Stalking the Knights Templar in Portugal

May 14, 2009 at 11:05 AM | by BS | 0 Comments

Moviegoers will come back down from space this weekend with the opening of Ron Howard's movie adaptation of Dan Brown's Angels & Demons novel.

While the film is largely set in Rome, just about every European locale is looking for their own way to cash in on secret society-obsessed tourists. One of the most prominent examples of this is to be found in Portugal, which has its own spooky Knights Templar history to show off.

The Templars came to Portugal in the 12th century and bulit a series of castles along the Tejo River to help defend the new nation from the Moors, including one particularly massive monastery in the town of Tomar. That Templar castle still towers over modern-day Tomar, and its sprawling compound is a Portuguese alternative to Spain's legendary Alhambra palace. Happily, what it lacks in hoards of tourists it more than makes up for with creepy, secretive passageways where it's easy to imagine being stalked by an albino monk or renegade Cardinal.

Although we're not totally sure that there are ancient secrets hidden in the castle's extensive collection of medieval artwork, it sure can't hurt to look. Or can it?

Related Stories:
· Angels and Demons [Official Site]
· Visit Templarios [Official Site]
· Get Conspiratorial With Angels and Demons In Rome [Jaunted]

[Photo: querin.rene]

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Tags: Angels and Demons / Movie Travel / Castles / Knights Templar / → All Tags