The recent demolition of an 18th-century wall in Évora's historic center has raised significant concerns regarding heritage preservation. The wall, located on Travessa da Palmeira and owned by a hotel, was partially taken down on November 4, 2024, following a municipal order citing risks of collapse.
Évora's mayor, Carlos Pinto de Sá, acknowledged a failure in communication from the municipality and assured that the city would take necessary steps to address the situation, including potential restoration efforts with the property owner.
The Instituto Público Património Cultural (Public Cultural Heritage Institute) reported that they had not received any technical assessment regarding the wall's stability or a formal demolition request with safeguarding measures. In July, the Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional (CCDR) of Alentejo had sought clarification from the municipality regarding the publicized intention to demolish 1.5 meters of the structure for safety reasons, involving civil protection authorities.
On the day of the demolition, the Cultural Heritage Institute issued a suspension order for any demolition activities after receiving an alert from the CCDR. However, the wall was fully dismantled before this order could be enforced, prompting the institute to notify the police.
In response to inquiries, Pinto de Sá explained that the municipality acted on warnings from residents and local authorities about the wall's potential danger. The Municipal Civil Protection Service confirmed the risk of collapse and recommended the demolition of the wall to a height of 1.5 meters. The mayor noted that the wall's collapse occurred unexpectedly when demolition commenced, revealing that it lacked proper foundation support.
Despite the demolition, the mayor stated that the municipal archaeology service found no significant historical or heritage value in the wall. A report detailing the findings of the archaeology service and the measures taken by the Cultural Heritage Institute will be sent to the institute.
It is important to note that Évora's historic center is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Monument, making any intervention subject to prior authorization from cultural administration.
The wall, depicted in 18th-century cartography, represented an ancient boundary of a property, contributing to the urban morphology of the historic center.