The Railway Station of Tomar which in Portuguese is called Estação Ferroviária de Tomar, or simply Estação de Tomar, is located at an avenue called Avenida dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra. This train station is right in front of Varzea Grande an open space often used for car parking as well as for the Santa Iria Showgrounds, organized every year. It’s at this train station that you will probably arrive to visit the City of Tomar. This Railway Station was inaugurated on the 24th of September 1928 and nowadays has four platforms. Most trains originate from Lisbon and come through the town of Entroncamento, which is a junction of the Northern Railway Line and the Eastern Line.
This is Varzea Grande in Tomar, filled with cars and at some distance is the facade of the Railway Station of Tomar, which was inaugurated on the 24th of September 1928
Photo shot inside the Railway Station of the City of Tomar, which in Portuguese is simply called Estação de Tomar
Estação Ferroviária de Tomar (Train Station of Tomar) has 4 platforms, all coming from the town of Entroncamento and mostly originated from Lisbon. As you can see in this picture, an train was just arriving
One of the problems of the City of Tomar is the lack of parking spaces. It was a big problem when I lived in my home town more than two decades ago, and it is still a problem today. This is Varzea Grande, also known as Largo 5 de Outubro, filled with cars. There was a time in the long past, this area of the town was almost empty, but with the arrival of motor vehicles, slowly but steadily, parking became a problem and Varzea Grande became a favourite place for those who needed a parking spot.
This is Avenida General Bernardo Faria at Varzea Grande in Tomar, filled with cars on either side of the street
This area at Varzea Grande in Tomar is where Santa Iria Showgrounds is organized every year, but for the rest of the time, it is used as a parking area, due to the lack of parking spaces in other parts of the town
I shot this photo of Varzea Grande from an historical column in the middle of Varzea Grande called Padrão Filipino or alternatively also known as Pelourinho de Tomar
This is Varzea Grande in Tomar, officially known as Largo 5 de Outuburo. This is an area of the town that hasn’t changed much over the years and it has been the stage of historical events, military parades and lately it’s been the space used for fairs and events, especially the Santa Iria Showgrounds, which is organized every year in the month of September. It is here right in the middle of Varzea Grande that an historical column was built when King Felipe III of Spain and Portugal, gave the ownership of this space to the people of Tomar, against the wishes of the Order of Christ.
This area of Varzea Grande is close to a former military base in Tomar and near the Statue of the Unknown Soldier who died in the World War I
This large spaces at Varzea Grande in the City of Tomar, have been the place for historical events, military parades and other events like the Santa Iria Showgrounds
Varzea Grande also known as Largo 5 de Outubro is a space also used for parking, given that it's rather difficult to find a parking spot in town, especially in the old areas of the city
This public square column built right in the middle of Varzea grande in Tomar is called Padrão Filipino, but some people also call it Pelourinho de Tomar. This historical column symbolizes the judgement made by the King Filipe III of Spain and Portugal in favour of the people of Tomar and against the Order of Christ, when it wanted to take possession of the land where Varzea Grande is now located. Pelourinho de Tomar or Padrão Filipino is now classified by IGESPAR, the institute that protects the architectural and archeological patrimony of Portugal, as a monument of national interest.
This is Padrão Filipino which was built in the middle of Varzea Grande in Tomar, to remember the decision made by King Filipe III in favour of the people of Tomar and against the Order of Christ
Pdrão Filipino also known as Pelourinho de Tomar is located at Varzea Grande at the parish of São João Baptista in Tomar, and is regarded by IGESPAR a monument of national interest
Close up of this column at Varzea Grande in Tomar. You'll notice that Padrão Filipino is surrounded by old street lamps, which at the time they were placed there, probably used oil rather than electricity
The square of Varzea Grande with the official name of Largo 5 de Outubro has never been developed and I don’t think that any plans have ever been made to cover the area with a garden or trees. Apparently it’s been like this for ages. Old photos show Varzea Grande as it is today, with the difference that now it is used as a parking area, and in the old days you didn’t have cars, and donkey or horse carts were few and far between. Since they organize some events here, especially the Santa Iria Showgrounds, I guess that developing this area would hinder the organization of this annual event.
Varzea Grande hasn't changed much for ages, perhaps on purpose as the City of Tomar organizes annual events here, especially the Santa Iria Showgrounds. Normally it's been used as a parking area
On the other side of Varzea Grande in Tomar or Largo 5 de Outubro as it's officially known, there is a forest that runs alongside a road called Estrada de Paialvo. When I was kid, I used to play there
In front of me in the distance is the Railway Station of Tomar. Trains leave the station to the city of Entroncamento and from there you can take other trains to other cities and villages of Portugal
Varzea Grande (Big Square) is a square or plaza in Tomar which hasn’t changed much in many years, with exception of now being used as parking area, while when I was a kid, you could hardly see a car there. It is also an area where the Santa Iria Showgrounds is organized every year during the month of October. In these photos the Church and Convent of São Francisco are prominently featured and behind it there’s a forest where I sometimes used to go as kid and pretend to be a knight from the Castle of Tomar, roaming the woods with my shiny armour and sword.
This Varzea Grande in the City of Tomar, with lots of cars parked there. In front of me, was the Convent and Church of São Francisco with a forest in the background
Thought Varzea Grande isn't officially a parking area, people use it mainly for that purpose. The Convent of São Francisco in the distance is a four centuries religious building
Another view of Varzea Grande in Tomar which nowadays is officially known as Largo 5 de Outubro. In the past they tried other names but Varzea Grande is still a more popular name
The Square or Plaza of Varzea Grande (Big Plaza) in the City of Tomar, looks more or less the same of when I was a kid and attended a primary school in the area. The only difference is that in the 60’s there were no cars parked there and now it is often covered with automobiles. Nowadays is more of Parking lot than a square, but I still enjoyed the moment and shot a few photos, especially from the Judicial Tribunal of Tomar (Tomar Courthouse) which I sometimes used to visit to get formal documents. I also got married there.
Varzea Grande is located in an area of Tomar near the Railway and Bus Stations. The street in this photo is called Avenida Combatentes da Grande Guerra. In the the distance is the Judicial Tribunal of Tomar
Another view of the Tribunal of Tomar in Portugal. On very busy days the area in front of the courthouse is full of cars parking there
A close up view of the main entrance of the Judicial Tribunal of Tomar in Portugal. This building isn't just for court cases but you can also get official documents
Since the foundation of Tomar by Gualdim Pais until the present day, this square or plaza has always been known by the name Varzea Grande which means “Big Plaza”. In the past they tried to give it different names like Largo Conde Ferreira (1891) Largo do Conselho Hintze Ribeiro (1901) Largo Cândido dos Reis (1910) and more recently Largo 5 de Outubro. Anyway this is an area where you can find the Tomar Courthouse, the Railway Station, a Bus Station, the Church of San Francisco (Igreja de São Francisco) the former Military Headquarters of Tomar, the Statue of the Unknown Soldier and it is also the area where numerous events take place, like Santa Iria Fair (Feira de Santa Iria). Furthermore, as you can see from these photos, you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the Castle of Tomar.
A corner of Varzea Grande in Tomar, whose official name is Largo 5 de Outubro, with a view to the Castle of the Knights Templar
Another area of Varzea Grande in the City of Tomar, near a garden and trees with a partial view of the Castle
Varzea Grande or Largo 5 de Outubro. In the distance is the Castle of Tomar and on the left is the Church of San Francisco and the former military headquarters