In this category, I have shown a collection of interesting photos of windows in Tomar but this time I decided to display, possibly the most complex and exuberant window in the world. I am referring to the richly sculpted Window of the Chapter House at the Convent of Christ, which in Portuguese is mostly known as Janela do Capítulo (Chapter Window). This window is marked by a masterful complex ornamentation, designed by the Portuguese architect Diogo de Arruda, who lived in the 16th Century. The Chapter window may represent the pinnacle of the Manueline architecture style and illustrates the Portuguese dominance of the seas in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Partially view of the Chapter House at the Convent of Christ in Tomar. Several elements related to the seas and the Portuguese discoveries, like ropes, knots, corals, leaves, seaweeds, etc, appear regularly
Another partial view of the Chapter Windown at the Christ Convent in Tomar. This is one the finest stonework in the world with its unique Manueline architectural style
The Chapter Window seen from a certain distance. In the bottom of the window there’s a human face which seems to represent Diogo Arruda, the designer of the window
This is the Old Bridge (Ponte Velha) of the City of Tomar, in a rainy day in October 2010. This bridge whose official name is Bridge King D. Manuel I, taking the name of a king of Portugal who lived in the 16th Century, crosses River Nabão from the parish of São João Baptista to the parish of Santa Maria dos Olivais. The first two photos were shot facing the new areas of Tomar in the distance. The third photo was taken facing Corredoura (Rua Serpa Pinto) and on top of the hill you can see the Castle of Tomar.
Photo shot in a rainy day in the City of Tomar on the Old Bridge, whose official name is Bridge King Manuel I
In a rainy day, crossing the Old Bridge of Tomar from the Parishes of São João Baptista to Santa Maria dos Olivais
Photos taken in the middle of the Old Bridge of the City of Tomar, which crosses Nabão River. On the other side is Rua Serpa Pinto and in the distance on top of the hill, you can see the Castle of the Knights Templar
Photos of trains arriving at the Railway Station of the City of Tomar in Portugal. The first one was shot in a different day of the other two, but all of them came from Lisbon through the railway junction of Entrocamento. The photo in the middle and the bottom one is the same train where my wife, my son and I travelled. We were coming back from a few days in the City of Setúbal and caught this train at the Oriente Railway Station in Lisbon and arrived in Tomar late afternoon on a Sunday.
Photo shot in a working day at the Railway Station of Tomar in Portugal. This train was coming from Lisbon
This train arrived at the Railway Station of Tomar on a Sunday Afternoon. I spent a few days in Setúbal, a city on the other side of Tejo River and with my wife and son, caught this train at the Oriente Railway Station in Lisbon
As you can see in the photo, this train which arrived at the Station of the City of Tomar on a Sunday afternoon, was full of passengers, most of them coming from Lisbon
At Varzea Pequena in the City of Tomar, right next to Hotel dos Templários (Templars Hotel) there’s a house painted in pink but to be honest I don’t know much about it. When I was there, I shot a few pictures but for some reason I didn’t make any inquiries. I suppose it belongs to the hotel as I saw a sign in front of the house but if that’s the case I wonder what do they do with it.
I shot this photo of this Pink House at Varzea Pequena in Tomar when I was standing next to the Chapel of São Gregório
Another view of the Pink House near Hotel dos Templários, surrounded by beautiful green areas at Varzea Pequena
Another perspective of the Pink house near Hotel dos Templários in Tomar, Portugal
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
This street in Tomar is called Rua do Centro Republicano which is English can be translated to Republican Centre Street. The word ‘republican’ means a lot to Portugal as in 1910 the country decided to change from a monarchy into a republic. In my view this is important because in 1580, due to the death in battle of the young King of Portugal Dom Sebastião, without heirs the kingdom of Portugal was disputed by the king’s cousin who was the King of Spain, Philip II. As a result Portugal ended up losing its independence to Spain for 60 years. Since Spain is now a monarchy and Portugal is a Republic, the danger of Portugal losing its independence again due to monarchy heritage doesn’t exist any more.
Rua do Centro Republicano in Tomar is a medieval street, covered with cobblestones
Close to Rua do Centro Republicano is the Sports Pavilion of Tomar and Mouchão Park
Rua do Centro Republicano which in English can be translated to Republican Centre Street is full of commerce like hairdressers, insurance companies, electrical equipment, etc
This is Travessa do Arco, another medieval street in the City of Tomar, paved with cobblestones. There was a time cars were allowed to circulate and even park in this alley but in 2010 given how narrow is this lane, the Town Council of Tomar deliberated to forbid most traffic with the exception of loading and unloading goods. There is an 500 years old palace here called Palácio dos Velhos de Macedo whose owner, Mr. José Maria Shearman Velho de Macedo has written to me last year.
Travessa do Arco in the City of Tomar. Close by there is a five hundred year palace called Palácio dos Velhos de Macedo
The Town Council of Tomar in 2010 forbade the circulation and parking of cars at Travessa do Arco
At the end of Travessa do Arco (Arch Lane) in Tomar, is a street called Avenida Cândido Madureira.
Some people believe that panoramic photography must capture elongated views and therefore needs special equipment of software. I have a slight different opinion. According to well known dictionaries, a panorama is just a view of a wide area that is pleasant to look at. That’s what I think these three photos represent. They were shot from the Castle of Tomar and show pleasant wide area views.
This is what you can see if you take a photo from a certain spot at the Castle of Tomar
Another wide angle photo shot from the Castle of knights Templar in the City of Tomar
I caught this column of the Convent of Christ in Tomar when I took this panoramic photo
Traditional markets often reflect the life style, culture and habits of people. In this case it is a long tradition in Tomar for people to head to the local market on Fridays. It’s a weekly event that has been taking place for a few centuries, even though some people now prefer supermarkets and shopping centres. Even if you don’t want to buy anything it’s still interesting to feel the atmospheres of the Tomar market.
Vendors and customers at the traditional Friday market in Tomar
People walking around at the weekly market of Tomar. The mature couple on the left seem to be tourists visiting the market
People in another area of the market in Tomar, which sells a wide range of tapestry
These green areas in the City of Tomar are at Varzea Grande, which is also known as Largo 5 de Outubro. Varzea Grande doesn’t have many green spots as it is mainly an open space, but these ones are the exception. This set of photos were shot near the Catholic Convent and Church of São Francisco, which was built in the 17th Century by Franciscan monks, which started in 1628 and was completed in 1660.
Green area at Varzea Grande, close to the Convent of São Francisco in Tomar, which is that white building on the right
Small garden at Varzea Grande in Tomar. On my left is the Church of São Francisco. There's also a forest on the other side
My wife and son sitting on a bench under a palm tree, right across the Convent of São Francisco st Varzea Grande in Tomar