We start our Templar Tour with a visit to the Castle of Almourol located on a small island already inhabited at the time of Roman occupation of the peninsula, later by the Templars, a small Castle built in the middle of the Tagus River, all for protection reasons of course.
Perhaps the first seat of the Order of the Temple, a transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic, on the facade a large rosette with the mark of the Knights templar, the Signum Salomonis. In this church the funerary monuments of Guladim Pais, founder of the city, and other Grand Masters of the Order, a Church that seems smaller than in reality is once it is buried two meters below the ground.
Known internationally as the city of the Templars, in Tomar we will find testimonies of its influence, namely the Mata dos Sete Montes where according to tradition initiated rituals, and templar marks throughout the city which demonstrates the importance and pride of this city for this fantastic military order.
Portugal was for centuries the European oasis of peaceful cohabitation between Christians, Muslims and Jews, the Tomar Synagogue, founded in the mid-19th century. XV, right in the center of the city, is the pretext for a review of this excellent relationship
Then we continue our Templar Tour towards Tomar beginning the visit to the Templar Castle / Convent of Christ was the seat of the Order of the Temple until 1314, and the Order of Christ, from 1357. From the castle (1160) is part of the octagonal tray (late 12th century), Romanesque sanctuary of oriental influence.
Tomar Castle
But before returning to Lisbon, we visited an aqueduct that supplied water to the castle / Convent of Christ, located 6 kms from Tomar, the Pegões Aqueduct is an excellent architectural work of the 16th century.
The tour was wonderful. We spent the day immersed in history. Our guide Joao was well versed. We leaned so much more with him as our guide than we ever could have learned seeing the site on our own. He was very attentive to our needs! We had an excellent day and he made the day one we will remember forever!
Joao was an exceptional tour guide and provided interesting and knowledgeable facts about the Templars and Portuguese history throughout our tour. Would definitely recommended this tour to anyone already knowledgeable or looking to learn more about the history of the Templars or Portuguese history.
We had a most wonderful day with our guide, Anastacia. She communicated with us via WhatsApp and picked us up at the designated time at our hotel located in the Old Town of Lisbon. Anastacia is a knowledgeable and delightful guide. She was friendly, helpful and shared with us her vast knowledge of the sights we visited. She was also flexible when we asked for a bit more time in some of the locations we especially loved. It was interesting to learn more about the Knights Templar and visit the amazing sights associated with their order. We especially enjoyed visiting our first sight, Castelo de Almourol, which was built on a small island in the middle of the Tagus River. The short boat ride to the island was great fun and provided wonderful views of the castle. It was a sunny, autumn day and the bright, blue sky along with the reflection of the castle on the water was magical. It was fun to climb to the top of the castle and learn about the ways the Templars were able to protect themselves from attack. The additional sights we saw were also incredible (especially Igreja de Santa Maria dos Olivaisand, which is breathtaking) we also had the opportunity to leisurely explore some quaint shops and eat lunch in Tomar. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone (not just those interested in seeing sights associated with the Knights Templar) as the places we visited were beautiful, charming, historically significant and very interesting. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a very full day of wonder and enjoyment! Oh, I almost forgot, Anastacia also was willing to drop us off at a requested destination in Lisbon that was not our hotel. We really appreciated her kindness as we were able to do some additional shopping before walking back to our hotel. Thank you, Anastacia!
We thoroughly enjoyed our Knights Templar tour and would highly recommend it. Our visits to Almourol Castle, Tomar Castle, and the Convent of Christ were fascinating and gave us a wonderful insight into Portugal’s rich history. Our guide, Anastasia, was excellent. She was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the Portuguese monarchy and its relationship with the Knights Templar, and she explained everything in an interesting and engaging way. Her knowledge really helped bring the history of these remarkable places to life. Anastasia also knew the best locations and viewpoints for taking photos, which was a wonderful added touch. She made sure we had opportunities to capture some beautiful memories of the castles and surrounding scenery. The Convent of Christ and the castles were especially memorable, and the tour was both enjoyable and informative. We came away with a much greater appreciation for this fascinating period of Portuguese history. A very worthwhile experience and a highlight of our time in Portugal. Thank you, Anastasia, for a wonderful tour!
This was a great day exploring. Anastasia was a fantastic host explaining so many interesting things about the knights and about life in general in Portugal. We loved the personal service of picking us up and dropping us off at our location. Would totally recommend this experience for anyone interested in knights. My husband thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the castles! Thank you so much Anastasia!!
Anastasia was extremely knowledgeable. She did a great job and we thoroughly enjoyed our day with her. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this part of history.
As passionate lovers of history—especially medieval history—our expectations for this tour were extremely high. We hoped for an immersive experience, but João did far more than meet our expectations: he exceeded them in every possible way. The logistics were flawless, making the entire day effortless and enjoyable. The tour itself was absolutely fascinating. João brought the history of the Knights Templar and the Order of Christ to life through detailed explanations, captivating stories, and an extraordinary depth of knowledge. He patiently answered all of our questions—and there were many!—with enthusiasm, expertise, and kindness. His time management was excellent. The day was perfectly organized, yet we never felt rushed. At every stop, João gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace while ensuring we experienced everything that made Tomar and Almurol so special. If all of that were not enough, João is an exceptionally kind, courteous, and thoughtful person. The photograph I am sharing here, showing him helping my mother down a staircase, speaks volumes about the impression he left on us: intelligent, hospitable, attentive, and genuinely caring. João, thank you for giving us one of the best tours of our lives. We left Tomar with a much deeper appreciation for Portuguese history and with memories that we will treasure . I strongly encourage anyone interested in history, culture, or the legacy of the Templars to book this tour. It is an unforgettable experience, and João is simply an outstanding guide
Anastasia , our guide , was a delight to spend the day exploring the Knights Templar history. Her knowledge and friendly demeanor made it that much more enjoyable . Many thanks and appreciation to Anastasia for a wonderful experience .
Anastasia was a wonderful guide who shared so many fun facts and had such extensive knowledge on all of our location. She made our trip absolutely fascinating and i would highly recommend her for anyone curious to learn more !
Anastasia was a fabulous guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable about Tomar, the Templars and even gave us lots of great info and tips about Lisbon. We had a wonderful day!
Anastasia was very knowledgeable had lots of information to share. Had the best place for lunch. A private tour is the best way to go.
Long drive from Lisbon but was made good by the excellent commentary by our guide. She was very knowledgeable about the area and had almost no detectable accent in her American English. She was very patient with our taking pictures along the way.
Our tour guide Anastácia was excellent. She had a deep knowledge of everything we saw. She was a pleasant person to spend the day with and I would book another tour with her again.
We booked a private tour to Tomar and lucked out with Jao as our guide! He was super enthusiastic, pointed out the coolest details and knew all the best photo spots. Highly recommend!
Anastasia is an excellent guide. We learned a lot about the Knights Templar and saw many beautiful places. Excellent trip!
Highly recommend this experience. Anastacia really knows the history and brought it to life by sharing insights and stories that made it both fun and emersive. Memories for a lifetime.
Great to see Tomar and surrondings. Wonderful history behind the knights of the templar. Wonderful guide that was friendly, kind and adapted to our schedule.
I highly recommend this tour . It was a wonderful experience . We enjoyed the one on one experience .
I had the most wonderful experience on my tour! My tour guide, John, was very accommodating and had seemingly endless knowledge of the Templar Knights & the town of Tomar along with many interesting facts and little known historical information that made this tour the best thing to happen to me on this trip to Lisbon. I HIGHLY recommend using this company if you are serious about history and you want to have fun while learning! A million thanks to everyone that made this tour exactly what it was!
Our tour guide was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and kind. We really enjoyed the tour to the various sites. The artwork was amazing.
What a great day. Anastacia was an excellent guide (and a good driver) with vast knowledge of the Templars and the area around Tomar. The walk through the ancient city and the visit to the old Synagogue were added benefits. We were most impressed and grateful as today's tour to Tomar was a 'bucket list' adventure for us!! Peter and Geraldine Castleton Bargara, Queensland Australia
this is a perfect tour for solo traveler Anastasia was very prompt & knowledgeable of the story, mystery & symbols of the tour. It was FUN!
Be aware that having a guide for this trip is essential to get the full experience. We were fortunate to have an excellent guide who was very aware of our needs and desires. It was, indeed, a full and interesting day to see all the sites of the Knights Templar.
Anastasia is an exceptional and knowledgeable tour guide . You would be very lucky indeed if you have her as your Pvt guide. It was a wonderful experience.
Fabulous tour with Anastaysia! We had a wonderful day exploring the Tomar region and learning all about the Knights Templar. Anastaysia was a fount of knowledge and was fun to tour with! Thanks for a great day!
My friends and I just finished a Knights Templar tour with João and it was absolutely amazing! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the Templars and made the whole experience educational and fun. We visited churches, castles, and ancient aqueducts, and João explained the significance of everything the Templars built and their influence on the region. His passion for the subject really brought the history to life. João also took us to a great local restaurant and helped us understand Portuguese dining culture - like how dishes are meant to be shared, which we had no idea about! He went above and beyond to make sure we had an authentic experience. If you're interested in Knights Templar history, we highly recommend booking a tour with João. You won't regret it!
The tour is one of the best from Lisbon! The Church of the Knights Templar in Tomar is absolutely beautiful! Anastácia, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable, professional & friendly. We highly recommend this tour!
Annastacia gave us a great day with her exceptional knowledge about the Knights Templar, Tomar and Portugal. We enjoyed insights to the secret symbols. We highly recommend Annastacia and this day tour. This was a full day tour and worth the money.
Great day from start to finish. ! Joao was very fun and extremely knowledgeable. He really gave you a lot to think about
Anastacia was amazing! She picked us up from our loft right on time. She was very informative and answered all of our questions not only about the Knights Templar, but all things Portugal. A++
Excellent sites, but unknowledgeable tour guide. He was very friendly and a likeable person, but just dropped us off at the sites and said he'd meet us in a couple of hours. We paid for a private tour with someone to tell us the history and background of the sites. Would not recommend this tour guide again for information about the sites!
Excellent tour. Anastasia was it was Anastasia truly knowledgeable and made the whole thing fun for us. We loved all the points of interest. Highly recommend.
João was an excellent guide: knowledgeable, informative and answered our many history and cultural questions. The pace was just right, not rushed and not too long in any places. Suggest you consider the lunch with the guide. We ventured on our own as we wanted something light and the result was more than disappointing. I highly recommend this tour.
Anastacia was a phenomenal and passionate tour guide. We truly learned a lot from her and the history of Tomar. She was very informative and professional. She was kind and generous and respectful with us and everyone around. We had a wonderful experience and would recommend this tour again and Anastacia as the guide. Thank you again we truly appreciate your time and dedication!
It was really interesting. Our guide could not have been better. She is very knowledgeable, but also nice and friendly. Be prepare for a boat ride and some climbing but it is all so worthy. I specially recommend it for persons interested in history and on the Templars.
We enjoyed an excellent tour and experienced everything. John is extremely knowledgable and most accommodating. We could not have asked for more.
Anastasia was great. We not only learned so much about the Knights Templar, she also used the car ride to and from Tomar to tell us so much about Portugal generally. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. I highly recommend this trip!
The guide had a great knowledge of the history and area. The selected sites were perfect for the Templar enthusiast. Highly recommend her!
João was an extremely knowledgeable guide who not only made the trip fun, he was also well versed on the Knights Templar and of course the myths presented on the Curse of Oak Island, We had four people in our group and João spent the time to ensure that we had a very immersed experience. I would highly recommend his company if you want to really understand the history of Portugal.
John picked us up at 8:30 sharp as arranged, drove us to our tour , gave us a guided tour of all places arranged lunch at a great restaurant with amazing food and service, gave more information on our way back to our hotel in Lisbon. Just a great day and after sharing with my brother-in-law for almost three weeks, I was so glad to have a professional guide who knows the area and trained to drive in Portugal ! John really went out of his way to make sure we enjoyed our day
João was prompt, pleasant, and informative. Our tour was private, just my wife and me. We learned a lot about the history of Portugal and the Knights Templar. The visit to the church in Tomar featuring Mary Magdalene was a highlight! Highly recommend João and the company.
This is a must for people who are interested in the Knights of Templar in Portugal. You will visit a beautiful fortress, see a church with hidden symbols, go to the town of Tomar and the highlight is the Convent. Anastacia is friendly, knowledgeable, and caring. She can answer all your questions and makes sure you are comfortable all day long. She knows where to stop for breaks and where to eat. The car is comfortable as well. This was the highlight of our trip.
Anastasia Anastasia is an excellent guide and a nice individual. She is highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about her subjects be it religious sites or forts. We felt enriched with knowledge spending time with her. She knew things by heart and never had to refer to her phone or any book. She was pleasant and was willing to accommodate our preferences for food and places. She is a first-rate guide, and we would recommend her highly without any reservation. As for the trip by Viator, they continuously kept us informed of the progress at all stages. The trip is well designed with religious history and historical sites in focus.
We were in Lisbon for four days and in Paris four days and this was the best of all the tours! If you want to learn about the Knights Templars, their history and the myths that surround them, Joao will take you from fact to fiction and everything in between! He’s funny, intelligent and will keep you on your toes! Highly recommended!
When we were checking on the Templar knights tour, the program with Joao from Kitzel Tour, seemed more comprehensive and we were glad that we chose to visit and explore the sites with him. João is prompt in his communications. From the minute he picked us up in his car, the journey out to the town of Tomar didn’t seem so far as he took time to explain the history and what we would be seeing. Time flew by and it was indeed interesting to hear and see the sites where the Templar knights were once at. João made the history interesting and definitely something that we would continue to read more into. He told us about the mind boggling conspiracy theories and secret societies. No dull moments. Visited the monastery, churches, water cistern & amazing aqueduct. I was curious how the water was transported and he brought us up to view the top of the aqueduct which is one not to be missed. For lunch, João brought us to a nice cosy local restaurant with good food. This day trip is definitely worth visiting and not to be missed 👍🏻.
This is a part of history that I find fascinating and the tour did not disappoint. Our guide Joao Andre was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Portugal and made the tour very enjoyable for us.
Anastasia was the perfect guide. She was so informative not only about the locations and landmarks we visited but also about culture, food, traditions, geography, history of the area and beyond. She pointed out locations to make sure we see on our own and recommendations for tours we were booking with others. I felt like we were traveling with a friend. I highly recommend her. I learned so much about the Templars and the order of the cross on this tour. Such an interesting and influential part of Portugal and European history. The monastery was incredible. Make sure to take this tour. You will not regret it.
Tour guide Anastasia was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed learning so much about the history of Knights Templar. Lunch at a local spot was great as well! We enjoyed trying green wine for the first time.
We had a great time. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the town of and its relationship to the Knights Templar.
This tour has a 100% satisfaction rate and I can see why! Anastasia was very knowledgeable and informative about the knights Templar as well as in the history of the region and Lisbon in general. She is an excellent tour guide and a very safe driver. She is always helpful and pleasant and went out of her way to make us feel comfortable and give us a great experience. I wish there was a rating above five stars, because this tour deserves it. She gave us amazing insights into all the places that we visited and it was obvious that she took her job very seriously and was prepared with a wealth of information. -Very relaxed pace and a chance to take many photos, stay longer in areas that we liked and no pressure at all to move along faster than we wanted. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone!
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