Evora Full-Day Trip from Lisbon

Our experience on the Evora tour with Context Travel was truly outstanding. Our guide Tiago met us at our hotel in Lisbon right on time and we quickly found a rapport that made it clear we were in for a fun and information packed day. The drive might feel a little daunting, but don’t let that dissuade you. It went by so quickly with great in-depth discussions about the olive and cork orchards along the way, local wines, Portuguese history, local football rivalries (thank you Ricardo, our excellent driver!) and even details on the stork high rises that appear along the way! A great way to get to know each other, understand our interests and prime us for a great day in Evora. We quickly fell in love with this beautifully preserved walled city when we arrived. We learned about its significance and rich history in the region from Roman times, through the Moorish to the early Portuguese kingdom, with all eras visible inside its walls. Our favorite bits were the Chapel of Bones inside the Church of St. Francis, the Cathedral (inside and up top!), the historical layers and stories Tiago knew and shared about Moorish history, the inquisition, the Church and royal history, architectural nuances at every turn (which we would never see without an expert, like the fake 19th century ruins near the entrance!), Roman ruins, aqueduct, just on and on. The local lunch arranged by Tiago at Tasquinha do Oliveira with a table full of local dishes tapas style (but don’t say tapas, as Tiago taught us, petiscos please!), was one of the best meals of our trip. With a pure depth of knowledge across multiple disciplines, love of teaching and passion for his work, Tiago made this an incredible day to remember. We have done several Context Travel tours and have yet to be anything but amazed at the quality of the guides they consistently provide, just wow! Thank you, Tiago, Ricardo and Context Travel, fantastic tour!