Capela dos Ossos (and the rest of Evora)

Translation: The Chapel of Bones, which is exactly what it sounds like; a chapel built out of human bones! The chapel was built in the 16th century by the Franciscan monks as a place for prayer and meditation on the human condition. The inside is completely made by human bones that the monks dug up from graves in the area. Over the entrance is a marble slab that says "We bones that are here, we are waiting for yours." Creepy, huh? And one couldn't help but notice the size of all of the bones (skulls especially). I know people were smaller in the past, but some of these are really small!


The walls of the vestibule outside the chapel are decorated with tiles telling the story of the crucifixion. No burial, no resurrection, just the crucifixion. That, combined with my visit to the cathedral in town reminded me once again how depressing Catholicism is. Everything is focused on the crucifixion; preoccupied with death. The chapels and cathedrals have rich furnishings, elaborate architecture, and beautiful art; but they are dark, cold, dismal, and oppressive. How grateful I am that we have more hope than they give!


On to cheerier subjects! :-) Evora has a taste of Rome with the ruins of the Temple of Diana. Though I hope to see Roman ruins in Italy some day, there is no guarantee that will happen, so this was a nice treat. Another treat was the main square of town, Praca do Giraldo. After lunch we rested on benches, soaking in the sun, watching the pigeons, smelling the roasted chestnuts from the cart close by, and snapping picturesque photos of the square. It all felt so wonderfully European!

There are more pictures of the sites in Evora here if you would like to see them.