6 Best Sights in Estremadura and the Ribatejo, Portugal

In the center of town, the wax museum has 32 tableaux, with a total of 120 figures, depicting the events that took place in Fátima when the child shepherds first saw the apparitions in 1917, and other events.

The big draw at the shrine's official museum is the bejeweled, golden crown that contains the bullet extracted from the body of Pope John Paul II after the 1981 assassination attempt on his life. The image of Our Lady of Fatima wears this crown on days of large pilgrimages or special occasions. The museum also displays offerings made by pilgrims and Church dignitaries, such as the Golden Rose from Pope Benedict XVI.

Housed in an old winery just outside Alcobaça, the Wine Museum is the country's best showcase of antique implements and presses, dating from the 17th to 21st centuries. Guided tours are offered on the hour from 10 to 5 (except 1 pm), in English and Portuguese, and conclude with a wine tasting.

The high-tech Miracle of Fátima Interactive Museum re-creates the appearance of the Virgin Mary a century ago. Its use of multimedia technologies certainly helps generate a sense of wonder at the apparition of the Virgin and of the Angel of Portugal, and at what became known as the Miracle of the Sun. Guided visits last around 40 minutes, with free time afterward; it is recommended that you book ahead at busy times, as slots can be scarce. The museum is under a small shopping mall near the new basilica.

In the Old Town, a stroll along the flower-lined street of Rua Dr. Joaquim Jacinto takes you to the heart of the Jewish Quarter and this former synagogue, now a modest museum. Built in the mid-15th century for what was then a sizeable community, this is Portugal's oldest extant synagogue, though there are only a handful of Jewish families currently living in Tomar, so it's rarely used as a house of prayer. Inside, exhibits chronicle the Jewish presence in the country, which all but ended in 1496 when Dom Manuel issued an edict ordering Jews to either leave the country or convert to Christianity. Many, who became known as Marranos, converted but secretly practiced Judaism. The building was declared a national monument in 1921 and is open for visits. Call the Tomar Tourist Office in advance to set up a free guided visit in English.