Tomar is a city in central Portugal, capital of the Médio Tejo (Mid-Tagus river) region. The concelho (municipality) population is about 43,000 inhabitants, 21,000 of which live in the city (2001). The municipality of Tomar is divided in 16 freguesias (parishes): 2 urban (Santa Maria dos Olivais and São João Baptista ) and 14 rural.

The Nabão river cuts across what was the ancient city of Nabantina: sometimes the locals are called Nabantinos.

Tomar attracts many tourists, because of its varied monuments, such as the Convento de Cristo (Convent of Christ), a Unesco World Heritage Site, built as headquarters of the Knights Templar order (illustration, right). Other monuments in the city are the Jewish synagogue—the oldest in the country—the castle and several important churches, like Santa Maria dos Olivais and São João Baptista. Other places to visit are the garden of Mouchão and the Mata dos Sete Montes (forest). In the outskirts of the city you can also visit the Aqueduto dos Pegões (aqueduct) and the dam of Castelo do Bode.

An important celebration in the region is the Festa dos Tabuleiros, a major religious ceremony, related to the Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit). It happens traditionally every four years; the last one was in 2003.

Tomar is also surname found in India. Tomar surname is common in Jat as well as in Rajput castes.

External links

• http://www.tomar.com.pt (in Portuguese and English)
• http://www.cidadetomar.pt
• http://www.radio.cidadetomar.pt