Palácio de Condes de Sortelha, Evora, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Palácio dos Condes de Sortelha is the town hall of Évora, the seat of the city's local government in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Beneath it lie the remains of Roman baths from the 2nd century, which tell the story of Évora's long past. It is a good first stop for anyone who wants to see how many layers of history sit under one old city centre.

The story behind it

The ground under today's city hall was already in use in Roman times. When the council planned works here in the late 20th century, the idea, as the story is told, was to make a lounge for municipal staff. What turned up instead was about 300 square metres of Roman baths. The Romans used baths as places to meet and talk, much as people use a lounge, so the find has a certain irony. The baths are now protected, and the staff lounge never happened.

After the Roman period came the Moors, who took Évora in the early 8th century and held it for centuries. The town was won back for the Portuguese crown in 1165 by Geraldo Geraldes, known as Geraldo Sem Pavor, or Geraldo the Fearless. He took the city with a small band of men and gave it to King Afonso Henriques, which is why he is remembered as a local hero.

What to look for

• The Roman baths themselves, protected remains from the 2nd century, which show how much was found under a modern working building.
• The mix of old and civic: this is a working town hall, so notice how daily municipal life carries on in a building with such deep roots.
• The square outside, where you can see how the palace sits among the other historic buildings of Évora's old centre.
• The name Geraldo Sem Pavor, which you will meet again in Évora's stories and street names, a reminder of the 1165 reconquest.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 20 to 30 minutes for the building and the square, longer if you can see the Roman remains. Check current opening hours and access rules before you go, as a working town hall can limit visits.
• Morning or late afternoon is the pleasant time to walk the old centre, with softer light and fewer tour groups.
• The palace is in the heart of the historic centre, so the Roman temple and the cathedral are a short walk away on foot.
• Wear comfortable shoes, because the old streets are cobbled and slope in places.

See it on a quest

The quest Highlights of Evora: From Celtics to Romans is a good way to see this place. You reach the palace on foot as one stop of a longer route through the old town, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. Its theme, from the Celts to the Romans, suits a building that stands on Roman ground. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.