Tomar Knights of the Temple Historical Tour

Tomar Knights of the Temple Historical Tour

Tomar is a very special place and its history needs to be told by someone who really loves the place - and we do! We know facts and legends related to Tomar which will make your tour unique and memorable!
We know hidden places, we know tricks hidden within walls and we will show you all of it... you will actively participate in the tour, at some points... and it will become so much more interesting when it's you who will find some of these secrets!! We can't wait to share all of these "stories" and legends with you... See you soon!!

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Igreja de Santa Maria dos Olivais, Avenida da Horta D'El Rei, Tomar 2300-304 Portugal

Church of Santa Maria do Olival, was the mother church for the Order of the Knights Templar, a replica of the Holy Mountain and the Garden of Olives in Jerusalem and a sacred burial ground. Built by
Gualdim Pais, a 12th century grand master of the Order in
Portugal, it was also used for secret ceremonies and rites. The
knights used a hidden tunnel, connecting this church to the
Convent and Castle, as a secret passage. There are a few more interesting facts, but those we will tell you when we get there, alright?

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Levada de Tomar – Moinhos e Lagares d’El Rei, Rua Joao Carlos Everard, 2300, Tomar 2300-000 Portugal

Cross the Roman Bridge and visit Casa do Cubo and Estaus, templar facilities and warehouses.
The Old Roman Bridge calls back to the origins of Sellium, an early
Roman settlement in what is now Tomar.
The Estaus were built by Prince Henry the Navigator, appointed governor of the Order of Christ by his father, King João I. The Prince lived in Tomar, and among other works, he ordered the construction of the Estaus or Paços da Ribeira, hostels designed to lodge the people who came to the city on the orders of the Prince, such as officials of the kingdom and nobles.
The Casa dos Cubos was the 15th-century warehouse for goods such as cereals, vegetables, wine and olive oil received by the Order of Christ as payments in kind. Recently renovated, it has been specifically designed for tourism and cultural purposes for which it has received several international awards for architecture.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Synagogue of Tomar, Rua Dr. Joaquim Jacinto, 73 The synagogue has been renovated and is now open for visitors, Tomar 2300-577 Portugal

Visit the oldest synagogue in Portugal and Church of São João Baptista!
The Church of São João Baptista was built side-by-side with Corredoura (traditional commercial street). This church was built in the 16th-century over existing 12th-century structures. The façade, in Gothic-flamboyant style, has a portal with alfiz. The Manueline octagonal clock tower has Visigothic motifs on its base (funerary pediment displaying two confronted animals flanking a fleur-de-lis). Inside the church, notable features include the painting attributed to the 14th-century artist Gregório Lopes and the Flemish triptych representing the Baptism of Christ.
The Synagogue is the oldest existing synagogue in Portugal. It was built from scratch in the middle of the old Jewish Quarter set up by Prince Henry the Navigator and still preserves its original character. Closed after the expulsion of Jews by King Manuel I, it has served several purposes such as a jail and a warehouse. Today, it houses the Jewish Museum Abraão Zacuto. Of the original elements, four columns and the acoustic system (clay pitchers embedded in the walls) still remain intact.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Convent of Christ, Igreja do Castelo Templario, Tomar 2300-322 Portugal

Castle and Convent of Christ!
The Templar Castle - Built by order of D. Gualdim Pais in 1160 in the
image of MiddleEast castles, it boasts evidence of defence techniques, such as the alambor adossed to the great outer wall, which were used in the battles against the Moors during the reign of King Afonso Henriques.
It was divided into three parts: the Almedina – the beginning of the
village; the Arms Square and the Citadel with the military zone and the Keep.
The castle walls also comprised the Charola, a religious rotunda-shaped building which has later been adapted to serve as the top of the nave of the Manueline church. In the 14th century, with the construction of the Convent of Christ, it has undergone major alterations.
Convent of Christ - Incorporated in the Castle grounds and built from
the 12th-century Charola, the Convent was home to the Order of Christ from the 14th century onwards. This colossal building bears witness to prominent figures of Portuguese history such as Prince Henry the Navigator who, apart from his own residence, ordered the construction of two cloisters. The 14th-century church and cloisters date back to King Manuel I and his son João III. Filipe II, who became king at the Cortes de Tomar ordered the construction of the Main Cloister and other impressive works such as the Pegões Aqueduct.

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Stop At: Castle of Almourol, Em1191, Vila Nova da Barquinha 2260 Portugal

Castelo de Almourol!
The castle of Almourol is one of the more emblematic and scenographic medieval military monuments of the Reconquista and one of the best representations of the influence of the Knights Templar in Portugal.
When it was conquered in 1129 by forces loyal to the Portuguese
nobility was known as Almorolan​ and placed in the trust of Gualdim
Pais, the master of the Knights Templar in Portugal who subsequently
rebuilt the structure. The structure was reconstructed, starting in 1171
(from an inscription over the principal gate) and restored during the
subsequent reigns.
NOTE - Please note that if we take too long in Tomar, we will skip this stop....Tomar is the main focus of the tour!

Duration: 45 minutes