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.
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.
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.
We Will visit the City of Tomar and stop here for our lunch time
We enjoyed a wonderful tour with Darren from Templar Knights Tours. He picked us up at the hotel and we toured for the next 3-4 hours. This was one of our highlights of our 16 day tour of Portugal. Away from the crowds with Darren guiding us, we gained such valuable insight from an expert. Thank you agin Darren.
Title: An Unforgettable Templar Experience in Tomar ★★★★★ My name is Samuel Rutter, and my Tomar tour with I Go Portugal was absolutely incredible, thanks to our guide, Pedro Maga. The history of the Knights Templar is fascinating on its own, but Pedro brought it to life in a truly exceptional way. His deep knowledge, clear explanations, and engaging storytelling made the complex history easy to understand and endlessly interesting. Walking through Tomar and the Convent of Christ while learning about the Templars’ role in Portugal was a highlight of my trip. Pedro’s passion and expertise made every stop meaningful, and I left feeling both inspired and amazed. I highly recommend this tour — especially with Pedro — to anyone interested in history, mystery, and unforgettable travel experiences.
Nestor was excellent and he has Ben explaining history about the places visited.Just would have better if the places have covered lochlomond and other lochs for photos
The trip to Tomar and Costelo de Almourol with Pedro M from I Go Portugal was a very memorable experience. My husband and I had a private tour in a very comfortable car and with a wonderful host. We started our tour with Castelo de Almourol - took a short charming ride on the boat, then continued to Tomar and it's magnificent Convento de Cristo and walked the streets of historical Tomar. Pedro is a natural born story teller- we had spend more than 2 hours in Covento de Cristo and he knew everything possible about the history, architecture and facts about it. His passion for the history of the places we visited and Portugal is incredibly contagious. Thank you Pedro M for your positive attitude, your undivided attention and I Go Portugal for this trip - Convento de Cristo was truly one of the most memorable sites we had visited on our Portugal trip.
A very delightful experience with a very knowledgeable guide. We loved our guide as she made every effort to accommodate our needs. She was very versed in the history and we enjoyed our day with her and had louts of laughs. so ia was a great choice!
This day was the highlight of our time in Portugal. Pedro M has an amazing knowledge of history and culture. He was a gracious host and the SUV was extremely comfortable. He made the day rich, relaxed and easy and knew just how to manage our energy. The sights on this tour are staggeringly beautiful. Lunch was at a restaurant along the river bank. I cannot give a higher recommend to our guide and this trip.
I visited Portugal again and had to use the services from I Go again, especially to experience the Templar tour that our guide Miguel had told us about on our previous visit and left us curious. And what an experience, the amazing history of the Templars in Portugal is both interesting and surprising. We visited both a medieval castle built by them called Almourol and a town founded by them, with the amazing (and really huge) Christ Convent. It was so amazing to really experience what was their lifestyle back in the day, especially through the very enthusiastic lens of Miguel, who never disappoints. We also had a lovely lunch with a view to the river and got to see the only existing medieval sinagogue in Portugal! What a day! Thank you Miguel and I Go.
We spent the day with Sonia visiting Tomar and the Convent of Christ. Her knowledge and passion for the Knights Templar. Sonia is a wonderful story teller really enhancing the visit. Highly recommend
Tomar is like a hidden gem, beautiful architecture history and no crowds! Our tour guide Pedro M was incredible, he was so knowledgeable and passionate about the history. He really made the experience special and memorable. We feel like we didn’t get to just witness the beauty around us but understand the background of the Templar knights. Amazing day highly recommend!!
We had a great tour with Sónia. She had an extremely vast knowledge of the history of the Knights Templer, and historic buildings in Tomar. Sónia was even able to find a good local vegetarian restaurant for us. Sónia kept us captivated, as she excels at telling the narrative. We highly recommend, and would book with this company again.
We had a great tour with Sónia. She had an extremely vast knowledge of the history of the Knights Templer, and historic buildings in Tomar. Sónia was even able to find a good local vegetarian restaurant for us. Sónia kept us captivated, as she excels at telling the narrative. We highly recommend, and would book with this company again.
My wife and I enjoyed our trip to Tomar. All sights are very interesting. Our guide Sonya was very knowledgeable, kind and helpful. She was able to keep any conversation. The most exciting sights are: Castle of Almourol, old synagogue and Castelo De Tomar.
We were so very impressed with Sonia's knowledge and understanding of the Portugese history. She shared information we would have otherwise missed out on if we had toured on our own. She was timely, kind and concerned that we have the type of day we wanted. We would highly recommend her!!
The tour was amazing, from the views to the guide it was amazing. I took my wife and she had a amazing time. We learnt a lot and saw a lot of things as regular travelers wouldn’t see because we don’t know about the area or country. The tour guide was amazing and very well knowledgeable about the area 100/10 completely recommended it.
Migel was our very knowledgeable guide. Tomar Castle is well worth the visit. Fascinating history lesson about the Templars and Portugal. Beautiful area to visit away from the crowds of Lisbon. Highly recommend.
My family and I had a great experience visiting the Knights of Templar. We loved the town of Tomar and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and was very patient with my family, some of whom had some difficulty with all of the steps and walking. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore the Knights of Templar!
Our tour guide, Miguel, was exceptionally knowledgeable and professional. This was an excellent tour and highlighted the significance of the Knights Templar, Portugal and Tomar in history.
We had the pleasure of experiencing an incredible journey with I go Portugal and our remarkable tour guide, Miguel. His extensive knowledge of history truly brought our custom Templar tour to life, making it an unforgettable experience. We were so impressed with his expertise and enthusiasm that we couldn't resist booking a second private tour to Sintra and Cabo da Roca. Miguel's passion for the Templar history was evident throughout the tour. He effortlessly weaved captivating stories and anecdotes, painting a vivid picture of the ancient order and their significance in Portugal's past. His attention to detail and ability to answer every question left us in awe of his wealth of knowledge. Not only did Miguel showcase his historical expertise, but he also proved to be an excellent guide for our journey to Sintra and Cabo da Roca. His enthusiasm for the stunning landscapes and architectural marvels was contagious. He took us to the most breathtaking viewpoints, ensuring we captured the essence of each location. His insights into the cultural and historical significance of Sintra enriched our visit, making it even more meaningful. Throughout both tours, Miguel demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a genuine passion for his job. He was attentive, friendly, and always went the extra mile to ensure our comfort and satisfaction. His dedication to providing a personalized experience was evident in his meticulous planning and attention to our preferences. I go Portugal truly exceeded our expectations, and Miguel played an instrumental role in making our trip to Portugal unforgettable. If you have the opportunity to tour with Miguel, don't hesitate! His wealth of history knowledgeand infectious enthusiasm will make your journey an extraordinary one.
The Convent in Tomar along with its Templar associated art, architecture, and history is a must see for anyone visiting the broader Lisbon area. If you enjoy any of the themes above, you’re going to be taking a ton of photos during your visit.
Had an amazing trip with Sonya the tour guide, she was very flexible and went all out to show as much as possible in the time available. She made the effort of spending as much time as possible in all the stops we made
Miguel was an amazing tour guide. His passion for history and the Knights of Templar was infectious. Our party of 4 had a great time and learned a lot.
We had a wonderful tour of Tomar with Miguel as our guide! We had booked another tour company for a different excursion before this one, and I can only say that I wish I knew of I Go Portugal first. Miguel was exceptional! He was so knowledgeable about all the sights we visited as well as the history of Portugal and just about everything else that came up in our conversations! He was fascinating to listen to and we learned so much from him. His easy going personality and pleasant demeanor made our day so relaxing and enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour and Miguel as your guide!
We were anticipating an interesting tour, but this exceeded our expectations. Not only was Miguel knowledgeable about the Templars but also Portuguese history. And as a plus, he was interesting to listen to and capitated our undivided attention. If you have an interest in history, do not pass this up.
I booked this tour to find out more about the Templars and little did I know what was in store for me! Sónia was my tour guide and she gave me this really 1-on-1 experience telling me everything about the history of the Templars and their presence in Portugal. She is an amazing person, a wonderful soul and by far the best tour guide I've ever met, sharing this wealth of knowledge but always accompanied with an incredible passion for her work and her country's history. We started off by visiting Almourol Castle, built by the Templars in the middle of the Tejo River, with a fun boat ride to access it and got told all about how it came to be and the legends around it. Afterwards, we went to Tomar itself and enjoyed a wonderful lunch by the river as per Sónia's excellent recommendation, followed by a lovely stroll through the historical center until we got to visit the only medieval sinagogue left in Portugal (!) After that, we went up the hill to visit the Convent of Christ and wow, there are no words to describe how wonderful and unique that thing is, something that can only be really understood by Sónia's passionate telling of it's history, with a lot of laughter in the middle. I felt Portuguese for the day I spent with Sónia, the best tour guide in Portugal, and can't recommend her and her company I Go Portugal enough! Thank you Sónia for the amazing experience!
We had a wonderful tour with Miguel! This was certainly one of the highlights of our trip to Portugal and gave us such an appreciation for this country's rich history. Miguel was a superb guide and full of information for every aspect of the tour and all of the questions we asked. He very much inspired us to want to learn more about the templars and the Order of Christ. Highly recommend this tour and Miguel!
Sonia was the guide you all dream of getting. She took me on a Knights Templar tour to Tomar. Breathtaking buildings - so ancient and beautiful and she breathed life into the history behind them - the main players, the intrigues, powerful women, the effect of all the tribes that have played their part in Portugal's history and the religious temperature. Absolutely fascinating because she has a passion for guiding, her country and her historical subjects. She gave me the best tour I think I've ever experienced anywhere. Fabulous.
Miguel was promptly on time to get us for the tour. The car was spotless and his driving was superb. Miguel knowledge of the history of Portugal and the knights Templar was impressive. He answered all our questions through out the whole day. He conducted the tour at our pace and was never rushing us. If you have interest in learning about the Knights Templar this tour is definitely for you. And ask for Miguel because he will make the tour even better.
Amazing tour! Enjoyed by all, even my 6 year old boy. Our tour guide Pedro was so amazing. Absolute wealth of knowledge about each sight we went to and tied it all together with many other historical events, places, so we can understand and put it all together, etc. He was so patient with our kids and answered all their questions no matter how silly they might of been by my 6 year old. Took us to a wonderful restaurant for lunch. I cant say more to praise him. He went above and beyond to make our experience amazing. So much that we booked him for next two days of touring we planned to do on our own previously and at the end we felt he was a part of our family and our hearts. We have lovely memories of Lisbon Portugal together with him . Thank you Pedro!!!
This was an amazing tour! Our guide was Sonia. Sonia was very accommodating to all our needs. She took wonderful care of us! Sonia was very knowledgeable as we we experienced some of the most beautiful and interesting history in Portugal. This is a must tour for your trip to Portugal.
A must do, must have experience for anyone interested in the romance,intrigue and gallantry of the past. Our guide, Miguel, was exemplary, in knowledge, information and his passion for this era. His words coupled with the sites we visited, made history come to life. It was a vivid engaging experience.
We had an amazing time with Sonia! She explained everything to us, was really friendly and professional! If you have the chance to come, do this tour with no hesitations ! If we come back we will go with them again !
It seems like it could have been extremely interesting but we weren’t given a lot of information. Our guide was reticent to tell us too much.
Had a wonderful day away from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon. Catia was a great guide, very knowledgeable and a safe driver. She made sure we had plenty of time at each stop and answered all of our questions, she was very helpful! I highly recommend this tour!
Excellent tour for those, who wants to see amazing historical monuments off the touristy path. Our tour guide, Katia, was very good and accommodating. One suggestion for the future tours: the tourists, who choose this tour already have a basic, Google-type, knowledge about the Templars. It would make the tour more interesting if a tour guide shared more historical information and stories about the order, not only about its Portuguese branch. This is such an interesting topic full of mystery and good stories will make the tour more memorable.
Mauro was a FABULOUS guide who really provided us with historical facts for every stop, made sure we had plenty of pictures together with the beautiful sites and was a very personable and knowledgeable guide. We loved every minute of our tour. Far and away the best tour guide we've had. We will definitely be back to Lisbon and will use IGoPortugal again with a special request for Mauro. Thank you Mauro for a fantastic look at the Templar Trail and the fun stops along the way!
The host Sonia and her trainee Nuno were excellent ! They were very accommodating and went out of their way to make us feel happy ! Muito obrigada Alessandra , Chris and Kids
Vassily was our guide, and provided excellent conversation during the private tour. Our tour was private, and the attention I received was excellent. This tour is an historical treasure and offers incredible flexibility.
I had a 1:1 private tour of Tomar and Almourol with Sonia. She picked me up on time and delivered me back to my apartment safely. Sonia has a vibrant personality and is quite knowledgable about all the different places. We had a nice lunch together and shared stories about our personal lives. My tour day felt more like an outing with a girlfriend. I absolutely recommend Sonia and her company for any tour in and around Lisbon.
This was our Day 2 tour with Sonya -- we did a private 12 hour tour the day before with her through Lisbon and Sintra (see other review) -- and were super excited to spend the day with her! As always, she was on time and we set off for our private tour. We stopped at a fantastic castle that was all but abandoned, then headed to Tomar for lunch by the river. Tomar is a beautiful town and was quiet the day we toured - but Sonya knew her Knights Templar history and even showed us a non-obvious templar cross in the original church. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!!! The private tour was not much more than a typical huge bus tour -- and so much more worth every cent!!! Can not recommend this company highly enough!!
Our guide, Vera, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly! We had a great time learning and seeing the incredible sights.
We thought we were booking a small group tour and were more than a little pleased when we learned that the tour was private. We spent the day with our guide Vera, and the tour could not have been better. We first visited the Castle of Almourol, and then the Convent de Cristo Tomar, with a stop for lunch in between. Vera was very friendly, extremely informative, and passionate about her work. She was very engaged and time went quickly. Thank you Vera.
We took the Templar tour because my husband was interested. As it turned out, we both found it fascinating. Vera did a great job explaining the history and even made a reservation for us in Tomar, a charming town, where we had lunch. Thank you for a lovely day.
What a wonderful tour! Our guide Vera picked us right on time from the hotel and we were off! We first stopped at the Castle of Almourol and it did not disappoint. Beautiful little castle with a lot of history. After Almourol we headed to Tomar. Our first stop was at the Church of Santa Maria do Olival where Knights Templar Grand Master Gualdim Pais is buried. Next stop was at Tomar where we had lunch a nice quaint restaurant serving traditional Portuguese cuisine. Finally we headed up to the Convent of Christ to see the castle and tour the monastery. Our guide Vera was very knowledgeable of the history of the monastery and gave us neat trivia tidbits throughout the tour. Overall an excellent tour which I highly recommend!
<p>Great tour with a lot of interesting sites and historical information. Our tour guide Sonja was amazing. She does a lot of work to learn about the sites she takes you to and provides that information in an interesting way. The lunch spot she chose was well priced and really good.</p>
Sonia from I Go Portugal was our amazing guide on this hands-down must do tour! She picked us up at our hotel and offered lots of Templar back story to ensure that we had enough information to understand what we were going to see. She is proud Portuguese, and also added lots of local colour - and Portuguese history - en route. Ask her about the real-story inspiration for Romeo and Juliet! We had one of the best days ever - but if Templars aren't your thing Sonia and I Go Portugal offer other walking and day trips that I expect are equally awesome.
Excellent ‘Following the Templar’ private tour by I_GO Portugal. Our family had a wonderful experience.
<p>The local tour supervisor was Pedro. We called him at 7PM the night before, to confirm pick up time etc. He answered the phone and confirmed. Very friendly, professional, and he has a good sense of humor. Our guide, Andre arrived promptly the day of the tour at our hotel to pick us up. Andre explained that his goal was for us to have the best tour possible. We drove to Almourol Castle, went on the motor boat out to the castle on the island in the river, and explored castle not possible for wheelchairs or severely disabled people on this tour. Then we went to Tomar and saw the square, the church and a quaint Jewish Synagogue. The Synagogue and its caretaker is a delight and a must see bonus. After, we asked Andre, our guide, for a recommendation for lunch. We went there and had sea bass and shepherds pie that was very delicious and fairly priced. The we went up the hill to the Convent of Christ. Very large and impressive. Our guide explained the history of this monument as we walked through. We bought a few souvenirs in the gift shop and headed back to Lisbon. As we were delivered back to our hotel, we told Andre we thought he was one of the most knowledgeable and caring guides we have ever had. My wife and I felt like we not only had a great tour from Viator, we also made a friend today. This tour is not one of the highly popular tours, but it should be. Very interesting and informative.</p>
<p>Wonderful time with Andre. He was super-friendly, very polite, knowledgeable, and thoughtful. After having done a lot of tours in our time, we have decided that a small-private or almost-private tour is the only way to go. Touring like this allows you to linger where you want to and pass by what doesn't quite interest you as much. To me, nothing is worse then being hurried because the group is moving ahead of you. <br/> This tour is great for getting a good understanding of Portugal's history and how the Templar Knights played a major role in that.</p>
The amazing view, I even took some pictures, ah I would like to go back to the place as it was very rich and fast to attend thank you
Going out with ANA FARIA as a private guide in Lisbon is almost a must and such a fantastic experience that I would like to announce this. Lisbon is indeed easily accessible by public transport, although you have to have a lot of time for it and the chaos on the trains you have to take into account (as I hear from a travel companion) . We chose a private guide who knows the city like the back of her hand and is a fantastic good driver. She also lets you choose what you want to see, depending on your personal interest: do you choose culture, history, architecture... whatever you want. The advantage is that you do the pieces on foot that you choose yourself (a bit of preparation at home), but that you pass all the long queues at the churches and sights and still save hours (also at the famous cultural gastronomic 'pasteis de Belem', although I find this culture a bit overdone myself) . This allows you to see more in 1 day than if you wanted to visit this large and busy city on your own. Even before lunch you can let us know your preference and Ana will drive you to a perfect and typical Portuguese restaurant. I have heard a lot about the history of Portugal and the explorer Vasco da Gama and about the Moors and the revolution of Portugal. A lot we didn't hear about in school. The new district, created after the World's Fair at the end of the last century, seems very hip, Artur Bordalo https://g.co/kgs/5dYJgwR , has placed its beautiful Iberian Lynx there, as a protest against the waste society. It is today a student neighborhood, but oh so cold and unsociable compared to our student cities in Belgium. So much concrete! There is still a lot to soften here! Although Lisbon is not a city where I lost my heart after this city visit, a visit was more than worth it thanks to our local and competent guide. A big thank you to Ana. Haar contactgegevens: www.hearttofanomad.pt of: mail: heartofnomad@hotmail.com
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