Convento de Cristo

The Convento de Cristo is a stunning palace and fortificated convent in Tomar, Portugal. Located in the top of a hill, Convento de Cristo is a great example of Templar and Manueline architecture and it also displays some Renaissance and Baroque elements. The convent was founded in 1160 by the Portuguese grand master, Gualdim Pais, and it was later quite enlarged by King Manuel I of Portugal. The convent is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an important part of the city's identity. The convent's buildings and towers provide impressive viewpoints and the chapel and inner courtyard are especially beautiful. Within the convent's walls there is an old Roman bridge, now being part of the path leading to the outer walls and towers. Surrounded by gardens full of Mediterranean vegetation and plants, Convento de Cristo is an amazing place not only worth discovering, but also to admire its beauty.