CHURCHES and CHAPELS

June 2013

Please note

For the people of Tomar's gallery click on The Nabantinos
For the architecture of the city's gallery click on Templar City
For the convent's gallery click on Convent of Christ

Tomar is known for it's fabulous Convent but one should not ignore the many archaeological relics and the many historic buildings scattered all over the Historic Center.
Of the ones that were most important to me, were the churches and the chapels that I have listed here:

The Chapel of Santa Iria, located across from the Old Bridge (Ponte Velha), was built in the early 16th century in honour of the Patron Saint of Tomar. Iria (Irene), in the year 653, was a young nun martyred and thrown into the Nabão river after a feud between two rival suitors. She was unjustly accused of being pregnant by one of her suitors and killed by the other.
The Chapel exhibits a renaissance portal and altar, several manueline details, 17th century tiles and a famous stone sculpt calvary.

Santa Maria do Olival was built in 1160 under the order of Dom Gualdim Pais. It was supposed to have been the first headquarters of the Templar Knights and was used as their mausoleum. The original building was altered as a result of a reconstruction carried out in the 13th century and a restoration in the 16th century. During the latter, most of the funerary monuments of the Templars were removed and several chapels were added to the southern side of the church.
As you enter the Church you need to go down eight stairs to get to the main floor (submission to God). You'll soon notice the beauty and the simplicity of the structure which is divided into three naves. Eight columns, without capitals, hold gothic arches and a wooden roof. The light comes in from: an eight meter rose-window, eight windows at the top of the central nave, a five point star rose-window above the altar, eight narrow and tall windows behind the altar and several other windows of less importance which are scattered all over.
Notice: the statue of the Virgin Mary, just behind the main altar, does not bless but holds back, with both hands, the child who is sucking the milk; the repeating of the number eight all around the church and the five point star rose-window. All symbolisms that represent the Templars' mystery.
The square tower, which has experienced several restorations, in front of the church was used as a watching post before becoming the present bell tower.

The construction of the Convent and Church of St. Francis started in 1628 and was completed in 1660 with the addition of the bell tower. This is a typical example of Chã architecture, with a single nave covered by a barrel vault. Above the main altar a rare calvary, in natural size, stands out. On both sides of the nave there are various little chapels with altars dedicated to the Virgin Mary and various other saints.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Conception (Nossa Senhora de Conceição), situated half way-up the Convent of Christ, was built around 1536. It should have been King João III's mausoleum but for political reasons was buried in Lisbon.
The Chapel enjoys a high degree of decoration with geometric and floral motifs. It consists of three naves, six elegantly carved corinthian columns, a vaulted ceiling and a central tower. The construction reflects a rare Mannerist style with Italian touches.

The Church of São João Bapstista, built at the order of King Manuel I in 1510, is the main church of Tomar and is located in the Praça da República (Republic Square). It has been classified as a National Monument since 1910. It is an example of Manueline and Gothic styles with: a Baroque white and gold altar, three naves, a collection of renaissance paintings and an Ançã pulpit. The bell tower incorporates a 16th century clock brought down from the Templar Castle.

The Synagogue of Tomar was built in the mid 15th century. With the expulsion of the Jews in 1496, the synagogue served as a jail, church and later as a storage house. In the 1930's it was bought by Samuel Schwarz who restored it and donated it to the Portuguese government. The most important architectural feature is the ceiling. It is supported by four pillars with twelve pointed arches in the Moorish style. Each pillar symbolizes the four mothers of Israel while the twelve arches are thought to represent Israel's twelve tribes. It became a Jewish Museum in 1939.

© 2014 Gaetano Antonini