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.


Approaching the Convento.


The Charola (Rotunda) built in the 12th century is quite amazing.




The Renaissance cloister.


A corridor, one of three, of the dormitory.


All three corridors (via pano).


The famous Manueline windows.




Spiral staircase.


Now that's some refectory (dining room)!


Cloister with some of the staging of a soon-to-be filmed-here Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) movie.


An aqueduct forms the side of one of the cloisters.


Tile from yet another cloister.


The city of Tomar from a viewpoint at the Convento.


Main square in Tomar.


Former synagogue.


Night view of the Convento from our guest house window.