Templo de Diana (Roman Temple), Évora
The Roman Temple of Diana in Évora, featuring 14 Corinthian columns.
Photo by Roman Man.
A closer look at a marble Corinthian capital. Photo: Mick L.
Another view of the Temple of Diana. Photo by smackfu.
Location map and aerial view of the Roman temple. For a larger view,
see our Évora Map or get our free Google Earth download.
The Templo de Diana (Temple of Diana) is a ruined Roman temple in front of the Pousada dos Lóios in the city center of Évora. Dating from the 1st or 2nd century AD, the Temple of Diana is a light, graceful structure with 14 granite Corinthian columns topped by marble capitals with decorative carvings.
The city of Évora was from 80 to 72 BC the headquarters of the Roman commander Quintus Sertorius, and it long remained an important Roman military center. Later it was called Liberalitas Julia because of municipal privileges bestowed upon it by Julius Caesar.
Although tradition holds that it was dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana, there is no evidence for this and its actual dedication remains unknown. The temple withstood the 1755 earthquake, and there's evidence that it was used for a time as a slaughterhouse.
After a look at the temple's attractive columns, walk through the garden for a view of the Roman aqueduct and the surrounding countryside.
Quick Facts
| Date: | 1st or 2nd century AD |
| Location: | Largo do Conde de Vila Flor, Évora, Portugal |
| Contact: | No phone |
| Hours: | Daily, 24 hours (it's out in an open square and accessible anytime) |
| Cost: | Free |
Sources
- Traveler Reviews of the Temple of Diana - TripAdvisor
- Reviews of the Pousada dos Lóios (hotel in a converted 15th-century convent next to the temple) - TripAdvisor
