Tomar, the unrivalled Knights Templar city (the 1st of March 2008)

I have visited this rather unique town born inside the walls of the Convent of Christ already twice and have the feeling I won't ever get bored of visiting it, mainly  because of the history it perspires. 

It  was constructed under the orders of the fourth grand Master of the Knights Templar, Gualdim Pais, in the late 12th century.

Parade in front of Saint John Baptist Square and the statue of the founder of the town (left). View of the Square with the three nave Gothic temple dating back to 1510 (right).

 

Santa Maria do Olival church, the pantheon of the Master Templar knights reconstructed in the XIII century.

The Castle of Tomar built around 1160 and said to having been part of the defence system created by the Templars to secure the border of the yound Christian Kingdom against the Moors (left). View of the Round Templar church  (right)

Manueline entrance of the Convent of Christ (left). Detail of the entrance (right).

Details of the main entrance of the Convent of Christ.

The round Templar church oratory which is a XII/XIII century cylindrical structure of eastern influence, modelled after the Dome of the rock in Jerusalem with its interior decorated with late Gothic painting and sculpture is an absolute beauty, which we (Christian and I) were lucky enough to have been allowed to photograph (as photographing is forbidden).

 The Convent of Christ has a total of eight cloisters built in the XV and XVI centuries, though the most outstanding and emblematic one is the Renaissance influenced one (seen on the right).

The famous chapter house window which has become an iconic representation of the Portuguese patrimony because of the numerous references to the Maritime Discoveries and historical events involving Portugal.

Having always been fascinated by sculptures, since I bought a "sightseeing" book on a city (many years ago) following the route of its spread around statues and stone engraved characters,  I found an abundant "exploring terrain" within the  cloisters because those seemed to be everywhere, from the gargoyles overlooking me to the endless sculpted animal and human characters scrutinizing me from the multiple stone columns.

If the UNESCO Convent is the main attraction, outside its walls there is "another" Tomar which is equally worth being visited, not only because of its numerous churches and chapels, but also because of its "meaningful" little synagogue, the  astounding 6 kilometre long aqueduct and the local festivities, processions and other exquisite events which clearly translate the soul of a people engaged in preserving its old traditions.