MSA Evora Program

LOCATION

The Alentejo Province is a region of wide plains to the south of the Tagus River (Rio Tejo). In the heart of this region, at a distance of 130 km from Lisbon, lies the city of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Part of the town is enclosed by ancient walls and has been preserved in its original state, as well as its monuments dating from various historical periods. The Romans knew it as Liberalitas Julia, and vestiges from this period like Diana’s temple still remain. During the barbarian invasions, Évora was under Visigoth rule. In 715, the Muslims conquered the city.
Évora was recovered from the Moors by the Christian Knight Geraldo Sempavor in 1166 and flourished as one of the most dynamic cities in the Kingdom of Portugal during Middle Ages. It was a favorite residence of the Avis Dynasty (1385-1580), and became a major culture center of the kingdom.

The university was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1551, and it was here that great European Masters such as Clenardo and Molina passed on their knowledge. In the 18th century, the Jesuits were expelled, the university was closed and Évora went into decline and the university was not reopened until 1973. The many monuments erected by the major artists of each period now testify to Évora's lively cultural, artistic and historical past. The variety of architectural styles (roman, gothic, manueline, mannerist, baroque), the palaces and even the squares and narrow streets are all part of the rich heritage of this beautiful walled city.