Capela dos Ossos
Church 16th-century Évora chapel lined with human bones
In Évora, the 16th-century Capela dos Ossos is an ossuary lined with human bones and skulls; visitors come for its macabre interior, cemetery context and proximity to the Roman Temple and cathedral.
The Capela dos Ossos is a small chapel in Évora, Portugal, noted for its interior decorated with human bones. It dates from the late 16th century and is attached to the Church of São Francisco.
The chapel’s nave and side walls are faced with human skulls and long bones creating a striking, macabre interior that illustrates a memento mori theme. Visitors commonly view the bone-lined walls and a short chapel space that includes the well-known inscription about mortality.
The chapel was created by Franciscan monks using skeletal remains exhumed from local cemeteries as part of a devotional space intended to remind visitors of the transience of life. Its construction and decoration date to the late 1500s.
Located in the historic centre of Évora in Portugal’s Alentejo region, the chapel sits within walking distance of the city’s main square and Roman and medieval monuments, roughly 130 km east of Lisbon.
- Bones: interior walls and ceiling are lined with human bones and skulls arranged by Franciscan monks as a memento mori
- Inscription: contains a famous Portuguese inscription that translates as "We bones that are here, await yours"
How to Get to Capela dos Ossos #
The Capela dos Ossos is in Évora’s historic centre, attached to the Church of São Francisco. Évora is a 1-1.5 hour drive from Lisbon; regional buses and trains connect the city to the capital and other Alentejo towns.
Tips for Visiting Capela dos Ossos #
- Arrive early to avoid coach groups that visit the chapel later in the morning.
- Bring a flashlight for closer inspection of small inscriptions and bone arrangements in dim corners.
- Respect the sanctity of the site - it is an active church as well as a historical chapel.
Best Time to Visit Capela dos Ossos #
Best in spring and autumn for comfortable exploration of Évora and the Capela dos Ossos; summer heat can be oppressive.
Weather & Climate near Capela dos Ossos #
Capela dos Ossos's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 5°C to 32°C. Moderate rainfall (646 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 13°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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July
July is mild with highs of 32°C and lows of 15°C. The driest month with just 4 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 15°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 14°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (102 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
