Tomar sits on the Nabão River in central Portugal as a place where medieval history and everyday life meet in welcoming streets and grand monuments. The town is most famous for the Convent of Christ, a sprawling complex founded in 1160 by the Knights Templar that later became the heart of the Order of Christ. Walking up the hill from the town center, visitors first encounter the Templar rotunda, built with a 16-sided design that recalls sacred sites in Jerusalem, and then discover cloisters, painted ceilings and stone carvings that span centuries of architecture and devotion.

Just outside the convent walls lies the Pegões Aqueduct, an impressive feat of engineering more than 6 kilometers long that once carried water from distant springs to the hilltop site. Some sections of its arches rise more than 30 meters above the valley floor, making it a striking backdrop for photos and a reminder of how people shaped their environment long before modern technology.

In the historic center, Praça da República draws visitors to outdoor cafés and quiet corners where locals sip coffee and share stories under the gaze of a statue of Gualdim Pais, Tomar’s founder. Close by, the Synagogue of Tomar, one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval synagogues, tells a layered story of the city’s past Jewish community and its role in Portuguese history. Around the square, the Church of São João Baptista and other old buildings showcase Manueline and Gothic details that surprise first-time visitors with their craftsmanship.