Tomar: A Historical & Cultural Delight
Tomar: Approximately 130 kilometres from Lisbon airport and 200 kilometres from Porto nestled in the Ribatejo region, one synonymous with great wine, olives and figs.
Well, where do I start? I love this small, perfectly formed city that sits either side of the Nabão river. The old town one side, the new town the other, in what was once the ancient city of Nabantia. A city blessed with cultural delights, history, great weather and is only 40 minutes to the beaches of the silver coast.
Sit and have an ice-cold beer in the Orquestra De Sabores (Flavours of the Orchestra) a small bar and outdoor space situated in the beautifully maintained Parque Do Mouchao that contains what is believed to be a Roman wooden water wheel. Gaze up at the castle while you watch the ducks and swans on the river float by and observe the locals blissfully going about their business, reading their papers and drinking shots of strong coffee. Time stands still here as the hot sun gives a warm pleasant feeling to your body and washes away the stresses of everyday life.
With approximately 20,000 citizens in the city and a further 20,000 in the parishes, Tomar is small by comparison to most and maintains this feeling by the fact that it’s possible to walk from one side to the other quite easily in 30 minutes. No need for cabs or Ubers here!
Set in what is arguably the most fertile region of Portugal in the district of Santarém, Tomar or Thomar as it’s known in English, originated from within the walls of the Convento de Cristo, one of Portugal's historical jewels, a Unesco World Heritage Site and the last Templar town to be commissioned. The castle sits proudly overlooking the city and most of the surrounding countryside. It’s a hike from the old town up to the top, but certainly one you would want to take if historic buildings are your thing.
The delights that await don’t disappoint either. The collection of 12th to 16th-century architecture and art is astonishing. Take a look into the monks sleeping quarters, see the kitchens and the refectory and if you’re fit enough, climb up to see the far-reaching views from the battlements. For the less active, you can always take an open-air tuk-tuk ride provided by Tuk Lovers. Catarina, Luis and Ricardo are all excellent guides and will take you all over the city showing you the wonders of Tomar. Be sure to visit the Aqueduto de Pegões ( Pegões Aquaduct) a huge arched structure over 30 metres high in places that was built by King Philip the first to bring water across the valley to the Convent of Christ. It was started in 1593 and finished in 1614 and is probably the largest and most successful construction during the reign of the King.
The best part of Tomar is undoubtedly the myriad of streets that splinter off the main square, the Praça da República. Here, as you wander through the narrow cobbled lanes overlooked by tall, traditional Portuguese homes, you’ll find an array of restaurants, gift shops and high-end clothes retailers, all protected by three-story-high buildings that provide essential cool relief from the sun during the hottest months.
A must-visit if you want the absolute best French pastries in Portugal, made by a proper French pastry chef is the Le P'tit Francais a small bakery situated on the Rua Infanteria. This street is synonymous with the Festa dos Tabuleiros which takes place every four years in July. This festival is an ancient tradition and the most important festival celebrated in Tomar, attracting people from all over the world. The streets are decorated with paper flowers overhead making the whole town come alive with vibrant colours. Be prepared for vehicle queues of up to three hours to get anywhere near this marvellous spectacle. Probably better to arrive the day before and stay in some of the wonderful hotels available in the city. The event in 2023 year takes place on 1 - 10 July
The Thomar Boutique Hotel and Hotel dos Templarios are probably the best at the moment, however, a new five-star hotel in the main square called Hotel República Tomar is attracting a lot of attention as the perfect spot to watch the procession.
Dining in the sunny streets of this enchanting city is a must for most visitors and locals alike and only enhances the fact that Tomar is quickly becoming the place to be in terms of one of the best Portuguese cities to live in.
For Italian try La Bella, Beira Rio if you're looking for high-quality fish or meat, O Tabuleiro, Sabores ao Rubro or Cervejaria do Fernando for typical Portuguese cuisine, Cervejaria Noite e Sol for tapas and if your taste is a little more geared to Asian cuisine, you have to test the lunchtime sushi buffet at Nigiri-One or the buffet at Baan Thai Restuarant. For something a little more unusual try the Taverna Antiqua. This place is unique and will make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time to the middle ages. Be prepared for oak tables lit by candles and benches covered in animal furs. Eat rabbit and ham hock or even frogs legs whilst you drink wine from stone vessels. Prepare yourself for toilets that are holes in pieces of wood and ropes and weights to open rustic doors. Very entertaining, with great food and a great evening out. By far the best new restaurants at the moment are D'o Costume, situated just off the main square next to the church behind some old glass doors this little place is a hidden gem. The service is great as are the staff, but what really matters(the food) is simply sublime. Try the matured Tomahawk steak for two with the truffled pureed potatoes and salad. It's to die for.
Also must visits are Landeira and Rua Dirieta situated on Na Rua Silva Magalhães. Both of these restaurants have inside and outdoor eating, boast new kitchens and the food their high-quality staff serve is outstanding. Two truly amazing places to eat.
Attractions keep on coming in this diverse city. Look out for the annual Tomar Pro Wakeboard World Circuit competition in the centre, where thousands of people gather around the Nabão River, occupying Mouchão Park to watch the competitors throwing themselves over jumps in the river. For something a little more peaceful you have the Festival de Lanternas Flutuantes (Floating Lantern Festival) where students float a thousand candles between the old bridge and the Flecheiro bridge, a spectacular experience. The handmade candles are placed in a structure that has a cork base and sides built with parchment paper decorated with the cross of Christ, the armillary sphere (Symbols of the Discoveries) a tray and the dove of the Holy Spirit (Symbols of the Festa dos Tabuleiros) all made with Biodegradable materials.
Try and see the following historical monuments if you have time:
Church of Saint John the Baptist
Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception Tomar
Church of Santa Maria do Olival
Tomar has a football stadium, museums, a Motorhome park, swimming baths, supermarkets, plus everything else you would expect and has a huge just completed a project to create a new outdoor plaza.
When you are finished with Tomar, its wonderful atmosphere, great restaurants and friendly people, you’ll leave with a calming sense of what a wonderful part of the world this would be to live in. Maybe that’s why so many visitors attend the city each year and why many of them relocate and make it their permanent home.
Tomar: It’s classy, sassy and cultured and has recently been talked about in Forbes Magazine.
Tomar really is a place with everything you need to make a new life in Portugal and one you should consider seriously, whether you are looking for a permanent move, a holiday home or indeed a business opportunity. Check out Tomar properties for sale and rent on the Santarém district page.
For further information City of Tomar
For all the latest factual statistical data regarding Tomar: All about Tomar
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