Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
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Santarem, Tomar, Obidos - full day
Personalized booking
Program
Travel northwards and arrive at Santarem for a sightseeing of this ancient city, full
of legends, inhabited by the Romans and Arabs and capital of bullfights in
Portugal; stop at the XIII century “Miracles” church.
Proceed to Tomar, famous for the convent of Christ and castle, one of the best, if
not the best well-preserved temples of the Knight Templars - stop for a visit.
Sightseeing of this millenarian city, famous for its churches, synagogues, castles
and festivals.
Continue to the beautiful and very ancient walled town called Obidos – medieval
city surrounded by the castle with picturesque narrow streets, whitewashed
houses, iron balconies, flower pots in very window. Inhabited by Romans and
Arabs, this was the dwelling place of the Portuguese court for more than 500
years.
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...Santarém has 3 000 years of History embedded in its hills. Famous among Romans,
Visigoths, Muslims and finally becoming Santarém, following the reconquest of the town by
the Portuguese, when it acquired the title of "forever Noble and Loyal".
The Igreja do Santíssimo Milagre contains a treasure explained by a 13th century legend. It
is said that holy water being used by a priest to persuade a husband to refrain from beating
his spouse, suddenly turned into blood. The small glass vial, which rests in the church to this
day, is said to contain the blood of Christ.
Santarém is an important bullfighting center. Bullfighting is like a final exam, after long
years of hard work when the Ribatejan excels himself with audacity, courage, gallantry and
chivalry...
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…Tomar was founded as head-quarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal in the 12th
century and contains some of the most significant Templar monuments in Europe. Tomar
was especially important in the 15th century when it was a centre of Portuguese overseas
expansion under Henry the Navigator, the Grand Master of the Order of Christ, successor
organization to the Templars in Portugal. The organization existed for approximately two
centuries in the Middle Ages. It was founded in the aftermath of the First Crusade of 1096,
to ensure the safety of the many Europeans who made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem after its
conquest. After they were suppressed, they were transformed in Portugal into the Order of
Christ, which played and important role in the maritime expansion…
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...Perched on a hill rising out of an agricultural plain, Óbidos is one of Portugal’s
picturesque gems. From its lofty centre one gazes upon expanses of vineyards speckled with
whirling windmills and terracotta-roofed homesteads. Nearer, narrow cobbled streets, lined
typically with whitewashed, bougainvillaea-draped houses, wind up to the walled interior.
The region was the westernmost limit of the Roman Empire. Under Portuguese rule,
Obidos flourished into a major trading port. Every Portuguese queen was given Obidos as
a wedding present. Obidos continues to be a popular destination during the summer, when
tourists jam the streets to explore the city’s medieval charm....
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