Gualdim Pais Statue

The statue of Gualdim Pais, located in the center of Praça da República, honors one of the most important and emblematic names in the history of the Templars in Portugal. Founder of the city of Tomar, which in 1162 became the seat of the Knights Templar in the kingdom, this historic character played an important role in the foundation of the portuguese nationality and is known as the 4th Grand Master of the Order of the Temple in Portugal.

The monument was inaugurated in 1940 and has a double authorship: Anjos Teixeira, was the author of the model approved in 1933, and Macário Dinis, on the death of the former, ended up making it in 1935, with some changes. With a privileged location – at the foot of the Castle and the Convent of Christ –, it is one of the most symbolic spaces in the historic center and just a short walk is enough to come face to face with the Paços do Concelho building, with the Church of São João Baptista and with local trade.