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Tomar, central Portugal

Monuments in Tomar

Convento do Cristo & Castelo Templário

Museu dos Fosforos

Pegões Aqueduct

 

Churches of Tomar

Igreja São João Batista

Igreja & Convento do Santa Iria

Igreja Santa Maria do Olival

Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Conceição

Capela São Lourenço

Entertainment & Leisure in Tomar

 

tomar, central Portugal

Carnival in Tomar, Central Portugal

 

Tomar, central Portugal

The central Portugal town of Tomar, is one of the country's historic jewels and played integral parts in Portuguese history.

The town's skyline is dominated by the Knight Templar castle (Castelo Templário) and today revels in the history surrounding this most secretive of religious warrior orders.

Situated about 100 kilometres north of Portugal's capital Lisbon, Tomar was given it's official charter in 1162.

The original medieval town of Tomar was born inside the walls of the historic castle, commissioned by Gualdim de Pais, the fourth master of the Knights Templar. However it was not long before the growing population meant the town spilled outside of the castle to the shores of the Rio Nabão (River Nabão), which cuts the modern day town in two. This historic centre of the town to the west of the Rio Nabão with the new town located on the east, each given district names - Santa Maria dos Olivais (east) and Sao Joao Batista (west) after the churches located on either side of the river.

tomar, central Portugal

tomar, central Portugal

Palacio de Dom Manuel Tomar
O Corredoura (the corredor) Praça de República Palácio de Dom Manuel I

The historic centre of Tomar was constructed on a grid pattern, where the streets are cobbled in marble, interspersed with Templar crosses. The streets are traditionally narrow and ensures even in the midday summer sun there is always somewhere shady to walk while you discover the delights Tomar has to offer.

The Corredoura (Rua Serpa Pinta) is perhaps the exception to this rule. This pedestrianised street, which leads from the Rio Nabão to the Praca da Republica. Legend has it the Templar Knights utilised this street to practise their jousting and thus gave it the name 'Corredoura'. During the spring and summer months in Tomar this cobbled boulevard is a hub for tourists and locals alike sipping cooling drinks in the many cafes which line it.

The Castelo Templário and the UNESCO listed Convento do Cristo, sits a top the hill dominating the skyline of Tomar and is visible from just about every location in the town. For many towns in Portugal this auspicious link to the Knights Templar would be enough to secure their place in the history books, however Tomar plays further in the history of this small Iberian country.

It was perhaps the intrigue of the Knights Templar which drew the royalty of Portugal to this town. King Manuel I chose to reside in Tomar, having a palace constructed opposite the Igreja São João Batista in the Praça de República in the early 16th century. The Palácio de Dom Manuel still stands and now serves as offices for the council following extensive renovation works carried out in 1997.

Perhaps infamously Tomar was the location chosen for the crowning of the King Felipe I of Portugal (Felipe II of Spain) in 1580. The coronation signified the rule of Portugal being given back to Spain. The coronation took place in the Chapterhouse of the Convento do Cristo.

Castelo Templario Tomar tomar, central Portugal Tomar, central Portugal
Castelo Templário Tomar Tourist Train Ponte Velha & Rio Nabão
Mouchao Wheel Tomar, Portugal Tomar, central Portugal Tomar, central Portugal
Roda de Mouchão Tourist Information Office Cobbled Streets

Despite these many links to the past though Tomar is a cosmopolitan town with many boutique style shops, high quality restaurants, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, parks, tennis courts, modern art galleries and a catalogue of festivals and outdoor events throughout the year.  The most renowned festival in Tomar is the Festa dos Tabuleiros, which is only held once every four years.  

 

The new town of Tomar to the east of the River Nabão is stark contrast to the historic centre. Wide tree lined boulevards help camouflage the sprawl of apartment buildings, schools, supermarkets, health centres and hospital. Perhaps the oldest building in the new town is the Praca dos Touros (bull ring), which does seem strangely out of place.

 

Tomar is not a large town, though to ensure you maximise your visit, the local town council operates a 'tourist train', which wends it's way through the narrow streets around the town's historic and important monuments during the summer months. The train arrives and departs from the Praça de República.

tomar, central Portugal

tomar, central Portugal

tomar, central Portugal

River Nabão

Tomar Market

Pegões Aqueduct

One sight not to be missed is the weekly market where everything you could imagine is available from fruit, vegetables, nuts, fish and meat through to hardware, soft furnishings, chickens, birds, trees and clothes. There is a daily market situated next to the Rio Nabão.

 

However each Friday the large car parks adjacent turn into a mini tented city with stall holders from all over the region setting up shop to sell their wares. The air is thick with the smell of 'bifanas' (pork sandwiches) as the temporary catering units fire up their barbecues.

 

Whether you want your knives sharpened, a grill for your barbecue making by the local blacksmith or a tractor or you just simply want to soak up the atmosphere a visit to the market makes for an enjoyable day out. It is certainly a social occasion for most locals who visit.

Video of Tomar's Praça da República

Location Map of Tomar

View Tomar, Portugal in a larger map

tomar, central Portugal

 

Tomar Day - 1st March

 

Property for sale in Tomar

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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