Óbidos Things to Do

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"Os Lusíadas" by Luis de Camões is the greatest cultural reference of Portuguese literature and history.

It's an epic poem, celebrating the Portuguese discoveries and conquests, written in the 15th century.

To register the discoveries, our navigators used to signal their discoveries by erecting a carved stone pillar, called "Padrão", that are already present in almost all the continents.

To celebrate Camões there has been an initiative to erect in the local places mentioned in the poem a copy of a "Padrão".

That's what happen in Obidos, near the southern entrance: A "Padrão" designed by Raul Lino and erected in 1932.

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Born in Seville, Spain, from Portuguese parents, Josefa Figueira returned to Portugal when she was four, and became one of the Portuguese artistic references in the 17th century. For living in Obidos, she became known as Josefa d'Óbidos, and her paintings may be seen everywhere in town.

Santa Maria church is the best place to admire her work.

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A strange but beautiful door, that is also a small chapel. At the southern entrance of town the door was built in the 17th century, still showing a balcony from the same period.

The tiles were added in the 18th century

Gaeiras is the biggest village of Obidos, about 4 Km distant. I have some notes to post in its page, but VT doesn't list it, so, meanwhile, I'll put them in Obidos.

As a matter of fact this is a rural area of Obidos, with a few interesting points.

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For almost 50 years that church intrigues me! I read that it has "hexagonal plant" but it really looks round. If we consider the external chapels, then the whole is a sort of triangle.

The style is clearly baroque, and I read somewhere that it is unfinished. Anyway, that's a silhouette that always catches our attention any time we look around from the high points of Obidos or in its way.

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Presumed as a Visigothic construction, the church was transformed in a mosque under Arabic occupation. After Christian conquering, in 1148, it was dedicated to Santa Maria.
It was reconstructed in the XVI century in Renaissance style, acquiring the look that it still keeps.

Nothing very important happened there until 30 years ago, when my brother decided it was the proper place to get married. And he did, allowing the first visit, several times repeated.

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"Once the wedding present of a queen, the preserved medieval town of Obidos lying 100 km north of Lisbon is without doubt one of Portugal's most classic walled settlements. Walking the ramparts, visitors can enjoy views of windmills, vineyards and surrounding farmlands.

In the residential area below, narrow cobblestone streets are lined with whitewashed houses sporting terracotta roofs. The shops are piled high with local handicrafts, while in spring the town is ablaze with geraniums, morning glories and bougainvillaea"

(from http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/costadeprata/obidos/index.html)
Yes, I agree and couldn't write it better, always feeling good in Obidos!

No, Obidos doesn't have the best Ginginha - for that you must try Alcobaça. But Obidos is the best place to drink Ginginha. This very strong and sweet liquor plays a distinguishable role in Obidos' evenings and afternoons.

Served in a chocolate cup, be careful: drink and eat everything but your fingers!