Charola in Convent of Christ, Round church in Tomar, Portugal.
The Charola is a round church with an octagonal central space enclosed by a sixteen-sided ambulatory. Four chapels are positioned at cardinal points, while large western windows light the interior and a wooden choir loft rises within the space.
Construction began in 1190 as a Templar oratory serving the military-religious order. During King Manuel I's reign, the building underwent significant reconstruction that relocated the main entrance from the east side to the south.
The name Charola comes from Latin and refers to the processional function the building once served. Visitors can observe how Byzantine and Romanesque styles blend throughout the space, reflecting influences brought back from the Crusades.
Access is through the southern side of the building, where western light streams in and makes the internal structures easy to see. The space is straightforward to walk through, but taking time to explore each chapel and the multiple architectural levels is worthwhile.
Manueline paintings adorning the ambulatory vaults lay hidden beneath lime coating for centuries following the 1755 earthquake. These decorative elements only came to light when restoration efforts began in 1987.
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