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Spain & Portugal Tour 2017 | The Way of the Traveler | Day 25

 

Coimbra & Tomar | Portugal

The city of Coimbra is one of the oldest in Portugal. There are still reflections of an ancient Roman town, including an aqueduct. It was defeated by the Sueves and the Visigoths in the 6th Century and was a ghost town for a while. It became occupied during the Middle Ages, by the Muslims and later by the Catholics. Coimbra at one time was the capital of Portugal. One of its most significant contributions to the world is the University of Coimbra. The university was established in 1290 and remains the oldest Portuguese-speaking school in the world. Coimbra became a center for arts and academics, and thrived during the Renaissance.

Our first stop is the Coimbra University, a public university. The university is one of the country’s largest higher education and research institutions. The university is organized into eight different faculties, granting bachelor’s, masters and doctorate degrees in major fields of knowledge, such as arts, engineering, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, medicine, sports, and technologies. June 22, 2013, UNESCO added the university to its World Heritage List. Coimbra University retains the procedural records of the city’s Inquisition.

Next is the Coimbra, Cathedral. The Old Cathedral of Coimbra is a Romanesque Roman Catholic building. Construction of the Sé Velha began around 1139. We head off to lunch on our own in the streets of Portugal. After, we gather together to share our stories and adventures of the food we ate and the shopping. We gather in front of the Santa Cruz Monastery (Monastery of the Holy Cross) which is a National Monument in Coimbra, Portugal. The first two kings of Portugal are buried in the church and it was granted the status of National Pantheon. Founded in 1131 the Santa Cruz Monastery was the most important house during the early days of the Portuguese monarchy. The monastery and church were erected between 1132 and 1223. The monastery granted papal privileges and royal grants. Its school, with its vast library, was highly respected in medieval times and was a meeting point for the intellectual and power elites.

The Inquisition played a major role in Portugal. The major targets of the Portuguese Inquisition were those who had converted from Judaism to Catholicism, The Conversos, known as New Christians, were suspected of secretly practising Judaism.

We visit a public square named ‘Patio of the Inquisition’ where the remains of victims of the inquisition were held. John moves into a sharing and a blessing.

At these ceremonies, victims of the Inquisition were paraded around for all to see. They wore the sanbenitos which indicated whether the accused had been penanced or whether they were to be burnt for their crimes. Many of these were originally Spanish Jews who had left Spain for Portugal when Spain forced Jews to convert to Christianity or leave. The number of victims is estimated at around 40,000. Under John III, the activity of the courts was extended to the censure of books, as well as undertaking cases of divination, witchcraft, and bigamy. The Inquisition had an influence on almost every aspect of Portuguese life – political, cultural, and social. From 1674 to 1681 the Inquisition was suspended in Portugal. António Vieira in Rome began to put an end to the Inquisition in Portugal. The Portuguese Inquisition was terminated in 1821 by the “General Extraordinary and Constituent Assembly of the Portuguese Nation.”

Back on the bus to Tomar to visit the Templer Castle, also known as The Convent of Christ. It is a former Roman Catholic convent in Tomar. Originally this was a 12th-century Templar stronghold, and was dissolved in the 14th century and was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ. The convent and castle complex is a historic and cultural monument and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. This place is amazing to see and well worth a visit.

The bus is waiting outside the castle to take us to our next hotel, Hotel dos Templarios. After we arrive, we all gather to take a stroll through this charming little town and visit the Synagogue of Tomar, which is the best preserved of the medieval synagogues of Portugal. It houses a small Jewish Museum. On July 29, 1921 the building was classified a national monument.
Love and Light, Julie

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Touring Photos by David Sand

 

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