Your itinerary to discover Óbidos

Once upon a time, many, many years ago, there was a Village of Queens.

It was in 1210 that it began to be romantically received as a dowry by many queens of Portugal: D. Urraca of Castile, Queen Santa Isabel, D. Filipa of Lencastre, D. Leonor of Avis... and forever became Óbidos of Queens, Óbidos of the maidens, Óbidos of the women, as they were the ones who made it unique, mysterious and dazzling.

Be part of this enchanting itinerary.
Set out to discover the romantic town of Óbidos.

Óbidos owes its name to the Latin oppidum which means fortified city. Of Roman origin, the town was later occupied by Muslims, having been conquered by D. Afonso Henriques, in 1148.

As we approach the medieval town of Óbidos, its grandeur dazzles us.

Its walled enclosure, so well preserved, at the top of the hill, immediately transports us to fairy tales, of kings and queens, princes and princesses. Let yourself fall in love with the stories told here, recognize the most important monuments to visit and let yourself be enchanted by the most literary village in Portugal.

The adventure begins much earlier, as soon as we see Óbidos, but now, we are at Porta da Vila. The main entrance is memorable and double (so common in Portuguese castles). Here we can admire the oratory with a balcony covered in an 18th century tile panel figuratively representing the Passion of Christ. It is here that you will find the inscription dedicated to the patron saint of Óbidos, Nossa Senhora da Piedade, ordered by King D. João IV: “The Virgin Our Lady was conceived without original sin”. The ceiling is painted and represents a Crown of Thorns.

As we pass Porta da Vila, we enter a medieval environment and immediately head to Rua Direita. Narrow, flanked by whitewashed houses and colorful stripes. Walking along the cobbled street, lined with traditional shops, with their doors open, allows us to appreciate the details of each one as we walk. Flowery, charming, with color and lots of stories from history.

A few meters away we reach Largo da Praça or Largo de Santa Maria (Square or Plaza), one of the most important points in the medieval village of Óbidos.

On the right we come across the Municipal Museum, known for the collection of the painter Josefa d'Óbidos, a native of Seville who settled and died in the town (buried in the Church of S. Pedro which we describe later), defying a society that is not very tolerant towards a woman's artistic talent.

The Pelourinho de Óbidos (Pillory), a granite stonework structure, also stands out here on Rua Direita, in front of Largo de Santa Maria. It represents municipal power and independence, but it is also a landmark for several public punishments that took place there during the Middle Ages. On one side, it displays the Portuguese coat of arms, on the other the representation of a fishing net, in memory of Infante D. Afonso, son of D. Leonor Teles and D. Fernando, who died in an accident, having been found by the nets of fishermen in the region. Its construction dates back to the time of D. João II.

This is where the Church of Santa Maria is located, where Afonso V and his cousin Isabel were married at the age of 10 and 8, on August 15, 1444. The main church is located in the center of the square with the same name and is the main religious temple in the village. Dating back to medieval times, it was renovated in the 17th century with beautiful examples of 18th century tiles and canvases by the painter Josefa d´Óbidos, from the 18th century.

Telheiro, where the old Municipal Market was once located, is the ideal place to fulfill tradition: drink a little Óbidos Ginjinha in a glass of dark chocolate and taste a traditional sweet sold in one of the little shops that can be seen from the square.

Energy recovered. We continue on our way…

The buildings we find preserve the identity of Óbidos, considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in the world. The different colors of the houses in Vila de Óbidos are yellow, blue, red and grey. The yellow color meant that farmers lived there, blue was for fishermen, red for the bourgeoisie and grey for religious buildings.

By tradition, houses were originally whitewashed for three reasons: to ward off of envious neighbours, to mark the division of the property (vertical bars) and to prevent dirt from splashes of mud on the walls (horizontal bars next to the floor).

Well-maintained, the houses feature Moorish tiled roofs and windows lined with hanging flower pots that delight visitors.

Going up the street, on the left we find the Church of Santiago, current bookstore with the same name, which is one of the mandatory places to stop. The building dates back to 1186 but was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake and is a treasure for anyone who visits the space, not only because of its antiquity, but because of the cultural and leisure space that was created there.

At this point you can already see one of the seven wonders of Portugal: Óbidos Castle.

At the top of the town, let yourself be inspired by the traces of other times that you can see from here. This great landmark of the Christian Reconquest underwent several changes over time, and it was here that the first “state inn in a historic building” was installed, where you can enjoy a night fit for a King.

After climbing the castle, you can return to the center of the town, walking along the centuries-old walls that surround the citadel. It will be around 2 kilometers with fantastic views of the castle and surroundings.

From there you can see the round Sanctuary of Senhor Jesus da Pedra (18th century), which owes its name to the legend of a farmer who says he was called by the stone cross in this temple, whose devotion ended the drought in the region. Its cylindrical exterior contrasts with the hexagonal interior, where the representation of the crucified Christ stands out. It received the veneration of Portuguese kings.

From here you can also clearly see the Usseira Aqueduct, built in the 16th century by D. Catarina, constituting the first local water supply system. In this way, the water will have been transported through 3 kilometers of arches crossing vineyards and crops to Fonte da Vila, located in front of the Church of Santa Maria.

When descending back to the citadel, we find the Church of Saint Peter. Rebuilt at the end of the 16th century, it is the most imposing building in the town. Inside, the 18th century gilded altarpiece and the tomb of the painter Josefa d’Óbidos stand out.

Around you, the concentration of craft shops will not leave you indifferent. Traditional items with ceramics, lace, embroidery and tinwork. The embroidery and tapestry of Óbidos is an art created by an Obidos woman. Arabesques, birds, the castle and the word Óbidos, embroidered in shades of blue, pink, salmon, green, yellow and brown, make up the Óbidos embroidery. Make sure you are purchasing a quality product by confirming the seal of authenticity that guarantees its genuineness.

A tradition in the town of Óbidos is the Oficina das Artes, also known as Oficina de Barro, which has been operating for over 20 years and emphasizes Verguinha de Óbidos, an art that was on the verge of extinction, a craft of Italian origin that is now gone. lost in time, until Bordalo Pinheiro, on one of his trips, brought him back to Portugal.

Any time of year is a good time to visit Óbidos, the most literary town in the country. Take the opportunity to visit all the places that are part of this UNESCO Creative City of Literature project, which make this small village a hub of culture, literature and writing.

Its walled streets and medieval castle are the stage for international events such as the International Chocolate Festival and the Medieval Market. Holy Week, the Literary Festival or Óbidos Vila Natal are also events that attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Find out a little more about these annual events that you won't want to miss: