We stayed in a sort of farming and vineyard estate 15km or so outside of Tomar, so we did not see a whole lot of the town itself, except at suppertime. We did visit the very impressive Convento de Cristo -- mostly in the rain. The castle had been a stronghold of the Order of the Temple, or Templars.
1 The construction of Tomar Castle, on a hill overlooking the town, was begun in 1160.
2 Just as we arrived, it started raining for good.
3 The courtyards with their pillars and blue tiles are pretty in the rain too.
4 Lovely tiles behind a font
5 New sacristy
6 Inside the charola (rotunda)
7 Frescos and arches
8 Unfortunately, the interior of the charola was closed off for renovation, so we did not see much of the inner part. As in all Templar churches, it is modeled on the Church of the Holy Sephulcre (Mosque of Omar) in Jerusalem.
9 The great cloister is, in its way, very colorful.
10 Rain...
11 Swedish tourist taking photo of ...
12 ...American tourist taking photo of aforesaid Swedish tourist
13 Immense hallway of the main dormitory in the Convent of Christ
14 Nave of the church, with charola in the circular part on the left
15 The rope running along the facade of the church has both temporal (maritime conquest of the world) and religious (relier = bind together) significance.
16 Window heavily decorated in Portugese Manueline style
17 Austere but elegant interior
18 Church and main cloister
19 Looking through one cloister's columns to another's
20 South portal
21 As we were leaving, the sun came out. Of course.
22 Siv heading for the exit
23 Looking out over the town of Tomar
24 Castle silhouette
25 Tomar Castle is prettiest from the south.
26 Back at our lodging, the family dogs were waiting.
27 Handsome doggy
28 By an old pool, figs lying all over, waiting to be eaten
