Charola, Tomar

One of the most impressive places in the Convent of Christ. If a few centuries later it is still epic, I have no idea what it was like back then. The paintings become more incredible if you think that in the old days you didn't go to Amazon or other e-commerce to order the brushes, paints, etc. I highly recommend visiting the Convent of Christ in Tomar, especially this area.

The nucleus of the Convent of Christ in Tomar (Portugal) is the 12th century tray (ambulatory), the Oratório dos Templários. As in other of its temples, it is based on the Rotunda do Santo Sepulcro (Church of the Holy Sepulchre) in Jerusalem, adapted by the Infante D. Enrique. In 1356, Tomar became the seat of the Order of Christ in Portugal, and the decoration of the ambulatory reflects the wealth of the Order. The paintings and frescoes (almost entirely 16th century Biblical scenes) and the gilded statuary above the Byzantine dome have been carefully restored. When the Manueline church was built, it remained attached to the ambulatory by an arcade. The polygonal ambulatory is the center of the set of buildings, culminating them visually. To the north and east are the sacristy, the Cemitério and Lavagem cloisters, the ruins of the Paços, the Infirmaries and also the Sala dos Cavaleiros and the Botica. To the west, the Church, the cloisters and the convent rooms. To the north is the Portaria Real, between the body of the Enfermarias and Hospedaria. The south façade is enhanced by the arches of the Aqueduto dos Pegões, supported on a rustic platform, which corresponds to the body of the Claustro dos Corvos, Dormitórios and Cloister of D. João III.