Living in Évora
If living in Évora has been a dream for you, take a look at what this city has in store for foreign nationals before making the big move.
Article by Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation Partner to KipperTree
November 18, 2022
Living in Portugal
If you’re looking for an escape from the busy city life, consider a move to the large Alentejo region. You might not know this, but Alentejo is the biggest region in the whole of Portugal. However, the irony is that it only accounts for about 5% of the country’s population. So you can only imagine how peaceful it is to be living in Évora.
The capital of Alentejo is a major historical landmark in this region. Although not quite as popular as other major cities like Lisbon or the Algarve, those who make their way here enjoy all that it offers. Having said that, the big question remains: what is living in Évora like? Is this city a good place for ex-pats to consider moving to?
Well, to answer these questions, this post compiles a detailed breakdown of all you need to know about the capital of the Alentejo region. Stick around to find out more.
What is living in Évora like?
If you’re used to city life, living in Évora is the exact opposite. To begin, it’s worth mentioning that Évora is a rural city featuring large plains with plenty of wildflowers that come to life in spring. Here, sheep and horses graze in the plains that stretch as far as your eyes can travel.
Essentially, life in Évora is slow-paced without the noise and trouble of city life. While this is true, you can also find all the conveniences of a modern city right in this destination. There are plenty of stores, recreation centres, good roads, and other amenities to cater to your needs.
If you’re a history enthusiast, you’ll immediately fall in love with this great city. Living in Evora is synonymous with living in a museum. This city was recognized by UNESCO in 1986 as a World Heritage Site and packs a lot of history dating back to ancient Roman times.
Who lives in Évora?
As mentioned earlier, Évora is the capital of the Alentejo region. This city boasts a population of about 53,591 residents, according to recent data from Pordata. It’s worth mentioning that Évora doesn’t have a significant foreign influence in the city. In fact, the total ex-pat population in the entire Alentejo region accounts for about 4.4% of the population.
The few ex-pats that find their way to this historical city are usually looking for peace and quiet in a destination that is not completely isolated but still far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Why are ex-pats moving to Évora?
Although the majority of ex-pats moving to Portugal prefer popular destinations like Porto, Albufeira, or Lisbon, Évora is slowly becoming popular not only for history enthusiasts but also among ex-pats and tourists.
While peace is often one of the main attractions of this destination, it’s also worth noting that Évora has a lot more to offer. From the promise of a quality life to a relatively cheaper cost of living, it is great to see this city finally getting the recognition it deserves. Let’s have a look at three of the major reasons why living in Évora is becoming popular.
Rich history
With a history dating far back several centuries, living in Évora gives you countless opportunities to learn about ancient roman times. You’ll be surprised to find ruins from the 15th century that tell a great story about life in those ancient times.
Formerly a king’s residence, Évora gives you the unique opportunity of travelling through time and walking on the same cobblestone streets that many great people have walked on centuries before. Many historical buildings in Évora hold significant history, for instance, Roman Temple, the Bones Chapel, and the Évora Cathedral, just to mention a few.
Besides that, this city is known for having the best gastronomy in Portugal. You get to wine and dine in the traditional Portuguese cuisines that have been kept almost the same throughout the different generations.
Good quality of life
Part of what contributes to the quality of life is how residents are satisfied with life in their city. If you are considering moving and living in Évora, you will be delighted to find out that it has the second-best living conditions in the country.
To begin, Évora is quite large, covering about 1,300 sq km. In contrast to the city’s population, there is plenty of space for residents to live a life they choose, whether it’s rearing animals or even living in a large ranch with plenty of playing ground for children.
Besides that, Évora is also peaceful, with significantly less tourism action even in the peak of summer compared to other destinations like the Algarve. Over-tourism is a serious issue and can be a nuisance for anyone looking for a private life away from all the noise and commotion.
Prospect of getting the Golden Visa
This might easily be the major reason why ex-pats need to turn their eyes to the large Alentejo region. The recent shakeup to the Golden Visa rules is in high favour of Évora and other low-density destinations in Alentejo.
This is particularly beneficial to foreign investors who want to invest in this region’s real estate. The good news, however, is that Alentejo is still affordable compared to other cities in Portugal.
The Golden Visa Program comes with a lot of benefits for qualified individuals. Through this program, you can work and also move freely within the Schengen area. And after 5 years, you also get the opportunity to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
With this in mind, it doesn’t come as a surprise that suddenly, ex-pats from all over the globe are getting interested in this medieval city in the heart of the great Alentejo region.
The cost of property varies greatly in Évora. You’ll get different prices depending on the location of the said property and also the season as well. However, while this is true, it’s also worth reiterating that the cost of property in Évora and most parts of Alentejo are still relatively cheaper compared to Lisbon, Algarve, and Porto.
To learn all about the cost of buying property in the different parishes in Évora, rental costs, health care, education and much more read the full article here