Óbidos
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Sue Wolfe
About this spot
If you are looking for a small medieval town to photograph look no further than Óbidos (uh-bee-dowz). The town was a gift from King Denis to his queen on their wedding day in 1282. Queen Isabel loved Óbidos and you will love the cobbled streets, whitewashed buildings, and castle of this walled city.
The homes are whitewashed to deflect the hot summer sun and are brightened up with bougainvillea and potted geraniums. Most of the homes have hints of yellow or blue trim—the colors of the royal coat of arms.
The wall around town was constructed by the Moors with a few additions from the Portuguese kings throughout the years. The wall encircles the entire town (1.5 km) and is walkable. The steps and wall are narrow and old so be careful when walking along the top—there are no handrails. However, the higher vantage point will give you a great view of the rooftops and surrounding countryside.
The Rua Direita leads up to the castle and is lined with restaurants and shops. Once you finish the main street, you will want to wander the cobbled alleys. There are only pedestrian streets in town.
Óbidos is a UNESCO Creative City of Literature. Though the population of this town is only 3,000 residents, there are more than 500,000 books in its libraries, museums, homes, and public spaces.
The region is known for its cherry liqueur called Ginjinha d’Óbidos. Created by 17th century monks, morello cherries are combined with brandy and drank as an aperitif or after dinner drink. It is often served in a dark-chocolate cup. If you visit a bakery ask for pão de ló, a Portuguese sponge cake.
The homes are whitewashed to deflect the hot summer sun and are brightened up with bougainvillea and potted geraniums. Most of the homes have hints of yellow or blue trim—the colors of the royal coat of arms.
The wall around town was constructed by the Moors with a few additions from the Portuguese kings throughout the years. The wall encircles the entire town (1.5 km) and is walkable. The steps and wall are narrow and old so be careful when walking along the top—there are no handrails. However, the higher vantage point will give you a great view of the rooftops and surrounding countryside.
The Rua Direita leads up to the castle and is lined with restaurants and shops. Once you finish the main street, you will want to wander the cobbled alleys. There are only pedestrian streets in town.
Óbidos is a UNESCO Creative City of Literature. Though the population of this town is only 3,000 residents, there are more than 500,000 books in its libraries, museums, homes, and public spaces.
The region is known for its cherry liqueur called Ginjinha d’Óbidos. Created by 17th century monks, morello cherries are combined with brandy and drank as an aperitif or after dinner drink. It is often served in a dark-chocolate cup. If you visit a bakery ask for pão de ló, a Portuguese sponge cake.
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