The Inter-Municipal Association of theRegion of Middle Tagus (CIMT) recognisesthe importance of quality heritagemanagment. For this reason, under theframework of the Inter-Municipal Projectfor Territorial Development in MiddleTagus, the CIMT sought HGES Certificationof a full 26 regional cultural heritageproperties, as awarded by HERITY. HERITYis the International Organisation,recognised by UNESCO, for certification ofquality in cutural heritage managementon a World-scale.This certification programme has alreadyhad important results, both for MiddleTagus and as a pioneering effort in all ofPortugal. Not least, it has been the firstinternationalisation project for thisregion. The 26 cultural properties now joinin a world network of 240 other sitesalready certified by HERITY. Middle Tagusjoins Italy and northern Brazil as the regionswith the highest density of cultural siteswith HERITY international recognition. TheHERITY certification assists the CIMT indeveloping an integrated heritage network,reaching objectives both for improvedmanagement of cultural patrimony andfor promotion and development of theRegion of Middle Tagus.

Inter-Municipal Association of the Regionof Middle Tagus (CIMT)

USEFUL CONTACTSComunidade Intermunicipal do Médio Tejo

+351 249 730 060

Emergency telephone (all Portugal)112

Tourism information

Abrantes +351 241 362 555Alcanena +351 249 889 114Constância +351 249 730 052Entroncamento +351 249 241 313Ferreira do Zêzere +351 249 360 151Mação +351 241 573 450Ourém +351 249 544 654Sardoal +351 241 851 498Sertã +351 274 809 010Tomar +351 249 329 823Torres Novas +351 249 813 019Vila de Rei +351 274 890 010Vila Nova da Barquinha +351 249 715 203

2014-2016 Map

The HERITY target indicates the ranking ofevery library, monument, museum, archive,archaeological site you visit in terms ofRelevance,Conservation,Communication,and Services offered.The site’s performance in each area can beseen on the HERITY target on a scale of 1 to 5.In order to obtain the HERITY certification, asite must have a score of at least “1” in eacharea.The certification has a duration of three yearsand is obtained thanks to contribution of themanagers, HERITY specialists and the public.

Project HERITY - DRITexts approved by CIMTTranslation Stefania Buonamassa, Neal PuttPhotos HERITY International archiveDesign Veronika Poptsova

São Pedro Cinema Theatre (Abrantes)The São Pedro Cinema Theatre wasbuilt in 1949. Situated at the centreof Abrantes, it providedentertainment for up to 561spectators, as well as offering apropaganda outlet for the Salazar

dictatorship. Today it still conserves its original modernistarchitecture.GPS: 39°27'49,609"N - 8°11'54,709"Wwww.cm-abrantes.pt

Church of São Vicente(Abrantes)Situated in the upper part of the historictown, the original Church of São Vicentewas founded in 1149. By 1595 it was inruins, and the planning for itsrestoration was entrusted to the military architect, Mateus Fernandes.The church is in very clear mannerist style, and shows interiorfurnishings of great interest.GPS: 39°27'52,339"N - 8°11'52,393"Wwww.cm-abrantes.pt

Museum of Rivers and Maritime Crafts (Constância)The aim of the museum, founded in1998, is to present the tools, otherartefacts and facts on the life-ways thatonce centred on the city of Constância’srivers. It describes traditions such asfishing, ship building and transport, as

practiced on the Tagus and Zêzere rivers up to the mid-20th century.GPS: 39°28'35,226"N - 8°20'19,373"Wwww.cm-constancia.pt

Camões Botanical Gardens(Constância)The Camões Botanical Gardens occupyan area of 2000 m2, situated wherethe Zêzere River flows into the Tagus.This green space is subdivided inzones planted with more than 50 plant species, all linked to theworks and life of the poet, Luís de Camões.GPS: 39°28'27,628"N - 8°20'22,180"Wwww.cm-constancia.pt

Church of Atalaia (Vila Nova da Barquinha)The church was completed in 1528. Theinterior is noted for its elegant classicism,as well as the exceptional decoration ofthe presbytery. The floor plan provides atriple nave, with the walls covered in17th century azulejos tiles.

GPS: 39°28'58,291"N - 8°27'1,189"Wwww.cm-vnbarquinha.pt

Castle of Almourol (Vila Novada Barquinha)The medieval Castle of Almouroloccupies a truly unique location, on anisland midstream in the Tagus River.This romanesque castle was built in1171 by Gualdim Pais, who also initiated construction of themassive Castle in Tomar.GPS: 39°27'43,114"N - 8°23'2,319"Wwww.cm-vnbarquinha.pt

National Railway Museum (Entroncamento)The museum was recently developed byreadapting buildings and capitalising onthe “industrial archaeology” features ofthe historic railway. It is situated in closeproximity to the modern Entroncamentorail station.

GPS: 39°27'51,197"N - 8°28'27,493"Wwww.cm-entroncamento.pt

Church of the Holy Family (Entroncamento)Construction of the Church of HolyFamily began in 1938. The neo-renaissance style is clearly inspiredby the structure of the motherchurch in Atalaia, with the façadeand central tower being an almost

exact copy. The interior is a triple-nave plan surmounted bybarrel arches, with the ample sacristy conferring a monumentalaspect.GPS: 39°27'32,319N - 8°28'13,811"Wwww.cm-entroncamento.pt

Castle of Torres Novas (Torres Novas)The Castle of Torres Novas issituated in the town, at a keydefensive point near the marginsof the Almonda River. It was builtas part of the so-called “TagusLine”, after the 1148-1149 re-conquest of Muslim cities along the Tagus River. A programmefor landscape and structural restoration was begun in 2005.GPS: 39°28'47,649"N - 8°32'25,992"Wwww.cm-torresnovas.pt

Vila Cardílio (Torres Novas)The focal point of thisarchaeological site is the peristylecourtyard area of Roman villa,occupied between the 1st and 4th

centuries AD, along with the mosaicfloors of a number of areas of the

complex. The site itself is situated within an appealinglytraditional rural landscape.GPS: 39°27'10,592"N - 8°31'44,368"Wwww.cm-torresnovas.pt

Alviela “Carsoscópio” Living Science Centre(Alcanena)The “Carsoscópio” is a natureinterpretation centre situated in aspecially designed building,inaugurated in 2007. It includesthree thematic areas, totalling 2000m2: the “Geodrome”, one aboutthe Carsism and the “Quiroptário”.GPS: 39°26'43,866"N - 8°42'35,553"Wwww.cm-alcanena.pt

“Roque Gameiro” Watercolours Museum(Alcanena)Born in Minde in 1864, AlfredoRoque Gameiro is considered thenational master of watercolours.The museum dedicated to his workswas founded in the historic “Casa

dos Açores” at Minde in 2009. The artist himself contributed tothe design of the house, which was planned in an eclectic style.GPS: 39°30'46,705"N - 8°41'15,752"Wwww.cm-alcanena.pt

Castle of Ourém (Ourém)The Castle of Ourém is situated in aposition that dominates the nearbycity, some three kilometres fromthe town centre. The complexconsists of a nucleus, built at thehighest point following the 1136conquest by Don Afonso Henriques, along with servicestructures and the medieval houses of the village.GPS: 39°38'29,476"N - 8°35'32,016"Wwww.cm-ourem.pt

Museum of Ethnology and Sacred Art of Fatima(Ourém)Opened in 1991 next to theSanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima,the museum holds a largecollection of Portuguese sacredart, as well as ethnographic

objects from around the world, presented in sections relatedto the life of Christ: the Nativity, Passion and the Resurrection.GPS: 39°37'44,681"N 8°40'9,567"Wwww.cm-ourem.pt

Synagogue (Tomar)The Tomar Synagogue, dating tothe mid-1400s, is one of very fewstructures surviving from thisperiod of Jewish history inPortugal. It is situated in JoaquimJacinto Street, in the heart of theoriginal town centre, in an area which at that time wasdesignated as the ghetto. The small building now hosts anexhibition on the religion and daily life of the community.GPS: 39°36'11,528"N - 8°24'49,400"Wwww.cm-tomar.pt

Contemporary Art Centre (Tomar)The NAC (Contemporary ArtCentre) was inaugurated in 2004,as a further component of theTomar João de Castilho MunicipalMuseum ensemble. The holdingscover the major art currents from

the 1930s to the contemporary period. The large part of thecollection was given by Professor José Augusto França.GPS: 39°36'16,986"N - 8°24'49,475"Wwww.cm-tomar.pt

Church of Our Lady of Grace (Ferreira do Zêzere)The earliest documentation of theChurch of Our Lady of Grace datesto 1489 however the currentstructure was erected in about1548, under the direction of thenoted architect João de Castilho.The façade rises at the height of a steep monumentalstaircase, and presents a bold central tower over an elegantportico.GPS: 39°42'41,499"N - 8°18'9,041"Wwww.cm-ferreiradozezere.pt

Tower of Dornes (Ferreira do Zêzere)The construction of the medieval“Tower of Dornes” dates to thelater 12th century and isattributed to Dom Gualdim Pais.Its irregular pentagonal form wasexceptionally rare in the military

architecture of the Christian Reconquest, and the tower isunique in Portugal. The structure was raised over a pre-existingRoman tower.GPS: 39°46'17,089"N 8°16'9,867"Wwww.cm-ferreiradozezere.pt

Rock Art Sites of Lajeira and Fechadura (Sertã)The “Lajeira” and “Fechadura”sites offer a valuable opportunityto view rock-art evidencesdiscovered in its original locations,situated within a fascinating andmajestic landscape.GPS: 39°50'53,000"N 7°58'26,450"W (Fechadura)GPS: 39°50'35,160"N 7°56'49,910"W (Lajeira)www.cm-serta.pt

Seminary for Overseas Missions (Sertã)The Seminary for Overseas Missionswas founded in 1791 in the district ofCernache do Bonjardim.The complex,developed as a quadrangular massivestructure of over 2000 m2, centresaround a central courtyard, with achurch to one side.The seminary holds

an important library of over 7300 volumes.GPS: 39°48'54,657"N 8°11'24,315"Wwww.cm-serta.pt

Museum of Geodesy (Vila de Rei)The Museum of Geodesy,inaugurated in 2002, was built onthe Melriça, where the obeliskmarking the Portugal’s geodeticcentre is situated, at an altitude of592 m. A series of interpretivepanels and selection of scientificinstruments are used to explain the history of geodetic scienceand maritime mapping in Portugal.GPS: 39°41'41,155"N - 8°7'49,053"Wwww.cm-viladerei.pt

Municipal Museum (Vila de Rei)This local history museum takes thevisitor through the areas of a late19th to early 20th century home,recreating the occupations andlifestyles of a successful agriculturalfamily of that period.

GPS: 39°40'32,910"N - 8°8'54,942"Wwww.cm-viladerei.pt

Church of São Tiago e São Mateus (Sardoal)The Church of São Tiago e SãoMateus was founded towards theclose of the 14th century, beingdocumented to at least 1393. Thestyle is Gothic, with notable featuresincluding the rose window and themain portal. The church interior is remarkable for its richness andvariety of styles, and also conserves seven 16th century paintingsattributed to the “Master of Sardoal”.GPS: 39°32'0,438"N - 8°9'36,032"Wwww.cm-sardoal.pt

Gil Vicente Cultural Centre (Sardoal)The Cultural Centre is dedicated to GilVicente, Portugal’s historic“Troubadour”, in recognition of hislinks with the city of Sardoal. It wasinaugurated in 2004, to serve as thecommunity’s arts and culture hub.Themodern architectural complements

and integrates with the surrounding environment.GPS: 39°32'21,262"N - 8°9'37,487"Wwww.cm-sardoal.pt

Mother Church of Our Lady of the Conception (Mação)The current Mother Church ofMação is a late 16th centuryreconstruction of an earlier church.The overall form is exceptionallysimple, with the main portal incarved stone and a bell tower to theleft. A stone in the upper part of theportal is inscribed with the year 1597.GPS: 39°33'14,392"N - 7°59'53,963"Wwww.cm-macao.pt

Museum of Prehistoric and Sacred Art in the TagusValley (Mação)

The museum was founded in 1943and redeveloped in 2005.The presentpermanent exhibition interprets thetransition from hunting-gatheringcultures to the agricultural-pastorallifestyle, in the context of humanrelations with the local territory.

GPS: 39°33'25,354"N - 7°59'36,843"Wwww.cm-macao.pt

Dear visitor, we hope these brief notes assistyou in discovering this region in your ownpersonal way. Go where your curiosity leadsyou and discover hidden and fascinatingcorners then come back to enjoy the regionagain, in still new ways.

(HERITY International)

herity@dri.it

www.mediotejo.ptwww.herity.org

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