Sculpture of Relgious Figures at the Church of Saint Francis in Évora
I somehow missed the Capela dos Ossos the first time I went around the historic center of Évora. It is funny since this is one of the most important attractions of the city. The chapel was a strange solution to the problem of cemeteries taking up too much land. So what did they think of? Why not construct a chapel using the bones of these 5000 people buried in these cemeteries. Instead of hiding them, the decided to display it right there for everyone to see. What resulted is one of the strangest and creepiest chapels I have ever been to. I don’t know what the reaction of the church was to this chapel but it certainly would remind you of your mortality as it was intended to.
Beautiful Sculpture of a Child at the Church of Saint Francis in Évora
Apart from the chapel of Bones, there is a small museum at the church which displays some sacred art. The museum is in a very modern setting and it makes you forget that you are actually in a very old church or even that the Chapel of Bones is nearby. Most of the items on display here are sculpture of religious and historical figures. Most of the figures, I don’t recognize except for the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are still people who come here since it is on the way to the chapel.
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