Central Way

Golegã < > Tomar

Stage 19

Golegã is a village of the Way, not only in the literal sense but mainly because, everywhere we look, we find evidence of the presence and passage of the travelers going to Santiago de Compostela. Being a smaller and quieter village than Santarém, it facilitates the relations between people of different nationalities and generations who arrive at a continuous rhythm, so services targeted to pilgrims appeared. Additionally, the rural and picturesque atmosphere, the friendliness of the people and, of course, the good gastronomic offer. We feel good in Golegã!

Integrated on D. Afonso Henriques’ donations to the Order of the Temple in 1169, Quinta da Cardiga had its own commander since the 14th century, which confirms the locality importance as part of the possessions of the Order of Christ. The current configuration of the palace dates back to a profound renovation carried out by Friar António de Lisboa, that preserved the tower of the old Templar castle. The works continued between 1592 and 1617, in the time of his nephew, Friar Pedro Moniz.

Quinta da Cardiga

Quinta da Cardiga

and also…

Templar Festival − July

Visitable Collection – Museum of Matches

The Museum of Matches is a collection of 60,000 boxes, labels, and matchboxes, donated by Aquiles da Mota to the Council in 1980, conserved in the Convento de S. Francisco. The collection was born with an exchange of boxes between Mota Lima and an American lady during a sea voyage, on their way to London for the ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

Today’s stage is a “frontier” one, which means that it connects the Ribatejo region with the central region of Portugal, ending in the city of Tomar, after about 30 km of journey. Leaving the natural border of the Tejo river in Vila Nova da Barquinha, almost everything is gradually changing, but that’s already another part of the Path…To leave Golegã, we cross the village along Rua D. Afonso Henriques, followed by Rua Dr. Branco, to the outskirts of the city. We cross the national road N243 and take the sand path straight ahead until it ends in a narrow rural road. We turn left and face a few flat kilometers flanked by extensive cornfields and plantations that take advantage of the fertile land on this Tejo riverbank.

Before arriving to Quinta da Cardiga, the small village of São Caetano welcomes us with some places that deserve our brief passage, including a hostel for pilgrims and the Ermida de São Caetano hermitage. Donated to the Order of the Knights Templar by D. Afonso Henriques, later transferred to the possession of the Order of Christ, the historic Quinta da Cardiga still belongs to the imaginary of the population and those who visit it, with a halo of a certain mysticism.

It is one of the most impressive properties in the country, unfortunately in an advanced state of degradation. However we can still see the gardens and horticultural gardens, the palace, the chapel and the cloister, the barn and stables and even an old press. We can also admire the Christ’s Cross on the façade of the main house and the tower of the old Templar castle. It was one of the guard posts of the Order’s militia, and a vital strategic place for the Knights Templar.

We cross the leafy avenue that follows the palace façade to a small bridge over a polluted stream, where the asphalt ends. From now on, we continue the Path to the north, to the village of Pedregoso, the final point of the Caminho de Santiago Central in the Alentejo and Ribatejo. Next, we enter the municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha and the central region of Portugal. Have a good Path!

Tips

Always carry water, supplies, sunscreen, a hat, waterproof, comfortable shoes, and a map.

Support

 Tourism Office +351 249 329 823

Public Entities

 Tomar City Council
+351 249 329 800

Health

 Hospital
+351 249 320 100

 Pharmacy

Points of Interest

 Capela de Santa Iria (Chapel of St. Iria):The chapel was built in the 16th century during the reign of King Manuel I. It has a rich symbolic character due to the legend of St. Iria.

 Chapel of São Gregório: Built at the beginning of the 16th century by the Order of Christ, it is a small shrine dedicated to St. Gregory of Nazianzus, a theologian who proved the divinity of Jesus.

Capela de Nª Sª da Conceição (Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception): A small basilica church with three naves intended as a funeral chapel for King João III, the king who ordered its construction in 1547. Designed by João de Castilho and completed by Diogo Torralva, this beautiful example of Italian classicism is the best evocation of Greco-Roman art on the Iberian Peninsula.

Chapel of São Lourenço: According to tradition, the Chapel of São Lourenço was built at the beginning of the 16th century by Aires de Quental, the chief overseer of King Manuel I.

Santo António Chapel: Built between 1953 and 1955, the chapel includes a wide range of 15th century Renaissance architectural elements. These were recovered from the old Chapel of Casal de Santo António, which was located near the Pegões Aqueduct and from an old demolished building in Praça da República.

Church of Santa Maria do Olival: The Pantheon of the Masters Templar was the seat of a nullius diocesis with jurisdiction over the churches of the Discoveries. The interesting spatial structure of three naves served as a model for the church of São João Baptista and other Portuguese late Gothic churches

Church of São João Batista: Late Gothic style church , built by order of King Manuel I over a previous chapel of the same name. It was completed at the beginning of the 16th century.

Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça: The Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça, or Nossa Senhora da Cadeia, in Tomar is commonly known as Misericórdia. It is a Mannerist building built in the second half of the 16th century.

Church and Convent of São Francisco: The Convent of São Francisco is a Mannerist building built around two cloisters. In the mid-17th century it replaced the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos.

Visitable Collection – “Museu dos Fósforos”: Housed in the Convento de São Francisco since 1989, the Museu dos Fósforos has a collection of over 60,000 matchboxes, labels and wallets donated by Aquiles da Mota to Tomar Town Hall in 1980.

Abraão Zacuto Luso-Hebrew Museum (Synagogue): Tomar’s synagogue is located in the old Jewish quarter, in the heart of the city’s historic center. This former place of worship, closed at the end of the 15th century, now houses the Abraão Zacuto Luso-Hebrew Museum.

Casa dos Cubos:A new cultural space in the city, located on the banks of the River Nabão. Its name derives from the ancient measures of capacity, the alqueire and the almude, which at the time were commonly referred to as “cubes”.

Pegões Altos Aqueduct: The Convent of Christ Aqueduct was built to supply water to the Convent of Christ in Tomar from 4 different springs. It is about 6 km long and crosses the parishes of Carregueiros and the UF of São João Baptista and Santa Maria dos Olivais.

Estaus: Estaus is an unfinished building made up of a series of arches, two of them isolated, begun by order of Henry the Navigator to be his dwelling on the same site as the old Jewish bazaar in the city of Tomar, Portugal.

Levada de Tomar: Under the name of Levada de Tomar, we identify a building complex with a relevant chronological horizon, from the medieval period, through the modern period, to the contemporary period.

Anta do Vale da Laje: The Anta do Vale da Laje is the oldest megalithic funerary monument north of the Tagus. Recently, the area around the dolmen, a megalithic monument of great importance since it is the oldest known north of the River Tagus, was cleared and deforested.

 

USEFUL CONTACTS

Emergency: 112
Forest Fires: 117
Tomar Fire Department:+351 249 329 140
GNR − Tomar Territorial Station: +351 249 320 060
PSP Tomar − Public Security Police:+351 249 328 040
Tomar Civil Protection: +351 249 324 030

CODE OF CONDUCT

Do not leave the marked and signaled route. Do not approach cliffs. Pay attention to the markings. Do not dispose of organic or inorganic waste during the trail, take a bag for this purpose. If you see garbage, collect it, help us to keep the Paths clean. Beware of livestock, don’t bother the animals. Leave Nature intact. Do not collect plants, animals or rocks. Avoid making noise. Respect private property, close gates and barriers. Don’t light fires and be careful with cigarettes. Do not vandalize the Paths signage.