In the Heart of Portugal

7/30/2019 In the Heart of Portugal

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In the Heart of Portugal In the extreme south west o Europe lies a region we can call the Heart o Portugal.

Many o the events dating rom the birth o Portugal — the realm with the oldest borders in Europe

— took place in this region, which is inused with History, but also with myths and legends. The existenceo three o the most important Portuguese monuments, recognised as World Heritage sites by UNESCO, in

an area o little more than 90 km.2, bears witness to this amazing truth.

The Cistercian Abbey o Santa Maria de Alcobaça was ounded in 1153 by the rst King o Portugal, D.

Aonso I, with the blessing o St. Bernard o Clairvaux. It is one o the best-preserved Cistercian monas-

teries, where we can nd the original buildings o the monastery complex and one o the order’s most

monumental churches. It was no mere chance that the taming o a ormerly swampy and uninviting land

radiated rom Alcobaça, transorming it into a veritable orchard or the kingdom.

In order to protect these territories, the Knights Templar built a castle to the south at the request o the

King. Founded in 1160, in Tomar, it became the seat o the Portuguese Order o the Temple and one o the

most important Templar sites outside o the Holy Land. Here, the knights ensured that the conquered

lands were maintained and launched oensives, pushing Christian domination ever southwards. When

the Order o the Temple was disbanded, in the atermath o a celebrated and incredible trial, the Order

o Christ was created in Portugal to provide it with continuity. The headquarters o the Order o Christ,

naturally, was in Tomar. It was here that Prince D. Henrique (“the Navigator”) settled and, rom the 15th to

the mid 16th centuries, monastic buildings in the most varied styles were added to the original Templar

building. The nal building phase resulted in an impressive architectural amplication that is a veritable

masterpiece o the Renaissance. In turn, the Order o Christ — as i keeping the amous and allusive “Tem-

plar mission” alive — played a undamental role in the Portuguese discoveries.

But it was also in the area around the old Cistercian monastery and to the north o Tomar where one o

the most dramatic pages in Portuguese History was written: at the Battle o Aljubarrota. This took place

on 14th August 1385, with around three thousand men in the Portuguese army conronting the Castilian

army o around orty thousand. They were ghting to prevent D. Juan I o Castile rom taking the throne

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rom the newly acclaimed King o Portugal, D. João de Avis. Despite the clear disproportion in numbers,

the Portuguese army and its English allies, commanded by D. João and by the Constable D. Nuno Álvares

Pereira, occupied a avourable strategic position and adopted a tactic that lead to the deeat o the Casti-

lian army and its French allies. On the battleeld o Aljubarrota a chapel dedicated to St. George was builtto commemorate the encounter, while the Monastery o Nossa Senhora da Vitória (Our Lady o Victory)

— also known as Batalha Monastery — was built a little urther north, to ull a vow that the newly vic-

torious monarch had made to the Virgin on the eve o the great battle. The monastery, ounded in 1385, is

a late gothic masterpiece, and, on the death o King D. João I, it became the ocial pantheon o the new

reigning dynasty in Portugal.

These three monuments constitute an authentic compendium o medieval art and architecture and a

unique portrait o historical sedimentation in the orming o Europe. Alcobaça was not merely a project

or territorial consolidation at the height o the eudal period, it also represented cultural consolidation

— since the monastery was a medieval centre or culture, housing the largest library in Portugal. In

addition to keeping alive the link to the “mysterious Templars”, Tomar was a centre o military power and

European expansion, while Batalha venerated a generation o men — the victorious and the vanquished

— that shaped the present contours o Europe and the world.Heart o Portugal. Heart because, long beore, long ater and ar beyond the ambit o historical matters,

this region remained a melting pot o cultures, as expressed in the syncretism o the “Mozarab” people, the

place where Portuguese identity was orged. Furthermore, it is in this “magic triangle”, as it has been cal-

led, that one can nd nature that is simultaneously wild and welcoming, among the peaks and the valleys

o the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros — where the our elements declare themselves with quiet orce —, and

one o the world’s major pilgrimage sites: Fátima.

3WORLD HERITAGE SITES



The Treasureof the TemplarsCITY OF TOMAR D2

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DO OLIVAL, TOMAR D2

CHURCH OF SÃO JOÃO BAPTISTA(ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST), TOMAR D2

TOMAR SYNAGOGUE, TOMAR D2

CHAPEL OF SÃO GREGÓRIO, TOMAR D2

RODA DO NABÃO D2

TOMAR CASTLE, TOMAR D2

CHAROLA OF THE CONVENTO DE CRISTO, TOMAR D2

MANUELINE CHURCH OF THE CONVENTO

DE CRISTO, TOMAR D2CONVENTO DE CRISTO, TOMAR D2

CHAPEL OF NOSSA SENHORA DA CONCEIÇÃO(OUR LADY OF THE CONCEPTION CHAPEL),TOMAR D2

MATA DOS SETE MONTES (WOOD OF THE SEVENHILLS), TOMAR D2

PEGÕES AQUEDUCT D2

CASTELO DO BODE (CASTLE OF THE RAM),TOMAR E2

CHURCH OF ATALAIA, ATALAIA, VILA NOVA DABARQUINHA D3

ALMOUROL CASTLE, VILA NOVA DA BARQUINHA D3

QUINTA DA CARDIGA, GOLEGÃ D3

D. GAIÃO’S TOWER, PEREIRO E1

AREIAS, FERREIRA DO ZÊZERE D1DORNES TOWER, FERREIRA DO ZÊZERE D1

Paths of FaithMISERICÓRDIA CHURCH, PENICHE A3

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DOS REMÉDIOS,PENICHE A3

CHURCH OF SÃO LEONARDO, ATOUGUIA DABALEIA A3

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DA CONCEIÇÃO,ATOUGUIA DA BALEIA A3

TOWN OF ÓBIDOS A3

ALCÁÇOVA DE ÓBIDOS, ÓBIDOS A3

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DE ÓBIDOS, ÓBIDOS A3

MISERICÓRDIA CHURCH, ÓBIDOS A3

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DO PÓPULO,CALDAS DA RAINHA B3

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NAZARÉ B2

PEDERNEIRA B2

CHAPEL OF MEMORY, NAZARÉ B2

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DA NAZARÉ(CHURCH OF THE MIRACLE) B2

CHAPEL OF SÃO BRÁS, PEDERNEIRA, NAZARÉ B2

SÃO GIÃO DA NAZARÉ, NAZARÉ B2

ABBEY OF SANTA MARIA DE ALCOBAÇA,ALCOBAÇA B2

MONASTERY OF CÓS, CÓS B2

SANTA RITA CHAPEL, CÓS B2

CHAPEL OF NOSSA SENHORA DA LUZ,PÓVOA DE CÓS B2

SENHORA DA GRAÇA (OUR LADY OF GRACE) ORDAS CANDEIAS (OF CANDEIAS), ATAÍJA DE CIMA B2

SENHORA DAS AREIAS CHAPEL, CHÃOS,ALJUBARROTA B2

SANCTUARY OF NOSSA SENHORA DO FETAL,REGUENGO DO FETAL C2

CHAPEL OF NOSSA SENHORA DA ORTIGA, FÁTIMA,OURÉM C2

SANCTUARY OF FÁTIMA, FÁTIMA C2

HEART OF THE SANCTUARY OF OUR LADYOF FÁTIMA C2

CHAPEL OF THE APPARITIONS, FÁTIMA C2

IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF FÁTIMA C2

BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY(BASILICA OF FÁTIMA), FÁTIMA C2

MONUMENT TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS,FÁTIMA C2

BASILICA OF THE HOLY TRINITY, SANCTUARYOF FÁTIMA, FÁTIMA C2

CABEÇO, ALJUSTREL, FÁTIMA C2

HAMLET OF VALINHOS, FÁTIMA C2

WAY OF THE CROSS AND CALVARY, VALINHOS,FÁTIMA C2

HOUSES OF THE SHEPHERD CHILDREN,ALJUSTREL, FÁTIMA C2

ARNEIRO WELL, ALJUSTREL, FÁTIMA C2

OURÉM C2

OURÉM PALACE AND CASTLE, OURÉM C2

OURÉM COLLEGIATE CHURCH, OURÉM C2

HAND OF FÁTIMA, SOUTH WINDOW, CHAPTER

ROOM, BATALHA MONASTERY, BATALHA C2

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The 4 ElementsCAPE CARVOEIRO, PENICHE A3

FURNINHA CAVE, PENICHE A3

BERLENGAS ISLANDS, PENICHE A3

BALEAL, PENICHE A3

FONTE DA BICA SALT PANS, RIO MAIOR B3

DOLMEN-CHAPEL OF ALCOBERTAS , ALCOBERTAS,RIO MAIOR B3

ARCO DA MEMÓRIA (MEMORY ARCH), PORTELADO PEREIRO, ÉVORA DE ALCOBAÇA B2

STONE OF THE FONTE DA SENHORA, BENEDITA B3

SERRAS DE AIRE E CANDEEIROS C2

CANDEEIROS GEODESIC POINT, SERRA DOSCANDEEIROS C2

NATURAL MONUMENT OF DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTSIN THE SERRA D’AIRE, BAIRRO, PORTO DE MÓS C2

JURASSIC VANTAGE POINT, ALQUEIDÃO DA SERRA,PORTO DE MÓS C2

FÓRNEA, ZAMBUJAL DA ALCARIA / CHÃO DASPIAS, PORTO DE MÓS C2

CAVERN OF ALGAR DA PENA, VALE DO MAR(VALDEMAR), ALCANEDE C3

SANTO ANTÓNIO CAVE, PORTO DE MÓS C2

ALVADOS CAVE, ALVADOS, PORTO DE MÓS C2

MIRA D’AIRE CAVE, ALVADOS, PORTO DE MÓS C2

QUINTA DA MURETA, MINDE, PORTO DE MÓS C2

ARRIMAL LAKES, ARRIMAL, PORTO DE MÓS B2

MIRA D’AIRE/MINDE POLJE C2

CAMPOS DE LAPIÁS, MENDIGA, PORTO DE MÓS C2

QUINTA DO VALE DE VENTOS, TURQUEL,ALCOBAÇA B3

CABEÇO DA LUA, SERRA DOS CANDEEIROS,TURQUEL B3

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DA AJUDA,VESTIARIA, ALCOBAÇA B2

ÉVORA DE ALCOBAÇA, ALCOBAÇA B2

QUARRIES, MOLIANOS B2

HOLY FOUNTAIN OF NOSSA SENHORA DA LUZ,JUNCAL, COZ B2

POÇO SUÃO, PRAZERES, ALCOBAÇA B2

FONTE DA CHIQUEDA, CHIQUEDA (CHIQUEDADE CIMA), ALCOBAÇA B2

MAIORGA PILLORY, ALCOBAÇA B2

VALADO DOS FRADES, ALCOBAÇA B2

ROMAN VILLA OF PARREITAS, VALADO DOSFRADES, BÁRRIO, ALCOBAÇA B2

MENHIR OF THE SERRA DA PESCARIA,FAMALICÃO, NAZARÉ B2

MEGALITHIC SANCTUARY , CASAL DO RESONEIRO,ALJUBARROTA B2

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PEDRA GALEGA, CASAL DO RESONEIRO,ALJUBARROTA B2

PAÚL DO BOQUILOBO, RIACHOS, GOLEGÃ D3

DOLMEN I OF VALE DA LAJE, SERRA, TOMAR D2

CASTELO DO BODE DAM, TOMAR D2

The quest for the Holy GrailAGROAL D2

TOMAR D2

A RODA DO NABÃO D2

TOMAR CASTLE D2

A CHAROLA E A IGREJA MANUELINA DE TOMAR D2

CHAROLINHA, MATA DOS SETE MONTES, TOMAR D2CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DO OLIVAL, TOMAR D2

SANTA IRIA CONVENT, TOMAR D2

FESTA DOS TABULEIROS, TOMAR D2

ALMOUROL CASTLE, VILA NOVA DA BARQUINHA D3

STONE OF THE HOLY MARTYRS, PAIALVO,TOMAR D2

QUINTA DA CARDIGA, GOLEGÃ D3

GAIÃO’S OR LANGALHÃO’S TOWER, PEREIRO,FERREIRA DO ZÊZERE D1

DORNES TOWER, DORNES, FERREIRA DO ZÊZERE D1

ABBEY OF SANTA MARIA DE ALCOBAÇA B2

TOMBS OF D. PEDRO I AND D. INÊS DE CASTRO,ABBEY OF ALCOBAÇA B2

MENHIRS OF THE WEST B2

BATTLEFIELD OF ALJUBARROTA, CALVARIADE CIMA, SÃO JORGE DE ALJUBARROTA,PORTO DE MÓS B2

CHAPEL OF SÃO JORGE DE ALJUBARROTA,SÃO JORGE DE ALJUBARROTA B2

MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA DA VITÓRIA,OR BATALHA MONASTERY, BATALHA C2

CAPELA DO FUNDADOR, BATALHA MONASTERY,BATALHA C2

SERRAS DE AIRE E CANDEEIROS (THE SERRASDE AIRE E CANDEEIROS NATIONAL PARK) B2

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The order came to have immense international power and was extremely rich and amous. Averitable popular mythology grew up around it, not always congenial, which explains the ac-

cusations made against the Templars in the trial that led to their disbandment. Pope ClementV, who had been elected through the machinations o the French King, Philip, the Fair , who waskeen to appropriate Templar wealth, ordered an iniquitous inquisitorial trial. On 2nd May 1312,the order was disbanded.However, everything was dierent in Portugal. In 1319, King D. Dinis ounded the Order o Christ,which perpetuated the Templars in name and orm. All the knights and possessions o the oldorder were transerred to the newly created Order o Christ. In 1357, the headquarters was “re-established” at Tomar Castle, returning to the point o origin. In this unusual case, the Order o the Temple was re-ounded as the Order o Christ. In 1417, the position o Master came to be heldby the dignitaries o the Royal Household, with the rst incumbent being the amous Prince D.Henrique, who, to all appearances, congured the Order o Christ in such a way as to maintainits knightly and crusading spirit, but directing it towards what would seem to have been its origi-nal “mission”: the conquest o Asia by sea voyages, nanced by the order itsel.

The establishment was reormed in 1529, during the reign o D. João III, when it became a strictlycloistered order, inspired in the Rule o St. Benedict. The change was so great that it led to theconstruction o the “new” Renaissance convent o Tomar, which was built on to the medieval mon-astery and ortress. The castle remained as a relic o the original vocation, that o the Templars.Thus, the possessions o the order remained untouched in the extreme south-west o Europe. Andthis reconstitution o the medieval (and modern day) Templar high places can be made by ollow-ing the route that does not disdain including the sorcery o the countless enigmas which, rightlyor wrongly, have been linked to the Knights Templar and their successors. There is no other re-gion where the Templar legends have let such a clear and evocative trail o mystery and magic.

The Treasure of the Templars The Orer o the Temple was oune in Jeru-salem, in 1118, by Hugues e Payens, with the enthusiastic support o his cousin, St.Bernar. Uner the Portuguese Gran-Master, Gualim Paes, there was a “national”expansion o the Templar vocation in Portugal, an it was uring this time that thecastles o Pombal, Tomar an Almourol were built.

T h e T r e a s u r e o f t h e T e m p l a r s

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T h e T r e a s u r e o f t h e T e m p l a r s

CITY OF TOMAR (2)One o the most important “me-mory sites” in Portuguese History,the true centre o the sacredgeography o the Templars, thecity has a rich symbolic heritage,including, on the hilltop, theascinating Convento de Cristo(Convent o Christ).C- 39º 36’ N 8º 24’ W

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIADO OLIVAL, TOMAROne o the rst Portuguese chur-ches in the gothic style. Pantheono the Templars, containing thetomb o the knight D. Gualdim

Paes, ounder o Tomar Castle and4th Grand-Master o the Order o the Temple in Portugal.C- 39º 36’ 05’’ N 8º 24’ 26’’ W

CHURCH OF SÃO JOÃO BAPTISTA(ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST), TOMAR (5)Gothic-Manueline church. It isthe mother-church o the city andbears symbols relating the legendo the ounding o Tomar.C- 39º 36’ 13’’ N 8º 24’ 52’’ W

TOMAR SYNAGOGUE, TOMAR (6)One o the oldest synagogues inEurope; built in the 15th centuryand almost ully preserved.C- 39º 36’ 11’’ N 8º 24’ 51’’ W

CHAPEL OF SÃO GREGÓRIO, TOMAR (7)

A small, circular chapel that mir-rors the cosmogram o Tomar: theperect circle o the host, symbol o the glorication o the Eucharist.C- 39º 36’ 25’’ N 8º 24’ 54’’ W

RODA DO NABÃO, TOMAR (8)Key elements in the economiclie o Tomar, the shapes o theseemingly prosaic water wheelson the dams o the river Nabão,refect the “idea” o Tomar as thespiritual and political centre o the sacred world.C- 39º 36’ N 8º 25’ W

TOMAR CASTLE, TOMAR (9)At the time when it was ounded,circa 1160, the Templar castle wasthe largest, most modern and ad-vanced military equipment in therealm, inspired by the orticationso the Crusades in the Holy Land.

C- 39º 36.230’ N 8º 25.109’ WCHAROLA OF THE CONVENTODE CRISTO, TOMAR (10)The great Templar rotunda,the largest and best-preservedin Europe, is inspired by the“image” o the Holy Sepulchre. Itis the mythical remembrance o Jerusalem and o the oundingplace o the Templars: the Templeo Solomon.C- 39º 36.230’ N 8º 25.109’ W

MANUELINE CHURCH OF THECONVENTO DE CRISTO, TOMAR (4, 1)In 1510, construction began on thisaddition to the Templar rotunda.The symbology o the buildingexpresses the ideas o the time o King D. Manuel I. In the westernacade can be seen the great“window”, one o the most amousworks o art in the world.C- 39º 36.230’ N 8º 25.109’ W

CONVENTO DE CRISTO, TOMAR (3)In this masterpiece o Renais-sance architecture, the conventbuildings conorm to a rationaland symbolic concept, ruit o the great reorm in the Order o Christ in 1529.C- 39º 36.230’ N 8º 25.109’ W

CHAPEL OF NOSSA SENHORADA CONCEIÇÃO (OUR LADY OF THECONCEPTION CHAPEL), TOMARThis intriguingly perect work o pure classicism was destined orthe pantheon o King D. João III.C-39º 36.230’ N 8º 25.109’ W

MATA DOS SETE MONTES (WOODOF THE SEVEN HILLS), TOMAR (12)The most important part o theancient estate o the Convento deCristo, its leay vegetation hides aminiature temple: the Charolinha.C- 39º 36’ N 8º 25’ W

PEGÕES AQUEDUCT (13)This 7 kilometre long aqueduct inthe Pegões valley has great mo-numental value. One o the mostsignicant seventeenth centurypublic works in Portugal.C- 39º 36’ N 8º 26.309’ W

CASTELO DO BODE(CASTLE OF THE RAM), TOMAR (14)In its name can be ound echoeso the amous (and inamous)

Templar baomet , the idolsupposedly worshipped by the“heretical” Templars.C- 39º 32’ 34’’ N 8º 19’ W

CHURCH OF ATALAIA, ATALAIA,VILA NOVA DA BARQUINHA (15)This building, which the Count o Cantanhede had constructed in1528, is one o the earliest exam-ples o Renaissance architecturein Portugal.C- 39º 28’ N 8º 27’ W

ALMOUROL CASTLE, VILA NOVADA BARQUINHA (16) Al-morolan (= big rock). A castleon an island in the middle o theTagus. Building work began in1171. It has generated mythical and

literary appropriations. A avouritesetting or “spiritual chivalry” whe-re “legends o giants” endure.C- 39º 27’ N 8º 23’ W

QUINTA DA CARDIGA, GOLEGÃ (17)One o the most productivearming establishments in thewhole country, this ormer or-tress – part o the Templar rontline – was later transormed intocountry house and arm.C- 39º 26’ 43’’ N 8º 27’ 02’’ W

D. GAIÃO’S TOWER, PEREIROThe property o D. Gaião, the al-cayde o Santarém, who donatedit to the Templars in 1152. Ruinedresidence o the abled giantLangalhão.C- 39º 37’ N 8º 28’ W

AREIAS, FERREIRA DO ZÊZEREThis ormer parish o the Templarterritories is today a small villagewith a huge, three-naved church(1502-1548).C- 39º 41’ N 8º 17’ W

DORNES TOWER, FERREIRADO ZÊZERE (18)This Templar watch-tower on theZêzere-Tejo line has a pentagonalfoorplan and leans over thewaters orming one o the mostevocative landscapes in theregion.C- 39º 37’ N 8º 28’ W

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Paths of Faith In the extreme south-west o Europe is the site o what is nowone o the most important sanctuaries o the Catholic aith an one o the largestpilgrimage centres in the worl: Ftima.The oler basilica, opene in the 1950’s, is eicate to Our Lay o the Rosary. Itopens onto a large square where the pilgrims gather on the most holy ates, as hap-pens uring the spectacular “Canlelit Procession”. It honours the site as a key pointo religious experience an inclues the Little Chapel o the Apparitions, which wasbuilt next to the holm oak where the Virgin appeare to the three shepher chilren,

accoring to the story o the miracle. 13th May 1917, the ate o the rst miraculousevent – the rst apparition o the Virgin –, is now celebrate worlwie. On the arsie a new basilica was recently inaugurate, eicate to the Holy Sacrament.

Nowadays one can make a journey through Fatima’s sacred geography, recognising the placeswhere various events related with the said miracle took place.However, it is a known act that man’s veneration o divinities in this region, especially o emaledeities, is an apparently continuous tradition whose roots are lost in the mists o time, withpagan legends dating back to mythical times — the “time o the Moors” — that magical andmiraculous expression that attended the peopling o the region. Thus we have the legend o theairy Oriana, ater whom Ourém is named. Christianity was able to harness this powerul senseo devotion, perhaps rooted in emale agrarian divinities, ocussing it in the gure o the Mother

o God, Our Lady. Worship o Santa Maria and the countless places o worship dedicated to herattest to this ongoing and deeply entrenched religious eeling that has gained even greateruniversal strength.A circuit o the places o Marian devotion coincides with the paths o aith and with the ancientpilgrimage routes that have been long established here. To start with a land’s end: Nossa Sen-hora da Nazaré. The miracles o Our Lady, as experienced in the 12th century by a personagewho seems to inhabit a dimension outside “History”, the Knight Templar D. Fuas Roupinho, werebolstered by the chroniclers o the Cistercian Order. The place o worship came to be the tip o the cli at Nazaré, transorming the place into one o the most signicant Marian sanctuaries inPortugal, rom the 17th to the 19th centuries.However, other places have exercised the same ascination, although they have been circum-scribed to regional devotions, almost unknown and unheard o in the outside world. Never-theless, they represent a priceless religious landscape: Nossa Senhora de Reguengo do Fetal,

Nossa Senhora da Ortiga, countless springs, ormerly with curative properties, or the greatmonuments that were also dedicated to Our Lady, such as the grandiose Abbey o Alcobaça orBatalha Monastery. A ligree overlay on the historical — but also mythical — narratives thatorged the identity o this region.

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MISERICÓRDIA CHURCH, PENICHEIn this church there is an impor-tant painting by Josea d’Óbidos(The Holy Face , 1630-1664),refecting the sweet, mysticaldevotion o the 17th century.C- 39º 21’ 23’’ N 9º 23’ 13’’ W

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORADOS REMÉDIOS, PENICHEA small church that is ully tiledinside, mainly in blue and white,depicting scenes o the Lie o the Virgin. This is an important land’s

end sanctuary.C- 39º 21’ 23’’ N 9º 23’ 13’’ W

CHURCH OF SÃO LEONARDO,ATOUGUIA DA BALEIAThe village was granted by KingD. Aonso Henriques to the crusa-ders who helped him to conquerLisbon, D. Roberto and GuillaumeLe Corni. It may have been oneo the places to accommodatethe rst wave o French reugeeKnights Templar arriving by seaat the time o the “trial” broughtagainst the Order o the Temple.C- 39º 20’ N 9º 19’ W

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DACONCEIÇÃO, ATOUGUIA DA BALEIABuilt between 1694 and 1698, the

Royal Chapel o Nossa Senhorada Conceição is a pilgrimagechurch. It is one o the rst essaysin the Baroque style in Portugue-se architecture.C- 39º 20’ N 9º 19’ W

TOWN OF ÓBIDOS (5, 7)One o the jewels o Portuguesearchitectural heritage, this ancienttown, contained within its old citywalls, still displays the layout o alarge medieval settlement.C- 39º 21’ 41’’ N 9º 09’ 26’’ W

ALCÁÇOVA DE ÓBIDOS, ÓBIDOS (6)Óbidos Castle generically denedthe perimeter o the town at thetime o its conquest by King

D. Aonso Henriques’ Christianarmy, in 1148.C-39º 21’ 47’’ N 9º 09’ 26’’

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIADE ÓBIDOS, ÓBIDOSRebuilt almost rom scratch in1571, this church is an importantexample o the early regionalBaroque style in Portugal. In theSanta Catarina Chapel there aregood quality paintings by thegreatest local artist, Josead’Ayalla, who became considerablyamous in Portugal, and was knownas Josea d’Óbidos.C-39º 21’ 41’’ N 9º 09’ 26’’ W

MISERICÓRDIA CHURCH, ÓBIDOSOne o the best endowed religiousbuilding in Óbidos in terms o artistic content. O special interestare our paintings by André Rei-noso and the gilded carvings.C- 39º 21’ 41’’ N 9º 09’ 26’’ W

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DOPÓPULO, CALDAS DA RAINHAAn important example o the so-called “Manueline style”, this couldbe the oldest part o the Hot SpringHospital o Caldas da Rainha.C- 39º 24’ 09’’ N 9º 08’ 10’’ W

NAZARÉ (8)This is one o the most ascinatingcoastal places in Portugal. At thistall rocky spur, the Knight Tem-

plar D. Fuas Roupinho was savedrom alling to his death whilehunting a deer by the apparitiono the Virgin.C-39º 35’ 59’’ N 9º 04’ 24’’ W

PEDERNEIRA (9)This site gave rise to the currenttown o Nazaré. In past times, itwas called “serro petronero” andhas pre-historic roots.C- 39º 35’ 51’’ N 9º 03’ 52’’ W

CHAPEL OF MEMORY, NAZARÉ (2, 10)Perched on the edge o the cli,this stands at the exact rockypoint where the mark rom thehorseshoe o D. Fuas Roupinho’shorse remains.

C- 39º 36’ 16’’ N 9º 04’ 34’’ W

CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORADA NAZARÉ (CHURCH OF THE MIRACLE ) (11)The main temple o the sanctuary,housing the image o Our Lady o Nazaré, a “dark skinned virgin”, agothic variation o a Black Virgin.C- 39º 36’ 19’’ N 9º 04’ 36’’ W

CHAPEL OF SÃO BRÁS, PEDERNEIRA,NAZARÉSite o one o the most importanteasts dedicated to St. Brás in thePortuguese Estremadura region.

C- 39º 35’ 35’’ N 9º 03’ 07’’ WSÃO GIÃO DA NAZARÉ, NAZARÉOne o the oldest Christianchurches in Portuguese territory(7th to 10th centuries), it standson the coastal zone to the southo Nazaré, around 300 metresrom the sea.C-39º 33’ 46’’ N 9º 05’ 22’’ W

ABBEY OF SANTA MARIA DEALCOBAÇA, ALCOBAÇA (3, 4, 12)Work on the abbey started in1178 and the dedication o thetemple was in 1252. This is one o the biggest and best-preservedCistercian abbeys in all Europe.It was one o the political andcultural “cradles” o Portugal.

C- 39º 32’ 53’’ N 8º 58’ 48’’ WMONASTERY OF CÓS, CÓSThe church, which is about 50metres long, shows how big theold ruined monastery was. Theinterior is a good example o theMannerist and Baroque style o decoration.C- 39º 36’ 07’’ N 8º 57’ 20’’ W

SANTA RITA CHAPEL, CÓSThis church is a site o popularestivals, situated at a high pointaccessed by fights o steps, suchthat visitors have to undertakea climb, with connotations o penitence and purication.C-39º 36’ 20’’ N 8º 57’ 17’’ N

P a t h s o f F a i t h

CHAPEL OF NOSSA SENHORADA LUZ, PÓVOA DE CÓS17th century construction. Thelegend o its ounding relates theapparition o Our Lady to a l ittleshepherd girl.C-39º 35’ 16’’ N 8º 06’ 05’’ W

SENHORA DA GRAÇA (OUR LADYOF GRACE) OR DAS CANDEIAS(OF CANDEIAS), ATAÍJA DE CIMAThe seat o a widespread ritualin the SERRAS DE AIRE ECANDEEIROS: the use o oil

lamps, a Christianised orm o the worship o the pagan divinitiesIsis (Ceres) and Osíris.C- 39º 33’ N 8º 54’ W

SENHORA DAS AREIAS CHAPEL,CHÃOS, ALJUBARROTAThis small chapel is a site o popular estivals. It was oundedto celebrate an apparition o OurLady who returned to a villagewoman her lost house keys.C- 39º 34’ 34’’ N 8º 54’.56 ‘’ W

SANCTUARY OF NOSSA SENHORADO FETAL, REGUENGO DO FETAL (13)The chapel was ounded at anunknown date ollowing anotherapparition by Our Lady to a littleshepherd girl. Local centre or

worship o the Holy Spirit.C- 39º 34’ 39’’ N 8º 55’ 56 ‘’ W

CHAPEL OF NOSSA SENHORADA ORTIGA, FATIMA, OURÉMAccording to the legend and mi-racle o Ortiga, a dea and dumbshepherd was tending his sheepwhen he suddenly saw the shiningand extremely beautiul imageo Our Lady descending romheaven. The proptotype o themiracle o Our Lady o Fátima.C- 39º 36’ 19’’ N 8º 37’ 33’’ W

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SANCTUARY OF FÁTIMA, FÁTIMA (14)The Sanctuary o Fátima is one o the biggest devotional spaces inthe world these days, visited byover two million pilgrims every year. It has become one o themost popular religious destina-tions or Catholics in the longhistory o the religion, and thedevotion to Our Lady o Fátimahas not ceased growing.C-39º 37’ 55’’ N 8º 40’ 20’’ W

HEART OF THE SANCTUARY

OF OUR LADY OF FÁTIMA (15)This is at Cova da Iria, in thatdepression (“cova”) o land wherethe three shepherd childrenwitnessed the majority and themost signicant o the apparitionso Our Lady.C- 39º 47’ 39’’ N 8º 40’ 27’’ W

CHAPEL OF THE APPARITIONS,FÁTIMABuilt between 28th April and 15June 1919, to comply with thewill o the Lady who appearedto the three shepherd children.This chapel, still standing todaywithin the sanctuary thanks tosuccessive restorations, orms theocal point on which the crowds o

pilgrims converge.C- 39º 37’ 53’’ N 8º 40’ 24’’ W

IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF FÁTIMABy José Ferreira Thedim (III)(1892-1971), a maker o holyimages rom São Miguel doCoronado, in Braga.C- 39º 37’ 53’’ N 8º 40’ 24’’ W

BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THEROSARY (BASILICA OF FÁTIMA),FATIMA (1)This is the biggest 20th centuryreligious construction in Portugal(ounded in 1953).C- 39º 37’ 56’’ N 8º 40’ 18’’ W

MONUMENT TO THE SACRED HEARTOF JESUS, FATIMA (16)This column at the centre o thesquare or esplanade, crownedwith a gilded bronze image,was made possible thanks to ananonymous donation. It is moun-ted over water well.C- 39º 37’ 56’’ N 8º 40’ 18’’ W

BASILICA OF THE HOLY TRINITY,SANCTUARY OF FÁTIMA, FÁTIMAThe new basilica was ociallyinaugurated on 13 October 2007.

It has a circular foor plan andsmooth outer walls containingthirteen doors — the main doorplus twelve secondary doors.C- 39º 37’ 45’’ N 8º 40’ 32’’ W

CABEÇO, ALJUSTREL, FÁTIMA (17)The exact site o the rst and thirdapparitions o the Angel to thethree shepherd children.C-39º 37’ 01’’ N 8º 40’ 12’’ W

HAMLET OF VALINHOS, FÁTIMAAround 3 kilometres rom theSanctuary, in Valinhos, is theplace o the ourth apparition o Our Lady to the three shepherdchildren (19 August 1917).C- 39º 37’ 05’’ N 8º 40’ 15’’ W

WAY OF THE CROSS AND CALVARY ,VALINHOS, FÁTIMA (18)A route echoing the Way o theCross and Christ’s Calvary, justoutside the Sanctuary o Fátima.C- 39º 37’ 05’’ N 8º 40’ 15’’ W

HOUSES OF THE SHEPHERDCHILDREN, ALJUSTREL, FÁTIMAThe three seers o Fátima wereborn in this small village andlived here with their respectiveamilies. Lúcia was the cousin o brother and sister Jacinta andFrancisco, and they lived closeto each other, taking part in theeveryday village tasks rom anearly age, such as the traditionaltask o herding the sheep.

C- 39º 36’ 56’’ N 8º 39’ 53’’ W

ARNEIRO WELL, ALJUSTREL, FÁTIMAAlso known as the Angel’s Well,this was the private well belon-ging to the house o seer Lúcia,where the second apparition o the Angel occurred.C- 39º 36’ 53’’ N 8º 39’ 50’’ W

OURÉMThe name o the town is indeliblylinked to the Templar legend o the knight D. Gonçalo Hermigues,who ell in love with the MoorFátima. She converted to Chris-

tianity to be able to marry him,being baptized with the name o Oureana.C- 39º 38’’ N 8º 35’ W

OURÉM PALACE AND CASTLE, OURÉM (19)One o the most innovativePortuguese works o militaryarchitecture in the 15th century. Itwas sponsored by D. Aonso, theCount o Ourém and later Marquiso Valença, the eldest son o theDuke o Bragança, D Aonso.C- 39º 38’ N 8º 35’ W

OURÉM COLLEGIATE CHURCH, OURÉMThis was ounded in 1445 byD. Aonso, the Count o Ourém.His mortal remains are kept

in the crypt in a remarkablesarcophagus.C- 39º 38’ N 8º 35’ W

HAND OF FÁTIMA, SOUTH WINDOW,CHAPTER ROOM, BATALHAMONASTERY, BATALHA (20)Representation o the Virgin witha pitcher in her hand and a ropewith six “open hands” around herneck, i.e. amulets known as thehand o Fátima.C- 39º 39’ N 8º 49’ W

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Part o the ar south westerly territory is divided up between the our elements o nature. Water,in the boundless sea horizons, is ound in the coastal zones, in the magic o land’s end, but alsoin the abundant rivers and ribbons o water that have gouged out the inhospitable valleys orbasins humanized by mankind over the centuries, or even the underground caverns, unsus-pected by many. Air, disarmingly limpid, is there to be enjoyed in the sparkling blue sky o dayor in the star lled vault o the night time. Fire reveals its igneous power in the rocks mouldedby the geological antiquity o the countryside, while Earth devotes itsel to providing man with

sustenance, or denying it, so thin is its mantle, subsiding at times into hard rock.Could this have been the home o the amous mares ertilized by the wind that Herodotus xedor posterity in ancient myth? We cannot tell. But we do know that the harshness o the peaksand the mildness o the valleys permit every eventuality, even the most obscure. Here can beound, moulded by thousands o years o erosion, rocks with capricious ssures, the so-called“ felds o lapiás ; but also natural pools opened in the limestone crust, the “algares”, that pro-vide us with a reading o geological sedimentation over aeons. Some o these also provide ac-cess to the most spectacular Portuguese caves (Mira d’Aire, Santo António, Alvados, Algar daPena). But even small lakes, like the bounty o divine whim, appear here and there in the highmountain range, in the valleys carved out, natural deposits o pure icy waters dotted amongthe dolines (sinkholes) and the poljes (large depressions in the limestone). A testament to thisremarkable nature are the dinosaur ootprints, a veritable Jurassic Park come true, or the rock

salt works, white mantles harvested since Roman times.A magical nature? Undoubtedly, and one that has nourished the strange archaic landscapesthat men o all eras have made sacred, as happened with the dolmen-chapel o Alcobertas.

The 4 Elements Not many people are aware that just over an hour’s rive romthe capital is one o the most ascinating orogenetic systems in Portugal. Thissystem is mae up o the mountain ranges o Aire an Caneeiros, the bona ebackbone o Estremaura an one o the most infuential groups o mountains inthe Peninsular West. Its mainly limestone soils are crosse by some o the mostimportant rivers o Portugal. Above its imposing an apparently bare crest rises acelestial ome, o an intense blue such as is rarely oun elsewhere, or else thereare heavy an invasive ownpours, responsible or the waters an the inaccessible

lie o subterranean worls that sometimes call to min the increible myth o the“hollow earth”. Here, summer’s heat can be inclement an the col o the rocksacete by the extreme temperatures can burn. Aire: the seamless purity o the airan the win; Caneeiros: the rmament an the fame o magical lights.

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CAPE CARVOEIRO, PENICHE (2, 4)The extreme point o the IberianPeninsula, where the city o Peniche now stands. Inhabitedsince pre-history, it is a site o archaeological remains.C-39º 21’ 54’’ N 9º 22’ 45’’ W

FURNINHA CAVE, PENICHETraces o human occupationrom the Middle Paleolithic (byNeanderthal men, around 100000B. C.) to the Ancient Neolithic(5000-4000 B. C.).

C- 39° 21’ 21’’ N 9° 24’ 4’’ WBERLENGAS ISLANDS, PENICHE (5)A micro-archipelago made up o Berlenga Grande island, BerlengaPequena island (the Berlengas )and the islets o Farilhões, Estelasand Forcadas.C- 39º 22’ 29’’ N 9º 20’ 27’’ W

BALEAL, PENICHE (6)An urban agglomeration builton the rocky outcrop o SantoEstêvão. It was once an island(as was Peniche), but is nowlinked to land by a sandy isthmus.C- 39º 22’ 29’’ N 9º 20’ 27’’ W

FONTE DA BICA SALT PANS,RIO MAIOR

Salt in the middle o the moun-tains. A white or grey mantle, inlevel, geometrically carved plotsdotted around a valley, crossedby small channels made o coered wood.C- 39º 21’ 49’’ N 8º 56’ 36’’ W

DOLMEN-CHAPEL OF ALCOBERTAS ,ALCOBERTAS, RIO MAIOR (11)A Christianised dolmen. The mostspectacular Portuguese dolmenchapel and one o the mostimportant megalithic monumentso its kind in the whole o Europe.C- 39º 25’ 06’’ N 8º 54’ 12’’ W

QUINTA DA MURETA, MINDE,PORTO DE MÓSFrom here one can see the cha-racterisitc vegetation and typicalbirdlie.C-39º 28’ 39’’ N 8º 42’ 25’’ W

ARRIMAL LAKES, ARRIMAL,PORTO DE MÓSThe waters in the Lagoa Grandecome rom run-o rom the Valede Espinho, other lakes are ed bythe Mendiga polje.C- 39º 29’ 57’’ N 8º 52’ 18’’ W

MIRA D’AIRE/MINDE POLJEMaximum length 4 kilometresand 1.8 kilometres wide. In winter,the surace o the polje lls withwater, orming an impressivenatural lake.C- 39º 31’ 00’’ N 8º 41’ 05’’ W

CAMPOS DE LAPIÁS , MENDIGA, PORTODE MÓS (9)The campos de lapiás consisto areas o rocks, almost alwayslimestone that have been erodedby rainwater.

QUINTA DO VALE DE VENTOS,TURQUEL, ALCOBAÇAOne o the key sites or thedevelopment o the Alcobaça

estates, at around 5 kilometres tothe east in the vicinity o Turquel,on the slopes o the mountainrange. This was the main site o one o the order’s largest arms(Accommodation Centre).C- 39º 28’ 31’’ N 8º 54’ 12’’ W

CABEÇO DA LUA, SERRA DOSCANDEEIROS, TURQUELIn the Serra dos Candeeiros, alegend is associated to the Vale deVentos Country Manor that seemsto perpetuate the memory o asacred prehistoric geography.C- 39º 28’ 15’’ N 8º 53’ 25’’ W

ARCO DA MEMÓRIA (MEMORY ARCH),PORTELA DO PEREIRO, ÉVORA DEALCOBAÇAAccording to legend, it was romthis point that D. Aonso I redan arrow indicating the site orthe oundations o the AlcobaçaMonastery. The arch marks theevent and delimits the territory o the monasteryC-39º 29’ 03’’ N 8º 54’ 06’’ W

STONE OF THE FONTE DA SENHORA,BENEDITA

Linked with a duly Christianisedwater spring, the stone, which isprobably pre-historic, stands inront o the drinking ountain.C- 39º 27’ 00’’ N 8º 58’ 21’’ W

SERRAS D’ AIRE E CANDEEIROS (1, 7)In these high mountain ranges,we are taken amazed by theiraridness and their wild aspect, asi nobody had ever set oot therebeore. A central site to the entireWestern region, it appears to bean inertile land where only themiraculous “lights” impel man tosettle there.

CANDEEIROS GEODESIC POINT, SERRADOS CANDEEIROSThe right place to be astounded

by the view to the wide horizons,especially during the limpid dayso Spring, which are also the mosthighly perumed.C- 39º 26’ N 8º.06’ W

NATURAL MONUMENT OF DINOSAURFOOTPRINTS IN THE SERRA D’AIRE,BAIRRO, PORTO DE MÓSThe ootprints date rom around175 million years ago and arepreserved in Jurassic soil,discovered in an old quarry(Interpretive Centre).C- 39º 34’. N 8º 35’ W

JURASSIC VANTAGE POINT, ALQUEIDÃO DA SERRA, PORTO DE MÓSAt an altitude o 500 metres inthe Aires and Candeeirosmountains, this observation pointprovides views to the north andwest o the mountain ranges.From here one see Porto de Mós,with its castle, Batalha Monasteryand the city o Leiria.C- 39º 36’ 41’’ N 8º 47’ 19’’ W

FÓRNEA, ZAMBUJAL DA ALCARIA /CHÃO DAS PIAS, PORTO DE MÓS (12)

A large natural amphitheatre,around hal a kilometre in dia-meter, ormed by the semicircular junction o the tops o the Ladei-ras, Pena de Águia and CabeçoRaposeiro mountain ridges.C- 39º 33’ 29’’ N 8º 48’ 17’’ W

CAVERN OF ALGAR DA PENA, VALEDO MAR (VALDEMAR), ALCANEDEThe biggest subterranean cham-ber ever discovered in Portugal.C- (Alcanede) 39º 24’ 48’’N 8º 49’ 18’’ W

SANTO ANTÓNIO CAVE,PORTO DE MÓSOne o the biggest in a groupo caves in the Serra de Minde.Its subterranean chambers are

considered to be among the mostspectacular in the world.C- 39º 33’ 06’’ N 8º 45’ 33’’ W

ALVADOS CAVE, ALVADOS, PORTODE MÓSGroup o rock chambers in a cave,with suggestive names inspired bythe ormations there.C- 39º 32’ 20’’ N 8º 4’.08’’ W

MIRA D’AIRE CAVE, ALVADOS,PORTO DE MÓS (3, 8)This is about 700 metresin length, and lies 110 metresbelow ground.C- 39º 32’ 38’’ N 8º 42’ 29’’ W


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CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DAAJUDA, VESTIARIA, ALCOBAÇA (10)The building was ounded tocommemorate the discovery o na image o Our Lady. Miraculousrecapitulation o the Miracle o Nazaré. Note the remarkableManueline doorway .C- 39º 33’ 17’’ N 8º 59’ 53’’ W

ÉVORA DE ALCOBAÇA,ALCOBAÇA (13)Parish church (15th-17th centu-ries). On the southern acade is

a low-relie plaque representingSantiago “knight”.C- 39º 30’ 55’’ N 8º 5’.25’’ W

QUARRIES, MOLIANOSIn Portugal, “molianos” is a sy-nonym or stone. I stone fooringis required or a given room, thecontractor might say: “Put in alittle moliano”…C-39º 3’ 09’’ N 8º 54’ 19’’ W

HOLY FOUNTAIN OF NOSSASENHORA DA LUZ, JUNCAL, COZOne o the most remarkableountains in the region, beingo unusual type and superiorarchitectural interest.C-39º 35’ 47’’ N 8º 56’ 28’’ W

POÇO SUÃO, PRAZERES, ALCOBAÇAA break in the rock, a smallcave, providing a glimpse o thesubterranean waters o the Alcoabeore it breaks to the surace atits “source”.C- (Prazeres) 39º 31’ 57’’N 8º 55’ 24’’ N

FONTE DA CHIQUEDA, CHIQUEDA(CHIQUEDA DE CIMA), ALCOBAÇAIn this village is the main springthat provides drinking water orthe hydraulic system o AlcobaçaMonastery.C- 39º 32’ 17’’ N 8º 56’ 57’’ W

MAIORGA PILLORY, ALCOBAÇAThe charters granted by the lorddetermined the rules by whichmatters in the sub-district shouldbe determined. The pillory wasthe monument that certiedeudal power and local laws.C- 39º 34’ 43’’ N 8º 58’ 49’’ W

VALADO DOS FRADES, ALCOBAÇAThe Pousada o the Quinta doCampo is in a large 18th centurycivil building. This simple andimposing building is a ormer

grange o the Cistercian Order.C- 39º 35’ 12’’ N 9º 01’ 38’’ W

ROMAN VILLA OF PARREITAS, VALADODOS FRADES, BÁRRIO, ALCOBAÇA (14)On this site, there was once asettlement with very ancientoundations, dating back in allprobability to the Iron Age, andwhich was Romanized in the I/II- IV centuries AD.C- 39° 34’ 54’’ N 9° 01’ 50’’ W :Geocache Parreitas (GCNXJ9)

MENHIR OF THE SERRA DAPESCARIA, FAMALICÃO, NAZARÉOne o the most signicantmegalithic remains in the region.It stands on top o one o thehillocks that make up the moun-

tain landscape and, rom here,one can see the sea and the landsaround Nazaré.C- 39º 27’ 00’’ N 8º 58’ 21’’ W

MEGALITHIC SANCTUARY, CASALDO RESONEIRO, ALJUBARROTAPrehistoric sanctuary , resultingrom the use o rocky outcropsor the choice o one or more su-ggestively shaped stones placedthere. An integral part o a rituallandscape.

PEDRA GALEGA, CASAL DORESONEIRO, ALJUBARROTAAssociated with several legendsand with the Church o NossaSenhora das Areias, this is part o a sacred Christianised landscape.C-39º 27’ 00’’ N 8º 58’ 21’’ W

PAÚL DO BOQUILOBO, RIACHOS,GOLEGÃ (15)A wet area, with lakes, streamsand calm brooks, it culminates inthe basins o two rivers, the Tagusand the Almonda, ound subs-

tantially in this zone (InterpretiveCentre o Paúl do Boquilobo). Anideal area or bird watching.C- 39º 23’ 20’’ N 8º 31’ 58’’ W

DOLMEN I OF VALE DA LAJE, SERRA,TOMARDolmen I o Vale da Laje oers atreasure dating back to the LateNeolithic period (c. 3500 BC.). Itwas part o a nucleus with at leastanother our monuments o thesame type, o which only this onehas survived.C- (Casalinho) 39º 43’ 06’’N 8º 18’ 12’’

CASTELO DO BODE DAM, TOMAR (16)A popular tourist spot, thanks toits beautiul scenery that provides

acilities or water sports andshing (trout, eel and bass), this isone o the largest articial lakesin Europe.C- 39º 32’ 34’’ N 8º 19’ 11’ W


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This version was translated shortly ater into the Portuguese language, and became known asThe Quest o the Holy Grail. It has all the ingredients o the previous versions: virtuous knights,rom the court o King Arthur, set o in search o the chalice in which the Blood o Christ wascollected ater his crucixion. The main hero, Galahad, who, with his companions, penetrated thethick orests o the imaginary Kingdom o Logres, meeting beautiul (and ugly...) damsels, strangeolks, monsters and dragons, on an enigmatic journey with traces o magic that subsume to onegoal: nding the amous vessel, which represents Man’s salvation. We now know hat this storywas the ruit o an adaptation by Cistercian monks, who transormed an old pagan narrative intosomething more in keeping with the principles o Christian virtue and spiritual knightly chivalry.Why not, then, project the map o the Grail Quest onto the lands o the extreme south west o Europe, where one o the most important Cistercian monasteries stood (Alcobaça), where there

were clear connections to Burgundy (the Cistercian St. Bernard and the ounder o Burgundiandescent, King D. Aonso I) and where, in and around Tomar, there was always the high-prolepresence o the knights o that ghting religious order, supreme representatives o the spiritualchivalry that St. Bernard himsel sponsored and encouraged, known as the Knights Templar?This imaginary geography, as will be seen, then becomes a mythical geography that can beexplored with the eyes o the imagination.The ctional places become real places, should we wish to project them onto the Western land-scapes, lled with legends and myths, transposing, without exhausting them, the symbols o theQuest. As i we were really dealing with the Kingdom o Logres — as i we were dealing with theimaginary Britains and Irelands , superimposed with Hibernias and Iberias, and where we nallynd that which could be the true Portugal or Porto do Graal (the Grail’s Harbour…)However, this is not an exercise in draining symbolic meaning. The quest is internal and theway is personal.

The quest for the Holy Grail At the exact same time that the ormation o Portugal as an inepenent state was unerway, the amous narratives eicate tothe search or the Grail by the Knights o the Roun table appeare in Europe. Therst versions o the story ate rom the en o the 12th century by the BurgunianChrétien e Troyes an by Frenchman Robert e Boron, an yet another, in 1207, bythe German Wolram von Eschenbach. However, the most wiesprea ha to be theanonymous an probably collective version: the so-calle “vulgate cycle”, Quest

del Saint Graal, written aroun 1210.

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T h e q u e s t f o r t h e

H o l y G r a i l

AGROALThe River Celisa

TOMARMeeting point or the heroes o the Quest, the Spiritual Palace(Spiritual or Celestial) is alsothe site o the principal mani-estation o the sacred chalice o the grail.

A RODA DO NABÃOPortugal as Door to the Grail

TOMAR CASTLEThe New Jerusalem

A CHAROLA E A IGREJA

MANUELINA DE TOMAR (1)The Temple o Solomon

CHAROLINHA, MATA DOS SETEMONTES, TOMAR (2)The Garden o Urganda

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIADO OLIVAL, TOMARHermitage o the Red Olive Tree where the knights Gawainand Hector had their propheticvisions.

SANTA IRIA CONVENT, TOMAR (3)Saint Iria o Tomar: rom Irene toFátima, rom Fátima to Oureana.

FESTA DOS TABULEIROS ,TOMAR (4)The Pentecostal Bodo (religiouseast where ood was distributedto the needy): at the table o theGrail. The apparition o the Grailto the Knights o the Round Table.

ALMOUROL CASTLE, VILA NOVADA BARQUINHA (5)Castle o Jaiam [the giant Jaiam].The legend o the giant Almouroland the damsel Miraguarda.

STONE OF THE HOLY MARTYRS,PAIALVO, TOMARLegend o the holy Martyrs

QUINTA DA CARDIGA, GOLEGÃThe Giant Cardiga

GAIÃO’S OR LANGALHÃO’S TOWER,PEREIRO, FERREIRA DO ZÊZEREJaiam’s tower. Home o the earulgiant Jaiam.

DORNES TOWER, DORNES,FERREIRA DO ZÊZERE (6)Strange Castle

ABBEY OF SANTA MARIADE ALCOBAÇAAbbey o Uther Pendragon.Founded by king Uther (UtherPendragon).The vigil o Galahad in the chur-ch. The mission o the Quest.

TOMBS OF D. PEDRO I AND D. INÊS DECASTRO, ABBEY OF ALCOBAÇA (7, 8)The Lady o the Chapel. Tristam inthe Quest or the Holy Grail

MENHIRS OF THE WEST

The Sword in the Stone

BATTLEFIELD OF ALJUBARROTA,CALVARIA DE CIMA, SÃO JORGE DEALJUBARROTA, PORTO DE MÓSThe “Painul ground ” (“Chãodooroso”) (The Quest or the Grail,§ 304). Camlann: where there wasa erce battle in which Lancelotkilled the son o Mordred andBors killed Melehan. King Lionelwas also slain the battle

CHAPEL OF SÃO JORGEDE ALJUBARROTA, SÃO JORGEDE ALJUBARROTA (9)The Perilous Chapel

MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA DAVITÓRIA, OR BATALHA MONASTERY,BATALHA (10)The Celestial City

CAPELA DO FUNDADOR, BATALHAMONASTERY, BATALHA (11)The True Chapel and the King’s Chapel

SERRAS D’ AIRE E CANDEEIROS(THE SERRAS D’ AIRE E

CANDEEIROS NATIONAL PARK) (12)The Waste land

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a n t u á r i o d e F á t i m a | D e s i g n A t e l i e r N u n e s e P ã 0 9



PORTO

LISBOA

FARO

roadsFROM LISBOA (LISBOA-ALCOBAçA): A 1 -A 8- N 8-4

FROM LISBOA (LISBOA-BATALHA-PORTO dE MóS): A 1 - N 356 - N 1 / IC 2 - N 243

FROM LISBOA (LISBOA-FáTIMA): A 1 - N 356 - N 360

FROM LISBOA (LISBOA-TOMAR): A 1 - A 23 - IC 3

FROM MAdRId (MAdRId-ALCOBAçA): A 6 - A 13 - A 8 - N 8-4

FROM MAdRId (MAdRId-BATALHA-PORTO dE MóS): A 6 - A 13 — IC 10 — A 1 — N 356 — N 1 / IC 2 — N 243

FROM MAdRId (MAdRId-FáTIMA): A 6 — A 13 — IC 10 — A 1— N 356 — N 360

FROM MAdRId (MAdRId-TOMAR): A 6 — A 13 — IC 10 — A 1 — A 23 — IC 3

FROM PORTO (PORTO-ALCOBAçA): A 1 — IC 36 (LEIRIA) — A 8 — N 8-4

FROM PORTO (PORTO-ALCOBAçA): A 1 — N 356 — N 360

FROM PORTO (PORTO-BATALHA-PORTO dE MóS): A 1 — N 356 — N 1 / IC 2 — N243

FROM PORTO (PORTO-FáTIMA): A 1 — N 356 — N 360FROM PORTO (PORTO-TOMAR): A 1 — A 23 — IC 3

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