Monday, October 28, 2019 Evora
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| Natural figures on blue tiles from the 1700's |
In the afternoon, I toured the small private church that adjoins our posada, the Igreja
de São João Evangelista . According to the guidebook, the Duke of Cadaval Palace's
church, called Saint John the Evangelist, is considered to be one of the most beautiful
private churches in Portugal. The Saint John the Evangelist Church was founded in 1485
and is built in the Gothic Mudejar style.
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| The church's white facade adjoins the entry into the posada and is privately owned |
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| This lovely Gothic arch is the entry into the church - you can tour it for 4 euro |
You enter by a Gothic portico arch and enter a nave that is covered with a beautiful
collection of blue tiles, by the painter Antonio de Oliveira, dated 1711 and signed by
the author. On the floor of the church are the tombs of the Dukes of Cadaval and
their ancestors.
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| Floor to ceiling blue tiles from the 1700"s with soaring white ceiling ribs and gold accents of the alter |
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| Beautiful symmetry and light from clearstory windows |
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| A gilded box for the Duke of Cadaval |
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| The marble pulpit |
At the center of the church trap doors open to show two curiosities, a crypt with the bones
of the monks of the convent of Lóios and an Arabic cistern - the church was built on the
ruins of an Arab castle, destroyed during the riots in favor of the Master Avis in 1384.
The spectacular main altar is in the Mannerist style with images that represent St. John
the Evangelist.
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| A look down into the medieval cistern, water shines a reflection back at us |
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| Blue and yellow floral patterned tiles line the front of the nave and abut the intricate gilded altar |
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