Step into Tomar, one of the most important cities in Portuguese history and the true origin of Portugal’s maritime expansion. Explore the Convent of Christ, originally built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century.
After the fall of the Templars in Europe, Portugal preserved their legacy by transforming the order into the Order of Christ, ensuring continuity of knowledge, wealth, and vision. Under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator, Grand Master of the Order of Christ, the resources of this powerful institution financed ships, navigators, maps, and exploration.
The iconic Cross of the Order of Christ, once a crusader symbol, became the emblem carried on the sails of Portuguese caravels across the oceans. Walking through Tomar and the Convent, discover how faith, finance, and strategy combined to create the foundations of Portugal’s maritime life and global discoveries.
