Highlights
- Knights Templar day trip from Lisbon in a small group with no more than 8 passengers
- Explore the Portuguese villages of Constância, Tomar and Ourém
- See the incredible Convent of Christ, a World Heritage Site
- Take a boat to Almourol Castle and explore inside
- Visit the church of Santa Maria do Olival in Tomar
- Small-group tour limited to eight people ensures personalized attention
Useful Information
Small-Group Tour: Knights Templar Historical Tour from Lisbon
Next, enjoy the drive in a comfortable minivan to the beautiful village of Constância, known for being one of the places frequented by famous Portuguese poet Luís Vaz de Camões, who wrote the epic poem Os Lusíadas. With your expert guide, take a walk in Parque Constância, one of the most magnificent parks in this region of Portugal, and enjoy the contact with nature, just like the Templar Knights did.
Your next stop is the beautiful city of Tomar, one of Portugal’s historical gems. The city was built according to the rules of the Knights Templar, with four religious monuments constructed around the city to form a perfect crucifix. The most impressive of these monuments is the ensemble of the Castle of Tomar and the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Templars in the 12th century. Visit the castle and convent with your guide. You'll spend a good part of your day in Tomar, where you can enjoy lunch at a local eatery (own expense) and walk to popular Tomar attractions like the Gothic-style Church of Santa Maria do Olival, built in the 12th century as the pantheon for the Knights Templar.
Finally, make your way to the last stop of your day trip – Ourém – a small town with a Templar castle that was used for the defense of the territory until the 14th century and used by the Counts of Ourém as a private residence. Take in views of the castle, considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Portugal.
Before returning to Lisbon in your comfortable minivan, toast your fascinating day trip with a sample of Ginja, a Portuguese liqueur (included).
Reviewed by Frances C, May 2013
This tour, operated by Cool Tours, was very well done. We had a full day (almost twelve hours). It was done by Miguel Condeço, who was very knowledgeable and handled our small group of four very ably. I would recommend their company.
Reviewed by Deirdre R, May 2013
Wow, talk about stepping back into history! Clambering around a ruined fort on an island, wandering through a massive ancient monastery, strolling through cute towns and having an amazing lunch at a restaurant for a handful of Euros. Then a great finish having our first taste of the wonderfuil local liquor Ginja with a coffee within the ancient castle walls on top of a small mountain.
A wonderful day in the countryside of Spain, made all the better by our guide Miguel from CooltourLx who is passionate about the history of the area.
