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This breathtaking Portuguese monument is the country’s largest medieval cathedral

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 An immense cathedral dominates the city of Évora, in Portugal. Dating back to the 12th century, it is an architectural masterpiece combining Romanesque and Gothic styles.


 
 If you're unfamiliar with Portugal's medieval past, a visit to
 Évora in the Alentejo
 could change all that. This UNESCO World Heritage city is packed with treasures from ancient times. Among these is the Basilica of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, known locally as Sé de Évora, a magnificent monument made of granite that stands out in the city. Its imposing size makes it the largest cathedral in Portugal to be built entirely in the Gothic style.
 


 
 But don't this its austere fortress-like appearance stop you - the cathedral boasts a refined, sculpted interior that has evolved over the centuries. The result is a
 monument that blends several architectural styles
 , much to the delight of history and architecture lovers.
 


 <h2 class="wp-block-heading">
 A fascinating hybrid architectural style
 </h2>


 
 Sé de Évora is a grand dame: it was built in 1186 - although it wasn't completed until 1250. Built out of granite, it initially adopted a Romanesque style, easily recognisable by its massive structure and sober lines. As architectural techniques evolved, the Gothic style gradually came to the fore, particularly in its impressive vaulted nave and 14
 
 th
 
 century cloister.
 


 
 Then, in the 15
 
 th
 
 and 16
 
 th
 
 centuries, numerous additions were made to the cathedral, starting with the high choir, the pulpit, the baptistery and the chapel arch. In the 18
 
 th
 
 century, King John V of Portugal had the new main chapel built. Since then, a number of restoration works have been carried out, including the demolition of the 18
 
 th
 
 century cloister cloakrooms (to expose the cloister's exterior windows and rose windows) and the removal of some Baroque altarpieces (the decoration behind the altar).
 


 <h2 class="wp-block-heading">
 Portugal's largest medieval cathedral
 </h2>


 
 As you walk up Rua 5 de Outubro, the imposing cathedral comes into view. First you see the two towers built in the 16
 
 th
 
 century (one of which is topped with a spire covered in azulejos, and the other has a square tower), then the main doorway with its perfectly preserved 14
 
 th
 
 -century Apostles. Two other entrances complete the picture: the Porta do Sol with its Gothic arches, and the Porta Norte, a legacy of the Baroque period.
 


 
 Once inside Sé de Évora, the monument’s sheer size becomes even more apparent. Its three naves measure around 80 metres in length. The central nave is lined with granite columns, and leads to the richly decorated high altar. Surrounding it is the Gothic cloister, built around 1325. Its elegant architecture is somewhat reminiscent of Hogwarts, the iconic castle of the
 Harry Potter saga
 .
 


 
 But the highlight of the tour is evidently the climb to the roof of the cathedral. From there, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and the golden plains of the Alentejo. Finally, the cathedral's treasury houses an impressive collection of liturgical objects, paintings and religious sculptures. Not to be missed.
 


 <h2 class="wp-block-heading">
 Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 </h2>


 
 In addition to the cathedral, Évora is also packed with historic monuments, which is why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The
 Temple of Diana
 , for example, is one of the best-preserved Roman remains in Portugal. A few steps away, the Church of São Francisco and its
 Chapel of Bones
 (whose walls are covered with skulls and human bones) offer a striking experience.
 


 
 The city also boasts an impressive aqueduct, the Aqueduto da Água de Prata, which runs for several kilometres through Évora. Finally, the cobbled streets of the historic centre are a pleasant invitation to stroll around and discover this city-museum.
 


 
 
 Sé de
 
 
 Évora
 
 Largo Marquês de Marialva
 
 
 7000-809 Évora
 
 
 +351 266 759 330
 
 
 www.evoracathedral.com

This breathtaking Portuguese monument is the country’s largest medieval cathedral

Unknown architecture, catholic churches, monuments, portugal, roman catholic church

An immense cathedral dominates the city of Évora, in Portugal. Dating back to the 12th century, it is an architectural masterpiece combining Romanesque and Gothic styles. If you're unfamiliar wi…

Vatikan Rilis Gambar Unik: Paus Fransiskus Memimpin Misa untuk Pertama Kalinya

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 ROMA,
 
 Vatikan mengunggah gambar perdana Paus Fransiskus pada hari Minggu, 16 Maret 2025, menunjukkan beliau sedang membimbing upacara misa di Kapel Rumah Sakit Gemelli, Roma, Italia.


 Dikutip dari kantor berita
 
 AFP
 
 , peluncuran foto itu sangatlah penting, mengingat Paus Argentina tersebut belum nampak di hadapan publik sejak menjalani perawatan di Rumah Sakit Gemelli.


 Yaitu dari tanggal 14 Februari 2025 akibat pneumonia pada kedua paru-parunya, kondisi tersebut telah lama dikatakan kritis oleh tim medis.




 Gambar itu menunjukkan Paus berumur 88 tahun yang tidak menggunakan kerudung putihnya seperti kebiasaan, namun ia pakai jubah putih serta stola ungu. Dia duduk di sebuah kursi roda di hadapan altar sederhana yang ada salib pada dinding belakangnya.


 Vatikan menyebut bahwa gambar itu diambil pada hari Minggu pagi.


 Diamati dari bagian belakang sisi kanan Fransiskus, wajahnya tak sepenuhnya kelihatan namun matanya terbuka ketika dia menatap ke arah bawah.


 "Paginya, Paus Fransiskus mengawali Misa Kudus di kapel apartemen yang berada di tingkatsepuluh dari Poliklinik Gemelli," demikian tertulis pada pernyataan foto oleh Kantor Pers Vatikan itu.


 Sejak dirawat di rumah sakit, Fransiskus tak bisa mengadakan Misa di Basilika Santo Petrus yang berada di Vatikan.


 Dia juga tidak secara langsung mengucapkan doa Angelus yang diikuti oleh jemaah yang berkumpul di Lapangan Santo Petrus.


 Akan tetapi, minggu sebelumnya, dalam pernyataan Angelus yang dirilis oleh Vatikan, dia menyampaikan rasa terima kasih kepada para pendukung sambil mengakui kondisi kesehatannya yang lemah.




 "Saya bagikan pikiran ini kepada Anda ketika sedang mengalami masa ujian, dan saya bersatu dengan banyak sekali kakak-kakak serta adik-adik yang tengah sakit dan lemah, layaknya diriku sendiri," tulis Fransiskus.


 "Kita mungkin lemah secara fisik, namun tak ada yang bisa menghentikan kita dari mencintai, berdoa, menyumbangkan diri kita sendiri, hadir bagi sesama, dengan keyakinan, dan menampilkan tanda-tanda harapan," imbuhnya.


 Pesannya mengawali Minggu kedua Pra-Paskah, masa persiapan 40 hari yang diisi dengan doa dan pengenalan diri sebelum perayaan Paskah.


 Kesehatan Fransiskus terus membaik dalam minggu ini, sebagaimana Vatican menyebutkan pada hari Sabtu. Meski demikian, keadaannya tetap stabil dan dia masih membutuhkan perawatan medis yang berasal dari rumah sakit.


 Walaupun dia belum menampakkan diri di jendela kamarnya yang berada di lantai 10 Rumah Sakit Gemelli, hal itu tak menghalangi para pendukung untuk tetap datang, meliputi pemain tango dan ratusan anak-anak pada hari Minggu tersebut.


 Beberapa pasang pengantin yang mengenakan pakaian jalan-jalan menarikan tarian tango di bawah langit abu-abu di hadapan segerombolan kameramen di area dekat gerbang utama rumah sakit.


 "Dengan tarian ini, dia perlu dikirim kembali," ujar penari Daiana Gusper (38), orang asli Buenos Aires layaknya Paus.




 "Ia menginginkan rasa kekuatan kami, cinta kami terhadap tango serta bagi seorang Paus dari Argentina," ujarnya kepada
 
 AFP
 
 .

Vatikan Rilis Gambar Unik: Paus Fransiskus Memimpin Misa untuk Pertama Kalinya

Unknown catholic churches, news, politics, religion, roman catholic church

ROMA, Vatikan mengunggah gambar perdana Paus Fransiskus pada hari Minggu, 16 Maret 2025, menunjukkan beliau sedang membimbing upacara misa di Kapel Rumah Sakit Gemelli, Roma, Italia. Dikutip …