Tomar is a city situated on the banks of the Nabão river and at the foot of a hill crowned by a fort inside which you will find the Cristo Convent, classified Unesco World Heritage in1984. The ciy's economy is based on agriculture and the forest wealth but there are also industries connected to textile and the production of wood pulp, resins and transformation of wood.
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Tomar's history goes back to at least the Romans according to the finds from the left bank of the river. Tomar might come from Sellium and Nabância, Roman cities conquered by the Arabs in 716. Tomar was taken back from the Arabs in 1147 by the first king of Portugal. He then gave it to the Knights Templar who built a convent fortress there which became the headquarters for the Templar Knights of Portugal. In 1314 under pressure from the Pope who wanted to ban the Templars from Europe, king Dinis negociated and could transfer the Portuguese Templars' possessions and personnel to the newly created Militia of the Knights of Christ, whose Grand Master would be nominated by the Pope, and the lay Master (Governor) by the king. When Henry the Navigator was Governor the Order of Christ financed the discoveries and the caravels had the order's cross painted on their sails. Then Henry in return used the riches brought back from his expeditions to greatly improve the buildings of the Convent, he ordered dams to be built to regulate the river
Nabão and swamps to be drained.
The streets and squares of the picturesque centre of Tomar are organised following a chessboard pattern, a rare feature for a mediaeval city, which later inspired the pattern used for the rebuilding of Lisbon after the Earthquake in 1775. Scattered throughout the town there are many interesting houses with Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic façades. By the river Nabão, near the bridge, there is a park and garden that offer nice views of the city and surroundings.
The visit of the Cristo Tomar Convent is a must for all those who want to know more about the culture and history of Portugal.
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Tomar - Portal |
Tomar - Templar Church |
Tomar - Templar Church - Inside |
The Convent is situated on the hill and encircled by 12th century ramparts. Its construction took place from the 12th to the 17th century. and made of this building a real architecture museum where you will find Roman, Gothic, manuélin and renaissance styles.
It is best to leave the car outside the ramparts and then go up to the entrance of the convent through the garden. The church gate is magnificent, it was built by João of Castilho, architect from the Dos Jerónimos convent in Lisbon. Then you enter the Charola of the Templar Knights, built in the 12th century, it's an octagonal construction supported by eight pillars, unique in the west of Europe. Paintings and statues can be admired there.
At the Discovery period this Rotunda was opened up and a magnificent nave was added to house the choir and the sacristy, becoming known as the Chapter House.
The whole of the west front of the Manueline nave, which contains the famous chapter house window is the supreme example of the mysticism of this Spiritual Chivalry, illustrating the mission that the Order of Christ had taken upon itself in embarking upon the great enterprise of the maritime discoveries. Amidst this emblematic decoration, certain features stand out in particular as figurative themes: the tree, its trunk and roots; the frequent presence of certain plant species, such as the acanthus, artichoke, cork-oak, rose-hips and even seaweed.
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Also quite remarkable in this astonishing work is the symbolism of the connections or vital functions expressed by grafts, ribbons, wickerwork laces, ropes and chains, fire and waves and also by fantastic or mythological creatures, such as the Chinese Dragon. Angels represent spiritual power, whilst kings represent temporal power, all being surmounted by the heraldic devices of the Order of the Knights of Christ, as shown in the Cross of the Order, in the royal coat of arms and armillary sphere, the emblem that D. Manuel adopted for his own house when he became the lay master of the Order of Christ
When going outside the walls, on the way down, to the left there is Igreja Nossa Senhora da Conceição.
Built in Italian Renaissance style on order of king D.João III, it is a very beautiful church.
In the city you can see Igreja de São João Baptista.
Built in the 15th century it has a very beautiful manueline style gate. On the inside there are 16th century azulejos. And also very good quality primitive Portuguese paintings by for example Gregório Lopes, painter for the Court.
- Igreja Santa Maria do Olival
Built in the 13th century. It was the first seat of the Templar Knights. You will find Gualdim Pais' gravestone there, Grand Master Templar Knight.
- Igreja de São Francisco, a baroque building with a convent from 1625-1660.
- Igreja de Santa Iria, a very old building restored in the 16th century by Castilho.
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Tomar - Synagogue |
- The Synagogue
Built between 1430 and 1460 by the important Jewish community, and now restored; since 1939 it has been used as the Museu Hebraico Abraão Zacuto, with several mediaeval tomb slabs from the whole country. Among its best exhibits is a stone plate from the Lisbon synagogue, dated from 1308 and bearing a greeting inscription. (closed on Wednesdays).
- The surprising Match Museum (Museu dos Fosforos) with 43 000 matchboxes from 122 countries, the largest collection in Europe.: Open from 10:00 to 17:00, closed on Saturdays and bank holidays. Free admission. No smoking !
Just 3 km away, Aqueduto de Pegões, an impressive 6 km aqueduct that was built from 1593 to 1613 to supply water to the monastery. It has 180 arches and is double decker in places.
The local feast - Festa Dos Tabuleiros - takes place every 3 years in July and relates to the cult of the Holy Spirit introduced by queen Saint Isabel in the 13th century.
