Built in the mid-15th century, the Tomar Synagogue is one of the most remarkable testimonies of the Jewish presence in Portugal and one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in the Iberian Peninsula.
The building and the museum
The interior, on an almost square plan, features four central columns and vaults whose acoustics remain a subject of study. After the expulsion of 1496 the building served various purposes, until it was classified as a National Monument in 1921. Today it houses the Abraham Zacuto Luso-Hebrew Museum, with a collection of epigraphy and liturgical objects.
A visit to Tomar combines naturally with the Convent of Christ and the town's medieval layout, in an itinerary that brings together Jewish and Templar heritage.