Portuguese name: Núcleo Interpretativo do Megalitismo
Walk inside the beautiful Remedios Convent and follow the signs past the menirs on display, and you enter a small but fascinating museum of megalithism in the heart of Évora. Celebratings the discoveries in the surrounding regions, the displays will give you information about sites to visit, how the sites were built and how people lived during the time the sites were in use, and a chance to see some of the artefacts that were found in the sites.
This interpretative centre was set up in 2016 in conjunction with the Museum of Évora and the University of Évora.
“With the remodeling of the permanent exhibition located on the ground floor of Remedios Convent, currently occupying the two rooms located there, it was intended to give a greater focus to the megalithic phenomenon.
The attempt was to keep the regulatory concept of the existing regarding the megaliths, the result of a partnership with the municipality and the Superior School of Fine Arts in 2008, developing in parallel, a section dedicated to the unique reality of Évora region.
However, the recognized singularity of Évora´s territory within the megalithic context, involved the creation of an interpretation structure that allows the visitor to understand the real extent of the number of elements that can still be observed. As such, it was essential the integration in the new expository speech the most relevant parts of the vast municipal archaeological collection, aiming not only the reveal of the importance of this heritage, but also to provide an idea of everyday life of so distant civilizations. In this context, collaboration with Évora’s Museum was crucial, which allowing the display of numerous pieces, which greatly enrich the interpretive center.
Given the above, what is here shown to visitors is a chronological journey through the megalithic phenomenon, from his European overview, linking a set of visual tools, maquettes and archaeologial pieces, with information panels.“
from the flyer published about the center.
Besides artefacts, there are a number of dioramas showing life during the neolithic period, videos showing the restoration of sites, maps of the major sites in the area, and displays of specific sites such as the Cromeleque of Almendres or Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro. The main information panels are in Portuguese, with QR codes linking to English translations. There is also a printed “Exhibition Guide” available with the text in English. Artefact labels are in Portuguese and in English.
Location
Alentejo region, district of Évora. The Interpretation Center is located in the former Convento dos Remédios, on the western edge of the city of Évora.
Admission
Entrance is free. The center is open Monday through Friday, 9:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:30
Links
- Website (in Portuguese, with translation option) from the Town Hall of Évora
- Website (also in English & Spanish) with translations of the center’s displays, photographs, and information.
Nearby
The area around Évora is full of significant prehistoric sites. The most famous are the Cromeleque and Menir of Almendres, and the Anta Grande de Zambujeiro