It is easy to see why, when one wanders around the charming cobbled streets of Tomar, its proudest standing buildings have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. These are the Convent of Christ that sits within the magnificent walls of the city’s 12th century Castle, both of which were built by the Templar’s upon the orders of the Grand master of the Order of the Templar in 1160. The castle itself has, through many centuries, been fortified and altered so as to create a fascinating collection of buildings designed in a diverse range of architectural styles. It, and all the walls and fortifications that were erected alongside it, was built for the purposes of regional protection against Moorish invasion and in return the Templar’s received considerable land and notoriety in Tomar.
Charola of the Convent of Christ - Tomar, photo by Região de Turismo dos Templários
This has resulted in an enchanting and history rich city that, although dominated by its castle, has plenty of tiny streets, parks and monuments to get lost in. There exists an exquisite array of churches in a variety of styles dotted throughout Tomar and one really needs a day to see them all. Of course there is the Convent of Christ, with its Byzantine style secret chapels and buttresses made from Roman ruins. Then there is the Gothic Church of Santa Maria do Olival, which contains the tombs of some of the Masters of the Order. One must also pay homage to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception, built between 1532 and 1540 and in the beautiful and somewhat haunting Renaissance style.
Tomar also has a significant old Jewish quarter that houses the best preserved medieval Synagogue in Portugal that is again in the Gothic style. Many Jews found solace and a new place to settle here after being expelled from Spain in the 15th century and their influence is evident in the city. A visit to the Synagogue is not complete without a meander through the Abraão Zacuto Luso-Hebrew Museum.
The river Nabão runs through the city and its trees dip into the reflective water creating quite a dazzling scene. There is also the quaint 15th century Ponte Velha Bridge that leads to one of Tomar’s lovely parks and some impressive natural wonders only miles down the road. One merely needs to spend a day in this delightful central Portuguese city to feel as if they have been transported back to Medieval times; and it a definitely a journey worth taking.
More information: visitportugal.com
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