Private Day tour with private Guide - Tomar and the Knights of Templar history
Description
This tour takes you around the history and the locals that Templar's Knights lived up to the end of this military and religious order, we will visit Almourol castle, the amazing city of Tomar, the synagogue of Tomar, as well as the city of Tomar. On this day we will follow the trail of the Templar knight's, a Christian/military order that played a massive role in Europe and the Middle East.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick you up at your hotel, Apartments, Airport, Lisbon port in Central Lisbon (service not available on Mondays)
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- A minimum of 3 people per booking is required
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
Reviews(51)
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.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and exploring with us. Your kind words motivate us to keep creating great experiences. We’d love to welcome you back anytime!
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!
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
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.
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
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
