A Day in the Fortified Town of Obidos, Obidos, Portugal

The adorable town of Óbidos is a place you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Portugal. The entire historic town, including a castle, is enclosed inside a tall, medieval wall giving it an enchanting setting. Here are some things you will see when you spend a day in the fortified town of Óbidos.

On the edge of town is a long 16th century aqueduct that brought drinking water to the homes inside the walls.

Your love for Óbidos will begin as soon you walk under Porta da Vila (Village Gate). The gorgeous azulejos above Oratory of Our Lady of Piety lets you know that you are about to see something truly special.

One of the best features of this town, is that it is contained entirely within the old walls. The stone rampart is only broken where it meets the medieval castle. Towers in the corners add to its medieval look.

Once inside the gate, you can walk along the top of the wall and enjoy the charming scenes of terracotta tiled roofs atop perfect, white homes. Even the the wall itself is picturesque from this vantage point.

Óbidos Castle (Castelo de Óbidos) is a typical medieval castle. It has a commanding exterior with two rounded drum towers guarding its front gate. An imposing tower above completes the Gothic look. Today it is a hotel and restaurant so unless you’re a hotel guest, you can only enter the first courtyard. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).