Travels in the 2nd half

  The old city of Tomar, Portugal, is old. It was founded in 1160 by Gualdim Pais, the Grand master of the Knights Templar in Portugal. The city played a key role in fighting invasions by the Moors, especially in 1190.   As in much of the Iberian Peninsula, the houses here are painted white to help ward off the heat of the day. Walking through the streets of Tomar is much the same today as it has been for centuries. The buildings present unadorned walls to the street, but evidence of courtyards and the interior life can be seen, if you know where to look.   In the center of town is the Praça da República, its main plaza Here you will find City Hall, the church of St. John the Baptist, and a statue of Gualdim Pais.   Tomar sits along the Nabão River. Towards the northern part of the old city, the Parque do Mouchão offers a literal island of green in the middle of the river. The park sits among several dams that help control the flow of water and direct some of that fl...

  The city of Tomar, Portugal, is a wonderful place to visit. It is a small city, with an interesting history, and tourists have yet to discover it. That means spending time in Tomar offers a deep look into Portugal’s past without the large crowds that can plague major European cities. Tomar is in the geographic center of the country, about 140 km (85 mi) northeast of Lisbon. Tomar was founded in the 12th century by members of the Knights Templar, and their descendants The Military Order of Christ. It was built to be their headquarters in Portugal, and to control traffic and shipping along the Nabão River. The Templars built a castle on the hill above the river, and later added a monastery. These buildings are the main attractions of Tomar, and Travelgumbo published an excellent blog about them, which you can read here . But the city is home to many other sights, and I spent my day walking among these small museums and galleries. Tomar's Castle and Monastery   My first stop wa...