern and an ossuary full of bones from tombs in the vicinity. Among the more interesting paintings adorning the church are a violent scene of Africans slaughtering a Christian missionary and a pope with moving eyes and feet.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | São João Evangelista and Lóios Convent; Church of St. John the Evangelist; Convento dos Lóios |
| Dedicated to: | St. John the Evangelist |
| Location: | Evora, Alentejo, Portugal |
| Categories: | Churches; Abbeys & Monasteries |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | privately owned |
| Date: | 1485 |
| Architecture: | Gothic, Mudejar |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 38.572893° N, 7.906959° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Largo do Conde de Vila Flor, Evora, Portugal |
| Phone: | 26/670-47-14 |
| Hours: | Tues-Sun 10am-noon and 2-6pm |
| Cost: | €3 |
| Photography: | Prohibited |
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
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Frommer's Portugal, 19th edition
- Rough Guide to Portugal, 12th edition
- Pousada Lóios, Évora - Virtual Portugal
Article last updated: 04/07/2009.
