Located just under 85 km from Lisbon, is arguably one of Portugal’s most beautiful towns, Obidos. With a history dating back to the Roman Era, Obidos came under the rule of the Portugal kings in the medieval period and is often known as the Town of Queens considering that it was given as a gift by King Dinis to his wife. Replete with oodles of old world charm and antiquated vibes, Obidos is indeed a town you must visit when in Portugal. Moreover, it forms for an easy yet insightful day trip from the captial city of Lisbon. This utterly beautiful, fairy tale town is located about 85 km from Lisbon. So, here are five things you can do while in Obidos.
Walk Along Alluring Streetscapes – like most medieval towns, the streetscapes of Obidos exude an unmistakable vintage vibe. Almost the entire town is bordered by fortified walls that whisper of a rich history of a bygone era. Within these fortified walls are winding, cobbled streets that host an array of boutique stores, cafes and houses washed in blue and white paint.
Climbing vines, hanging planters and pots replete with colourful blooms make the town a paradise quite like none other. Take a stroll on these streets and it feels like stepping back in time and experiencing the joys of a pleasantly slow life.
Admire Historic Structures – Obidos has several heritage buildings that date back as early as the 13th century. Case in point is the Sao Pedro Church (Church of St. Peter) which has been built in the Gothic style. St. Mary’s square in the centre of town, the Church of Saint Mary as well as the medieval fountains are some of the heritage buildings that you must see.
Discover the Literary City – it is key to note that Obidos was designated as the Literary City in 2015 by UNESCO as the town has actively been restoring dilapidated and unused spaces and converting them to reading rooms, libraries and the like. A key example is the 1765 Santiago church which has been converted to a book store since 2012.
Thus, the city boasts of multiple thematic book stores housed in spaces as varied as wine cellars, organic markets, museums as well as hotels. Folio which is the International Literary Festival of Óbidos is a yearly affair in autumn that attracts authors, book lovers, artists, musicians and the like from all over the globe.
Visit a local Home – while in Obidos you can also visit the heritage homes of locals which is a great way to experience how people lived centuries ago. It is recommended that you go through official guides as they work with locals who have already signed up for this.
During your visit, you can interact with the locals who can give you insights into their native culture, rituals, customs and even culinary traditions. These are also one of the best places to buy handmade souvenirs including food like home made cookies, jams and even their signature liqueur Ginja de Óbidos or Ginjinha which is a reddish coloured concoction of sour cherries and brandy spiked with a dash of spice like cinnamon or vanilla.
Shop for handcrafted ceramics – if you are a fan of handcrafted souvenirs especially ceramics, Obidos does not disappoint. While here you can lay your hands on hand painted Portuguese azulejos, ceramic mugs, roosters and figurines of various kinds.
A perfect way to savour memories from the place that is often called one of the best persevered medieval villages in Europe.
Another version of this article was published in The New Indian Express.
