The Chapel of Bones! Évora Portugal
The Chapel of Bones is part of the Igreja de Sao Francisco church complex, which lies between the Jardim Publico and the Praca de Giraldo. The Igreja de Sao Francisco church is difficult to miss, as it has recently undergone a major cleaning and restoration project that has transformed it into a brilliant white building. The Chapel of Bones is located to the right of the main entrance to the church.Despite its appearance, the Chapel of Bones was constructed out of necessity and is more than just a religious curiosity. During the 16th Century, the graveyards in Evora were overcrowded so bones were exhumed to make way for new bodies to be buried. The bones were respectfully cast into the cement and housed in this place of worship. The exhumation aligned with the common beliefs of the era and followed the Counter-Reformation ideology that the bodies would be closer to God.
The Chapel of Bones! Évora Portugal
The Chapel of Bones is part of the Igreja de Sao Francisco church complex, which lies between the Jardim Publico and the Praca de Giraldo. The Igreja de Sao Francisco church is difficult to miss, as it has recently undergone a major cleaning and restoration project that has transformed it into a brilliant white building. The Chapel of Bones is located to the right of the main entrance to the church.Despite its appearance, the Chapel of Bones was constructed out of necessity and is more than just a religious curiosity. During the 16th Century, the graveyards in Evora were overcrowded so bones were exhumed to make way for new bodies to be buried. The bones were respectfully cast into the cement and housed in this place of worship. The exhumation aligned with the common beliefs of the era and followed the Counter-Reformation ideology that the bodies would be closer to God.