TOMAR

Tomar is the most important place of the Templar History in the whole world, since it has preserved an imposing castle and church, practically intact.

In Tomar, apart from the Convent of Christ, there are other testimonies of the influence of the Knights Templar, such as the woods Mata dos Sete Montes, where initiating rituals took place, and the Church of Santa Maria do Olival – the ancient Roman Sellium, donated by the first King of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques to Master Gualdim Pais, as he returned from the Crusades.

In the street Rua Joaquim Jacinto, the former Rua Nova, parallel to Corredoura street, there is the Jewish quarter of mid-15th century, the oldest one in Portugal, nowadays skillfully converted into a museum.

The spectacular Festas dos Tabuleiros (a procession of white-clad virgins carrying headdresses made of bread loaves) are held every four years in July. Their origin is associated with the cult of the Holy Spirit.

About 14 kms from Tomar lies the lagoon of the Castelo de Bode dam, which captures the water to supply Lisbon, and whose islets and banks are covered with pine groves. There are ideal places here to spend some holiday time in contact with Nature.