Church of Santa Maria do Olival, Tomar
The Igreja de Santa Maria dos Olivais (Church of Santa Maria do Olival) is an historic church in Tomar, associated with the Knights Templars.
"Olival" means "olive grove" and thus has associations with the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
The UNESCO World Heritage Listed Convento de Cristo is the more famous of the Templar churches in Tomar but the Church of Santa Maria do Olival is also a must-see.
History
The Church of Santa Maria do Olival dates from around 1160 and was built by Gualdim Pais, the regional master of the order in Portugal.
The simple, Gothic-style church was used as a mausoleum for Templar knights and, later, by the Knights of the Order of Christ, who succeeded the Templars after they were abolished in the 14th century. The tomb of Pais himself is also within the church. Knights of the Order would come here to seek inspiration from the masters of the past.
The great importance of the church in medieval times is confirmed by a papal bull, which placed the church under the direct dependence of the Pope and the Holy See, outside the control of any diocese.
The Igreja de Santa Maria dos Olivais is also connected with secret and mysterious Templar initiation rituals and the recent discovery of secret underground passageways seems to confirm this.
The church is actually set below ground level and signifies the spiritual descent into the womb of the earth and rebirth as a Knight Templar.
Architecture
The exterior of the church has a magnificent rose window and the pentagram symbol of the Templars, often seen in their churches in Portugal. It is said to represent the five wounds of Christ.
However, the symbol was used as evidence of heresy during the torture and trial of Grand Master Jacques de Molay during the reign of King Philip IV in France.
The church's interior has three naves topped by a wooden roof and a chancel. There are also five side chapels added in the 16th century and decorated with tilework and one with gilt woodcarving.
Separate from the church is a bell tower constructed during the time of King Manuel I, when the church was much restored and the chapels created.
Access & Hours
Rua Aquiles de Mota Lima
2300-255, Tomar
Hours: 10 am - 6 pm; closed Mondays
Other interesting places in Tomar are the unusual Museu dos Fósforos or Matchbox Museum close to Tomar railway station and bus station and the Sinagogue of Tomar. The Igreja de São João Baptista (Church of John the Baptist) is located right in the centre of the city in Praça da República.
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