Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Praça da República; 10am-7pm Tue-Sun)
The old town's most striking church faces
Praça da República, itself an eye-catching ensemble of 17th-century buildings alive with
the echo of cooing pigeons. The church dates mostly from the late 15th century. It has an
octagonal spire and richly ornamented Manueline doorways on its northern and western
sides. Inside are 16th- and 17th- century
azulejos;
Gregório Lopes, one of 16th-century
Portugal's finest artists, painted the six panels.
Ermida de Nossa
Senhora da Conceição
( 11am-6pm Apr-Sep, 11am-5pm Tue-Sun Oct-Mar)
Downhill from the monastery is this
strikingly simple Renaissance chapel in a lovely position. It's attributed to Diogo de Tor-
ralva, architect of the Convento de Christo cloisters.
CHURCH
Núcleo De Arte Contemporânea
GALLERY
(Rua de Gil de Avô; 11am-6pm Apr-Sep, to 5pm Tue-Sun Oct-Mar)
This modern museum
showcases the work of 20th-century modernists and surrealists as well as contemporary
artists from all over Portugal.
FESTA DOS TABULEIROS
Tomar's Festival of the Trays is a weeklong celebration with music, drinking, dancing and fireworks. But the
highlight is definitely the procession of about 400 young, white-clad women (traditionally virgins) bearing head-
dresses of trays stacked as tall as they are with loaves of bread and ears of wheat, decorated with colourful paper
flowers and, finally, topped with a crown, cross or white paper dove. Young male attendants, dressed in black and
white, help the girls balance the load, which can weigh up to 15kg. The following day, bread and wine are blessed
by the priest and handed out to local families. The festival is believed to have roots in pagan fertility rites, though
officially it's related to the saintly practices of 14th-century Dona Isabel (Dom Dinis' queen).
The festival is held every four years in June or July. Upcoming years for the festival are 2015, 2019 and 2023.
Activities
Via Aventura
( 916 444 026;
www.via-aventura.com
;
Rua Principal 45D)
Organises kayak trips on the Rio Nabão
as well as to Constância and Castelo de Almourol (€18 per person).
KAYAKING
