The Convento de Cristo, a historic monument in the city of Tomar (parish of S. Joã.o Baptista), classified by UNESCO as World Heritage, belonged to the Order of the Templars. Founded in 1162 by the Grand Master of the Templars, Dom Gualdim Pais, the Convent of Christ still keeps memories of those knight monks and the heirs of his office, the Order of Christ, who made this building their headquarters. Under Infante D. Henrique the Navigator, Master of the order since 1418, cloisters were built between Charola and the Templar
fortress, but the greatest changes were seen during the reign of D. João III (1521-1557). Architects such as João de Castilho and Diogo de Arruda sought to express the power of the Order by building the church and cloisters with rich Manueline flourishes that reached maximum splendor in the western façade window
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by Bruno Marinho (PORTUGAL)
Convento de Cristo / Christ Conven