Convento de Cristo	Convento de Cristo	Roof of the Convent
Praça da República surrounded by 17th century buildings	The main attraction of Tomar is the World Heritage Site of Convento de Cristo, an architectural delight that brings to life all the romance and history of the Knights Templar.  From its turrets enjoy an uninterrupted view of the surrounding countryside. Tomar is a small bustling city split into two halves, The Old Town with its quaint cobbled streets and up market boutiques and the New Town, located on the other side of the River Nabão.  Tomar has an abundance of coffee shops and restaurants and hosts a thriving market every Friday morning.  Go there to buy "genuine" designer goods or stock up on your weekly fresh produce direct from the many local farms. UNESCO's statement upon making Tomar a World Heritage Site: "Originally designed as a monument symbolizing the Reconquest, the Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar (transferred in 1344 to the Knights of the Order of Christ) came to symbolize just the opposite during the Manueline period - the opening of Portugal to other civilizations."
Old Town High Street	The Order of The Knights Templar was founded in Jerusalem in 1118. The Knights' remit was to guard holy places and in time their beliefs became shrouded in mystery and secrecy (as demonstrated in the Dan Brown book The Da Vinci Code).  There were constant rumours that they had indeed discovered the Ark of The Covenant and The Holy Grail. Others believed that they had finally achieved the alchemist's dream of turning base metal into gold. They were answerable only to the popes and prospered rapidly acquiring property, money and power to such an extent that they were seen as a threat to the rulers of European countries.  The King of Portugal however saw them as a means of re-establishing Christianity in his quest against the Moors. In 1319 the Order was disbanded and in its place was set up the Order of Christ with its headquarters in Tomar. All the original possessions and privileges of the Knights Templars were transferred to the new order so it became a change virtually in name only. The Order of Christ subsequently became heavily involved in Portugal's drive to expand its influence throughout the new world.
Festa dos Tabuleiros	Every four years Tomar celebrates the Festa dos Tabuleiros - literally the Festival of the Platters. It commemorates a 14th century tradition when the then queen distributed bread, wine and meat to the poor. Today's celebration is spread over 5 days when more than 350 women and their partners process through the streets of Tomar. Each girl, dressed in pure white, carries an enormous structure on her head that matches her own height.  The cane structure is studded with loaves of bread entwined with flowers and leaves and topped with a white dove. The total weight is around 15Kg and is the reason the male partner accompanies her, as he needs to constantly monitor and straighten the load. The next festival is scheduled for June/July 2011.
River Nabão	The River Nabão runs through the heart of Tomar and dissects the Old and New Towns. Stand on the Old Bridge and look down at the hundreds of fish whilst keeping a watchful eye on the heron to see when he is going to strike!
Pegões Aquaduct	Pegões Aquaduct, located just a couple of minutes from Tomar, was constructed in the 16th century to carry water to the Convento. With 180 arches it stretches magnificently across the valleys and is well worth the visit. Remarkably you can still walk along the top of the aquaduct but you will definitely need a good head for heights!