Small-Group Tour: Knights Templar of Portugal

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Duration: 9h
Location: Santarém, Portugal | Santarém, Portugal


Category: Day Trips & Excursions

Highlights:
Incredible outing exploreing the Portuguese Knight Templars
Grand Almourol Castle perched on a small islet in the river
Imposing Christ Convent, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Strolling through the charming village of Constância
Limited capacity—maximum 8 people per group

Inclusions:
Guided tour of Almourol Castle, Tomar, and Tomar Convent
Admission to Tomar Convent
Boat trip to Almourol Castle
Roundtrip transportation to and from your central Lisbon hotel

Description:

Spend a day tracing the Templar's journey in the country. Visit the remarkable Almourol Castle perched on a small granite island in the middle of Tagus River. Take a stroll in the picturesque village of Constância, explore Tomar, and end with a visit to the magnificent Convent of Christ.

After a convenient hotel pickup, leave the city behind and head to Santarém. Board a ferry and embark on a short cruise through the calm waters of Tagus River to Almourol Castle. Stand mesmerized by the striking castle erected 60 feet (18 m) above sea level in the small islet in the river. Your guide explains its historical roots with the Romans, and later the Visigoths and Moors. Eventually during the Reconquest in 1129, it was conquered and placed in trust of Gualdim Paes, the Grand Master of the Knight Templars.

Next, pass by the charming little village of Constância where Luis de Camões lived and wrote his famous poems. Continue on to Tomar—a land given to Templars as a fief (a conditional piece of property). Follow your guide to one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in the country. Hear about its construction by Prince Henry, the navigator, in the 15th century.

The last stop is at the remarkable Christ Convent, a Templar stronghold back in the day. It was constructed under the orders of Gualdim Paes and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.