Convent of Christ in Tomar

The Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal, is a symbol of the reconquest of Portugal as well as of the legendary Knights Templar. 

 The convent complex is pretty large and contains many different areas. It includes a vine where monks used to harvest grapes to make wine. Some vines are still alive today.

 The convent is located upon a hill overlooking the city of Tomar. It provides a beautiful view of inner Portugal.

 The convent was originally built in the 12th century. It was built to house the order of the Knights Templar, until the order was dissolved in the 14th century. The mission of the knights was to recover the land which had been taken by the Moors.

 One of the highlights of the visit is the Janela do Capitulo or WIndow of the Chapter House. This window is a prime example of Manueline architecture. It is very elaborate. I know it does not look too big on this picture, but I swear it's HUGE. You can see a person on the bottom left of the picture to see how big the window actually is. The window is so iconic, that it has influenced symbols of Portugal. In fact, the coat of arms of Portugal resembles the window.

 The architecture in the convent is delightful and very well conserved. This is a picture of the stairs, looking up. I was amazed at how delicate the details were and how much work was put into this convent.

 The convent has MANY different courts. I tried to count them and it gets confusing after a while. It was easy to get lost.

 The other highlight of the visit was the circular chapel. Sadly, it was undergoing conservation efforts when I visited, so I was not able to go inside. Nevertheless, I was able to snap some pictures of the amazing art found inside it. It is extremely high and beautifully decorated.

 The Convent of Christ was amazing. A must-see for lovers of Portuguese culture!