Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos)

The Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos) is a small funerary chapel built into the Church of São Francisco on Praça 1º de Maio in the historic centre of Évora, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Created in the 17th century by Franciscan monks, it is lined from floor to ceiling with the bones and skulls of an estimated 5,000 people taken from the town's cemeteries. The monks arranged them in patterned panels, with skulls forming borders and arches, to remind visitors of the brevity of life. A famous inscription above the entrance reads, in Portuguese, that the bones present here are waiting for yours. Two bodies, an adult and a child, hang from a wall chain near the entrance. The chapel is small, about 18 metres long, and is entered through the church of São Francisco, a late Gothic and Manueline building worth a visit in itself; the ticket also covers a small museum of sacred art and a terrace with views over the rooftops of Évora. A typical visit lasts 30 to 45 minutes. The space is dim, quiet and sometimes cold even in summer, and the arranged bones create a strong visual effect that suits dark, atmospheric photography, though flash is discouraged. The chapel is busiest around midday and in the afternoon when tour groups arrive from Lisbon, so visiting right after opening or in the last hour before closing is more peaceful. Tickets are sold at the entrance. The chapel is closed on certain holidays and may close briefly for services. It sits close to the Évora municipal garden and the Roman Temple of Diana, so it fits naturally into a walking tour of the city centre.