The University of Évora was founded in 1559 by Cardinal Henrique as a Jesuit college — making it the second-oldest university in Portugal after Coimbra — and its historic seat, the Colégio do Espírito Santo, is one of the city's most serene visits.
The great Renaissance cloister rises in two storeys of marble colonnades; off it open the historic classrooms, each walled in 18th-century azulejo panels that teach the subjects once taught beneath them — physics, philosophy, mathematics — and the Mannerist church of the Espírito Santo. Students in black capes still cross the courtyard, because the university, closed when the Jesuits were expelled in 1759, was refounded in 1973 and thrives.
Visitors may wander the cloister and peek into classrooms not in use; entry is modest (free much of the year, around €3 in high summer), open Monday to Saturday.
Highlights
- Founded 1559 — Portugal's second-oldest university
- Two-storey Renaissance marble cloister
- Classrooms lined with 18th-century azulejos
- Mannerist church of the Espírito Santo
- A living campus, refounded in 1973
History & context
Founded by Cardinal Henrique in 1559 and run by the Jesuits until their expulsion in 1759 closed it; reborn in 1973, the university returned teaching to the Colégio do Espírito Santo's azulejo classrooms.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Term-time mornings, when the cloister has students and quiet in equal measure.
⏱️ Duration
45 minutes – 1 hour
♿ Accessibility
Ground-floor cloister is level; upper gallery by stairs.
Frequently asked questions
Can you enter the classrooms?
Rooms not in use can usually be viewed — the azulejo panels illustrating each discipline are the highlight.
When is it open to visitors?
Monday to Saturday, roughly 09:30–17:00; closed Sundays and holidays. Entry is free most of the year and about €3 in high summer.