I know, I know that you’ve already seen a few photos of this monumental staircase, which lead us to the top of the hill, where the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade in Tomar was built. However, since I’m trying to give you an idea of different stages of this staircase, and how big is this flight of 286 steps, I think it’s appropriate to show you more photos. They are all different photographs, shot in different areas, though sometimes it may give you the impression that you may be in the same place of the stairway.
At this stage we re-started the climbing of the staircase that lead us to the hill, where the Chapel of Senhora da Piedade was built in the 14th century
The entire journey is pleasant, despite the climbing. You are always surrounded by beautiful plants and trees all the way up to the Chapel of Senhora da Piedade
My wife and son, as usual lead the way, while I am constantly stopping here and there to take photos. At this point we were probably mid way into the final destination, which was the Chapel of Senhora da Piedade
Under orders from the King of Portugal João III (King John III), the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Tomar, was built in the 16th century, but this chapel isn’t only about the Manueline architecture, the Renaissance influence and a place of worship. It’s also about its beautiful surroundings. From here you can appreciate the architectural details outside the chapel, enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the City of Tomar and view at some distance the Convent of Christ.
On the left is a corner of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, but the right you can enjoy beautiful panoramic views to the City of Tomar, which was built in a valley
This photo was shot when I was walking around the Chapel of Senhora da Conceição. The stairs in front of me leads to breathtaking views of the City of Tomar
On one side of the Chapel of Senhora da Conceição you can see at some distance, the famous Convent of Christ in Tomar, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
At the end of our walk through the Seven Hills National Forest in the City of Tomar, my wife, my son and I stopped for a while near the entrance and exit of this woodland for a rest. There were a few benches around and we all sat down there relaxing, but as my mission was to take photos of everything interesting that I could find, I soon was back in action and shot a few pictures of the roofs outside the forest, which included beautiful skies filled with what seemed to be chemtrails.
Photo of rooftops shot from the Seven Hills National Forest in Tomar. The sky was covered with chemtrails, which most people still don't know what they are for
Another angle of rooftops near the Seven Hills Forest. In the distance you can seen those white buildings at Alameda Primeiro de Março in Tomar
Houses, rooftops and television antennas, right next to the wall that separates the street from the Seven Hills Forest in the City of Tomar in Portugal
I decided to write in Portuguese, the name of this restaurant on the header of this post. For some reason it sounded better to me, perhaps because I used to hear my parents mention Nabão Restaurant a lot, when my father was still alive. You know, they were regular customers. Every Sunday they would go and have lunch together there. This habit only came to an end when my father passed away in November of 1997. As you can see in one of the photos, Nabão Restaurant is right in front of Nabão River and with that comes wonderful views while you are dining. From this restaurant you can also see the Castle of the Knights Templar in Tomar, Mouchão Park and the old areas of the town.
Nabão Restaurant faces Nabão River, which means that their customers always enjoy nice views. The restaurant is positioned in the corner of that white building behind those two trees seen on this photo
On the left side of this photo is the building that lodges Nabão Restaurant in the City of Tomar. Behind the windows you can see a couple of tables covered with red table clothes
When I shot this photo I didn't exactly aim it to Nabão Restaurant, but to the general view in front of me. So I just caught the main entrance to this restaurant in Tomar
I’ve already shown the Church of São João Baptista in Tomar in another category of this site, under Churches and Chapels, but these photos refer to a topic specifically related to Praça da República, and they are photos shot from a certain distance. You can also see the statue of Gualdim Pais, the founder of Tomar from a distance, not to mention the pigeons which you can find in great abundance in this square.
Praça da República in the City of Tomar and at some distance is the statue of Gualdim Pais, the founder of Tomar, and the Church of São João Baptista
Still Praça da República in Tomar. Photo shot from Rua de São João, which at the end emerges at Rua Everard, also known as Levada
Praça da República can be translated as Republic Square in English. Th9ough it's not visible in the photo, this is also the plaza where the Town Council is situated
These are people from Tomar or at least people who were in the City of Tomar when I shot these pictures. They are all around Nabão River (Rio Nabão), which in ancient Roman times was called Nabanus. If you visit Tomar, you will notice that people are always doing things around Nabão River. They walk near the river with their families, they sit on benches near the river, they follow with their eyes the large shoals of fish in the river and they watch sporting activities like canoeing in the river that flows through Tomar.
Husband and wife with their daughter walking around Nabão River in Tomar at Mouchão Park, right across the soccer field and near the kids playground
Two teenagers crossing a small dam that divides Nabão River, and links the Municipal Swimming Pool Vasco Jacob to the Island of Mouchão
This was a day of canoeing competition in Tomar and lots of people gathered near the river to watch this sporting event. These are people and a dog watching the contest on top of a small bridge at Mouchão Park
This is a collection of photos of the Aqueduct of Pegões in a serene green valley near Tomar in Portugal. This aqueduct with 180 arches was completed in the 17th century by the architect Pedro Fernandes Torres, thought its construction was started by Filipe Terzi. This conduit which stretches over six kilometres, was built with the intention of supplying water to the Convent of Christ, which you can see in the distance on these photos.
Aqueduct of Pegões on a beautiful green valley, was built in the 17th century, to supply water to the Convent of Christ in Tomar, which you can see in the distance
A different view of the Aqueduct of Pegões in route for 6 kilometres to the UNESCO listed Convent of Christ in the City of Tomar. This monumental structure has 180 arches
In this photo you can better see how far is the Convent of Christ from where the Aqueduct of Pegões begins. This was an amazing piece of architecture for the time (17th century)
This area of Nabão River in Tomar, where these water reflections were shot, is at Mouchão Park on top a a small dam, that separates one part of the river to the other and also serves as a pathway to cross the Island of Mouchão to the other side, were Vasco Jacob swimming pool is located. In the distance you can see a small bridge and further ahead the houses at Rua Marquês de Tomar. On my right, though you can see it, is the inn Estalagem de Santa Iria and behind me is Hotel dos Templários and of course the river itself.
Water reflections shot from a small dam that separates Nabão River into two sides. In the distance is a small bridge that connects both sides of Mouchão Park and houses at Rua Marquês de Tomar
These water reflections were taken from the same dam. On my rigt is the Island of Mouchão Park and on my lefft it's still the same Park near the area of Vasco Jacob Swimming pool
More water reflections. The wall on my rigt is at the Island of Mouchão with its beautiful gardens and benches for people to relax in front of Nabão River
During the six weeks that I spent in Portugal in September and October 2010, after lunch, my family and I used to have coffee at Estrelas de Tomar, an old coffee shop with entrances from Rua Serpa Pinto and Rua Marquês de Tomar. As this coffee shop also faces the river in one of its sides, and as I always carried my camera with me, I never missed an opportunity to take a few photos, especially from Nabão River. So here is the result in one of those spontaneous photos sessions.
Photo of Nabão River shot at Rua Marquês de Tomar. On the right side is Estrelas de Tomar, an old coffee and pastry shop. The House of Vieira Guimarães can also be seen in the picture
I walked a bit further down Rua Marquês de Tomar and shot this picture of Nabão River, near the dams. In the distance you can see those white buildings at Avenida Primeiro de Março, a more modern area of the town
I was leaning against the rails that separate Rua Marquês de Tomar from Nabão River, when I shot this picture. Behind me was Estrelas de Tomar, the coffee shop where I had just savoured a bica (Portuguese espresso coffee)
Mouchão Park is divided into two areas linked by a small bridge and a dam. One side of the park is where the soccer field, the kids playground, the sports pavilion and the statues of two important personalities of Tomar are located, but the other part is an island, and that is exactly the side that these photos belong to. In these photos you can partially see the Castle of the Knights Templar in Tomar, houses on the side of the old town and a bridge that connects the park to Rua Marquês de Tomar and to the main post office of the town.
Photo of Mouchão Park on the side of the island, shot on a cloudy day. The Castle of Tomar can be partially seen in the distance
Shot of the gardens in the Island of Mouchão Park in the City of Tomar. Those white houses on the other side are part of the old city
This area in the Island of Mouchão Park in Tomar, heads to the bridge that connects the park to Rua Marquês de Tomar and the headquarters of the post office