Tomar Knights Templar and Coimbra private tour

The Order of the Knights Templar, or Templars, entered in Portugal in the beginning of the 12th century, even before the founding of the Portuguese kingdom. This Order became prominent in Portugal when the Portuguese Knight Gualdim Pais was instructed by the founder of the Templars in Jerusalem, Hugo of Payens to establish the first Templar headquarters in Europe. The city of Tomar was than built as a replica of the Holy City of Jerusalem. On its dominant hill, the Convent of Christ proudly stands guard over the city. Walking tour through the old streets of Tomar.

With the extinction of the Knights Templar in 1307, all of its wealth and assets became part of the new Portuguese Order of Christ. We will visit the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Europe, the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place of inspiration for legends and stories written in books and adapted for the cinema.

If you wish to stop for lunch, your guide can recommend restaurants in the area of Coimbra. The famous dish is “leitao da Bairrada” wood-fired oven cooked suckling piglet, amongst other specialties.

The city of Coimbra known internationally for its University (one of the oldest in Europe), was the capital of Portugal until 1255. The “City of Knowledge”, as it is known, breathes culture everywhere, from the banks of the Mondego River to the hills where the university is located. Here we will visit the Joanine Library, considered by the British newspaper The Telegraph , “…the most spectacular library in the world…”. Its construction was commissioned by Portuguese King Joao V. This baroque-style library of indescribable beauty and wealth, was the result of the cultural vision of the richest monarch in Europe at that time. His royal safes were overflowing with gold from “Minas Gerais” in the Portuguese colony, Brazil. Free time to walk in the town’s center and visit the Santa Cruz Church where we can find the tombs of the first king of Portugal, King Afonso I and of his son King Sancho I. You can also try tasting the local sweets and pastries “Pasteis de Santa Clara, “Pasteis de Tentugal” and the ” Arrufadas de Coimbra” if you so wish.