Cathedral of Évora
| Sé de Évora Évora Cathedral |
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Façade of the Évora Cathedral
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Évora, Portugal |
| Geographic coordinates | 38°34′18″N 7°54′24″W / 38.5718°N 7.9066°WCoordinates: 38°34′18″N 7°54′24″W / 38.5718°N 7.9066°W |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Évora District |
| Province | Alentejo |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque |
| Completed | 1746 |
The Cathedral of Évora (Portuguese: Sé de Évora) is one of the oldest and most important monuments in the city of Évora, in Portugal, lying on the highest spot of the city. It is part of the historical city centre, and the seat of the Archdiocese of Evora.
It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.
Évora was definitively reconquered from Arab hands in 1166 by Geraldo Sem Pavor (Gerald the Fearless), and soon afterwards the new Christian rulers of the city began to build a cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This first building, built between 1184 and 1204, was very modest and was enlarged circa 1280-1340, this time in early Gothic style. The cathedral received several valuable additions through time, such as the Gothic cloisters (14th century), the Manueline chapel of the Esporão (early 16th century) and a new, magnificent main chapel in baroque style (first half of the 18th century). It is the largest of the mediaeval cathedrals in Portugal, and one of its best examples of Gothic architecture.
It is common belief that flags of the fleet of Vasco da Gama on his first expedition to the Orient, were blessed in the first presbytery of the cathedral in 1497.
The most important historical figure associated with the cathedral was Cardinal-King Henrique (1512–1580), who was archbishop and cardinal of Évora. Cardinal Henrique, who was brother of King John III, had to succeed D. Sebastião as King of Portugal after his death in the Battle of Alcácer-Quibir. The Cardinal-King ruled only between 1578 and 1580.
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