| TOMAR |
Tomar is an interesting town situated in a large and beautiful
valley on the banks of the River Nabão in the centre
of Portugal.
Its twisting medieval cobbled streets and abundance of ancient
monuments link it closely to the Knights Templar and one of
the most important chapters of Portuguese history.
The Order of the Templars was founded in 1119 after the recapture
of Santarém. In 1160, their Grande Master, Gualdim Pais,
built the Castle of Tomar on a hill above the river. After the
suppression of the order in 1314, King Dinis then founded a
new order - the Order of Christ - which was transferred to Tomar
in 1356. This helped finance Prince Henry the Navigator's voyages
of discovery in the 14th and 15th centuries, during which his
ships bore the Order's red cross on their sails.
What to see. Tomar's star attraction is the Convent of
Christ, built over a period of six hundred years from the 12th
to the 17th centuries. This impressive structure comprises seven
cloisters, a temple, a church and a huge bell tower. Half-way
down the hill stands the church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição
(built between 1530 and 1550) with its early Renaissance interior
by Diogo de Torralva. The Gothic late-15th century church of
São João Baptista, located on the town's main
square, features some rare 16th-century paintings including
the Last Supper by Gregório Lopes (1490-1550). Tomar
also a small Jewish museum housed in a 15th-century synagogue.
Nearby. Comprising 180 arches, the Pegões Aqueduct
on the edge of town was constructed from 1593-1614 to carry
water to the Convent of Christ. The pretty whitewashed town
of Constância 20 km south-east of Tomar marks the point
where the Tagus and Zêzere rivers meet. Also worth seeing
is the Castle of Almourel situated on an island in the Tagus,
a short drive east of Constância. |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
