Roman Temple of Évora

The Roman Temple of Évora is a well-preserved Roman religious monument in the historic center of Évora, Portugal, dating to the 1st century AD. Its surviving columned façade is one of the most recognizable Roman remains on the Iberian Peninsula.

The site is notable for its standing Corinthian columns and the stone podium that mark the temple’s original layout. The temple is compact and sits within the dense street pattern of Évora’s old town, where it is visible from adjacent public spaces.

The temple was built during the Roman period when Évora was an important urban centre and later survived through re-use and adaptation in the medieval and modern periods. Over time it became incorporated into the urban fabric and was conserved as an iconic antiquity.

The monument sits in central Évora, within walking distance of the cathedral and main squares, and forms part of the city’s UNESCO-listed historic core in the Alentejo region of Portugal.

• Popular name: Often called the Temple of Diana in popular usage, though there is no firm ancient dedication to that goddess recorded in the evidence.
• UNESCO setting: Located within Évora’s compact old town and easily viewed from adjacent streets and piazzas, it is part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage ensemble.

What to See#

• Columned portico: A row of well-preserved Corinthian columns standing on a podium that form the most visible remnant of the Roman temple within Évora’s historic center.
• Podium and cella remains: The raised stone platform and cella footprint that mark the temple’s original plan and reflect its Roman construction techniques.

The Roman Temple (Templo Romano / Temple of Diana) is in Évora’s compact historic centre. Évora is served by regional trains and buses from Lisbon (journey about 1.5 hours), and the temple is an easy walk from Évora’s main bus and train stops - expect about a 10-20 minute walk into the old town depending on where you arrive. By car Évora is approximately 130 km east of Lisbon (around 1.5 hours on the main highways); once in the historic centre the temple is on pedestrian streets and short walking distances.

• Visit at sunrise or late afternoon when the granite columns take on strong relief and guided tour groups are smaller, making for better photos and quieter inspection.
• The temple sits in Évora's historic centre close to the cathedral-approach on foot and circle the monument to view it from several angles, since access to the core site is limited and most close‑up views are from outside the low enclosure.
• Combine your visit with the nearby Museu de Évora to see archaeological finds from the site; many visitors see only the standing columns and miss the museum context.