Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Santarém > Tomar > Tomar > Quinta do Lima
Located in the city of Tomar, in Portugal, in the parish of Santa Maria dos Olivais, next to the Nabão River.
The church was founded in the 12th century, initially serving as the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal. After the order's extinction, it became the headquarters of the Order of Christ. It was also important in the context of the Portuguese discoveries, having been chosen as the See of all churches in the discovered territories.
The church was classified as a National Monument in 1910 and is an excellent example of Gothic architecture in Portugal, with influences from the Renaissance and Mannerism.
It features a Gothic portal with a central rose window. The bell tower, separated from the church, built in medieval times, was later adapted for this purpose during the reign of King Manuel I.
The temple has three naves and a main chapel with a ribbed vault. Highlights include the baluster pulpit, the masonry altars, and the polychrome tiles.
There are five interconnected chapels, decorated with tiles and images of saints.
It features a stone sculpture of Our Lady of Milk, in the Renaissance style.
Among the various funerary tombstones, those of Gualdim Pais and Lourenço Martins, masters of the Knights Templar, stand out.
During the 20th century, restoration work was carried out that restored the church's original Gothic appearance, including the reconstruction of the rose window and the replacement of architectural elements such as the main altar.
The Church of Santa Maria dos Olivais is open to the public and is a place of great historical and architectural interest, perfect for those who appreciate medieval history and religious art.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_Santa_Maria_dos_Olivais
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.60151045549156,-8.407411591879539
Coordinates DMS: 39°36'5.4"N 08°24'26.7"W
Weather Tomar
On-duty Pharmacy Tomar
