Private Day tour with private Guide - Tomar and the Knights of Templar history
This tour takes you around the history and the locals that Templar's Knights lived up to the end of this military and religious order, we will visit Almourol castle, the amazing city of Tomar, the synagogue of Tomar, as well as the city of Tomar. On this day we will follow the trail of the Templar knight's, a Christian/military order that played a massive role in Europe and the Middle East.
Options
Tour to Tomar
Pickup included
What's included in Private Day tour with private Guide - Tomar and the Knights of Templar history
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Convento de Cristo
he origin of Tomar Castle is closely tied to the beginning of the Portuguese kingdom and to the presence of Knights Templar in the Iberian Peninsula - at the time mostly occupied by Islamic kingdoms. This was the time of the Crusades and the peninsula was recognized as a Crusade land just like Palestine. In this context, the Knights Templar take an active role in the formation of new Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula. The Knights Templar came to Portugal in 1128. In 1159, King Afonso Henriques awarded them a vast territory situated halfway between Coimbra and Santarém, known as Termo de Ceras, as a reward for their role in the conquests of Santarém and Lisbon (1147). The Knights Templar founded the Tomar Castle and Village in this region. As a result of the persecution against the Knights Templar by Philip IV of France, the Order was extinct in 1312 by Pope Clement V.
Castelo de Almourol
In the middle of the River Tagus, the enigmatic Almourol Castle is one of the most emblematic monuments of the Christian reconquest. Situated on an island in the middle of the River Tagus, Almourol is one of the most distinctive castles in Portugal, because of its historical significance and surrounding landscape. Its history reminds us of the Reconquest of the Portuguese territory during the Middle Ages. When the Christians arrived here in 1129, the castle already existed under the name of Almorolan, having been incorporated immediately afterwards into the land that was placed under the protection of the Knights Templar, whose Master at that time was Gualdim Pais.
Synagogue of Tomar
The Tomar Synagogue is the only proto-Renaissance Hebrew temple in our country. The quadrangular plan and the vaulted ceiling, resting on columns and inlaid consoles, reveal eastern influences. It was built in the 15th century and IMG 6883 compressclosed in 1496, when the Portuguese Jews were expelled from the country. It was later turned into a prison and in the 17th there is a reference to it as the S. Bartolomeu Chapel. In the 19th century it was used a barn, a granary, a goods warehouse and a storage room. Only in 1921 was it possible to restore its lost dignity when it was classified as a National Monument. Samuel Schwarz, a Polish Jewish researcher into Hebrew Culture, saved it from the chaotic state it was in by acquiring it in 1923 and donating it to the Portuguese state in 1939 to house the Abraão Zacuto Luso-Hebrew Museum.
Inclusions
- Light refreshments
- Hotel drop-off
- Driver/guide
- Hotel pickup
- Guaranteed to skip the long lines
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees
- No pets allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- A minimum of 3 people per booking is required
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Additional Information
We pick you up at your hotel, Apartments, Airport, Lisbon port in Central Lisbon (service not available on Mondays)
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended • Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund • Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
