(Cont)
11/29/2023 Tomar (Templars), Coimbra (university), Porto
11/30/2023 Porto – Clerigos Tower
12/1/2023 Aveiro canals
11/29/2023 Tomar (Knights Templar)
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, mainly known as the Knights Templar, was a military order of the Catholic faith, and one of the wealthiest and most popular military orders in Western Christianity.
The Knights Templar settled in Portugal in the 12th century to help the first Portuguese kings in the Christian Reconquest and to continue the Crusades. The castle they founded in Tomar in 1160 was inspired by the fortifications of the Holy Land, and at the time was the most modern and advanced military stronghold in the kingdom. But nearly two centuries later, in 1312, the Order was dissolved by Pope Clement V, who was intent on ending their fame and power. In Portugal, however, the Order of Christ was created, as the true heir and custodian of all the Templars’ spiritual and material wealth, preserving its crusading spirit during the Discoveries.
Coimbra (university), Porto
https://www.uc.pt/en (University where Harry Potter was set)
City of Porto
The country of Portugal was named after the town of Porto.
Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its stately bridges and port wine production. In the medieval Ribeira (riverside) district, narrow cobbled streets wind past merchants’ houses and cafes. São Francisco Church is known for its lavish baroque interior with ornate gilded carvings. The palatial 19th-century Palácio de Bolsa, formerly a stock market, was built to impress potential European investors. ― Google