Monday, April 17, 2017

Tomar: Impressive Monastery

Tomar has the first of the three UNESCO monasteries we are visiting in this region. They are of within 50 kilometers of each other. You can buy a combo ticket that's good for a week, but each site gets its own individual UNESCO World Heritage entry.

The Convento de Cristo of Tomar, initially founded in the 12th century by the Knights Templar, is an immense complex, with eight cloisters of varying sizes, plus endless corridors of monk cells -- some of them look rather grand. The place seemed like it may have been a bustling decadent party central, rather than an austere place of contemplation. Never seen any monastery like it!

Tejo River view and Sun-Ling reflection on the train to from Castel Branco to Entrecampos.
On the train to Tomar, Portugal

Approaching the Convento.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

The Charola (Rotunda) built in the 12th century is quite amazing.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

The Renaissance cloister.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

A corridor, one of three, of the dormitory.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

All three corridors (via pano).
Tomar, Portugal

The famous Manueline windows.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

Spiral staircase.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

Now that's some refectory (dining room)!
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

Cloister with some of the staging of a soon-to-be filmed-here Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) movie.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

An aqueduct forms the side of one of the cloisters.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

Tile from yet another cloister.
Convento de Cristo - Tomar, Portugal

The city of Tomar from a viewpoint at the Convento.
Tomar, Portugal

Main square in Tomar.
Tomar, Portugal

Former synagogue.
Tomar, Portugal

Night view of the Convento from our guest house window.
Tomar, Portugal



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