The Chapel of Bones
Listen to the audio about the Chapel of Bones and put the text in order.
One of the most fascinating and macabre sites in Évora, the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos) is a small, eerie chapel located within the Church of St. Francis.
Built in the 16th century by Franciscan monks, its walls and columns are covered with the bones and skulls of approximately 5,000 people.
The chapel was designed as a place for meditation on the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death.
- Above the entrance, an inscription reads: We bones that are here, await yours.
- This chilling message serves as a solemn reminder of mortality.
- The bones used to decorate the chapel were taken from local cemeteries to make space for new burials,
- following the monastic belief in humility and the fleeting nature of existence.
- Despite its unsettling appearance, the Chapel of Bones attracts thousands of visitors each year
- who come to witness its unique design and reflect on its profound message.
- who come to witness its unique design and reflect on its profound message.
- representing a blend of religious devotion, artistic expression,
- and philosophical contemplation on life and death.