Castle of Tomar
This castle, once belonging to the Knights Templar, is also a convent erected in the 12th century. It is considered one of the ground-breaking castles of its kind in Portugal, because of the incorporation of unusually rounded towers. Its original mission was to protect Portuguese land from the intrusion of Arabs (known in Iberia as Moors). In 1312 the Templars were purged from Europe, and much later this castle would become the residence of King Manuel of Portugal. The king's name has been associated with the most memorable changes in the design of the castle, when graceful decorations in the Manueline style were added.