Simply put, the Pousada de Loios is one of the jewels in the crown of the Portuguese State owned Pousada network. Originally a convent going back to the 15th century, over the years it has been put to a wide variety of uses, including being a school, an army garrison and offices.

Finally, in 1965, it opened its doors to the public as one of the region’s pousadas par excellence. It offers fabulous architecture - witness the Manueline cloisters with its arches that have been glassed and transformed into a marvellous dining room, sumptuousness of the kind that only an old world accommodation seems to provide - antiques, frescoes, chandeliers - and a supreme location in the heart of Évora by the cathedral and the Temple of Diana.

The old monks’ cells have been transformed into comfortable bedrooms complete with bedrooms and fittings, though on the smallish side evidencing its frugal origins, decor remains in keeping with the rest of this lovely building. The Pousada de Loios is also well known for its imaginative cuisine and its fine wine list.