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is one of the prettiest and most interesting towns in the central Portugal region; it is the capital of the mid Tagus and has a population of 20,000. It also has 16 parishes contained within its jurisdiction covering 352km2 and a total population of about 43,000. 
The proximity of the river Nabao has long been important and married with a very favourable climate is probably responsible for the 30,000 years of habitation. One of the first recorded names in the proximity was the town of Sellium settled by the Romans. In the 7th century it was an important centre for Monks and Nuns but by 712AD however it was an Arab enclave and this is where the name Tomar comes from it is a derivative of the Arab word Tomamara which means fresh waters. By far the most impressive feature of the city is the Convento do Cristo or the castle of the knights Templars built in 1160AD by the Knight Templar it took 44 years to build and with Henry the Navigator as one of its administrators it soon became a centre of wealth and prosperity.Another important period for Tomar was from the middle of the 17th to the end of the 19th century when industry arrived on a grand scale with munitions, paper, glass and textiles leading the way. In 1822 the first council was elected and 22 years later Tomar was upgraded to a city. Today Tomar still holds a little of all of these periods and blends them with a charm that loses little to modern day architecture. The old part of the town is centred on the Praca de Republica (republican plaza) which forms a cross each avenue leading to a convent. The plaza itself is surrounded by religious buildings including an old synagogue which is the only Prolo Renaissance Jewish temple in Portugal. One of the most interesting features of Tomar is the abundance of historical ornate windows of both Manueline and renaissance styles. They are the icing on the architectural cake that is Tomar. An important story for the residents of Tomar is that of Santa Iria who is the patron saint of Tomar there is a tragedy associated with her name and a festival to commemorate the events. As for restaurants, hotels, and night life there is plenty going on you can get Chinese, Indian, or typical Portuguese fair all at very reasonable prices. There are a number of late night watering holes in the town if you wish to burn the midnight oil. The hotels range from cheep and cheerful to top of the range. Property in Tomar is readily available and well priced considering the town and its proximity to several riverside beauty spots, Fatima, Leiria and the silver coast.
