A Day in Obidos, Obidos, Portugal

Óbidos, located about an hour north of Lisbon off the Silver Coast, is one of the most well preserved and picturesque medieval villages in Portugal. Its castle walls encompass a labyrinth of narrow roads which wend between whitewashed homes with red tiled roofs.

Over the years, Óbidos was famous among royals. In the 13th century, King Dom Dinis gifted the village to his wife, Queen Isabel. The tradition continued for centuries. Additionally, King Alfonso V and his cousin Princess Isabella of Coimbra married here at the ages of 9 and 10. Consequently, Óbidos earned the nickname Village of Queens.

Upon arrival to Óbidos, paid parking with free public bathrooms is found just outside the fortified village. The lot fills up quickly with tour buses, so it is best to visit Óbidos early to avoid the crowds.

From the car park, enter Óbidos through the Porta de Vila gateway whose inside walls are decorated with baroque tiles depicting religious scenes from 1740-45.

From the entrance stroll the main road, Rua Direita, which stretches from the Porta da Vila to the historic Pousada Castelo Óbidos. The street features flower adorned shops and pubs serving its famous cherry liquor called ginja. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).