Obidos

Central Portugal city with Roman history

City Overview

Obidos is situated in the Centre region of Portugal, in the district of Leiria. It’s around 88 km from Lisbon and 138km from Coimbra.

From the Latin term “Oppidum”, the name of the main settlement in any Ancient Roman administrative area, we got the name of this Portuguese town.

The town is known for its wonderful castle and walled city that immerse you in a medieval environment, making you feel like you are back in the 1600s.

The area of the town of Obidos is located on a hilltop, encircled by a fortified wall. The town  remains a well-preserved example of medieval architecture; its streets, squares, walls and its castle are popular tourist destinations. The castle now houses a pousada.

Getting to Obidos

If you go by car from Lisbon it will take around one hour and you can park the car just outside the city walls and then walk inside by foot.

The bus is probably the best option, as from Lisbon, you can get to Obidos in around an hour. You can pay the drive and will be dropped off just 100 metres from the city centre.

The train is the slowest way to reach Obidos taking 2 hours and 30 minutes from Lisbon and the station in Obidos is around 1 km from the historical centre of the town.

Sightseeing

Throughout the walled city, you will find narrow cobbled streets, with traditional houses all around. Some of the house are used for living and others being used for restaurants or businesses. The town has been well preserved and is a wonderful example of a traditional Portuguese town.

Outside of the walls, you can see the Aqueduct, and the amazing beaches of Lagoa de Obidos, and you can see the largest collection of Buddha statues in Europe, at Buddha Eden Garden, in Bombarral.

You can expect a small pretty calm town, except during the period when the festivals are held.

If you like to roam around old cities and see for yourself the history then Obidos is a pleasant town to visit.

The Village Door, or “Porta da Vila”, is the main entrance to the interior of the walled city which was built in 1380 and it’s all adorned with the beautiful Portuguese “azulejos”, with an engraving dedicated to the Virgin Mary, due to her protection during the Restoration of Independence, in 1640. Inside the Door, you can find a little chapel to Our Lady of Mercy, the town’s patroness.

It has a medieval military architecture, by its double door and the fact that is elbow-shaped, to provide a better defence of the town.

 “Rua Direita” (Right Street) is the main road in the city, connecting the Village Door to the Castle, on opposite sides of it. Most of the buildings on it are souvenir stores, restaurants, and town attractions.

Ginjinha

One of the most famous Portuguese liquors originates from Obidos. Ginjinha is world renown and makes everyone fall in love with it. Usually served in a chocolate cup, this type of drink has been present in Portugal for centuries, with the oldest record being in the 1st century.

In Obidos on the West of Portugal, the climate is good to grow wild Morello cherries, making the appearance of this drink here, natural. It was the priests of Obidos in the 17th century that used the Morello cherries to make the drink we all know and love today.

It is made out of Morello cherries, sugar, and Aguardente, a very strong liquor with 29% to 60% alcohol level, the “Ginjinha” has a strong flavour and scent, with a dark red colour. It can be served with just the liquor or with fruits in it.

Today, it is available in almost every cafe and restaurant in the town, with many stores even built specifically to sell it.

Main Events

Obidos hold 3 popular festival each year. The iconic Chocolate Festival happens annual in April or May and cost a low entrance fee.

There you can find all kinds of chocolate, both in taste and in shape. Amazing sculptures and  artwork all made out of chocolate. Incredible drinks and food are available all with a chocolate focus. Exhibitors from all over Portugal and the world attend to present their products at this festival, so if you are a chocaholic, you will be at home.

The Medieval Fair is every July\August for two weeks the castle and the surrounding town recreates the spirit of medieval Europe when this part of the town all dresses up as it once was in the 1600s. You will find traditional food and drinks and medieval music.

Flowing banners and heraldic flags set the mood together with hundreds of entertainers and stall holders dressed as merchants, jugglers, jesters, wandering minstrels, soldiers and more. Visitors can shop at the traditional handcrafts fair or watch medieval shows, horse displays and a costumed parade that winds its way through the streets. There are also displays of jousting knights and armed combat.

Traditional medieval food dishes such as spit roasted hog, hearty soups, rabbit, lamb, cod, quail, sausages and other grilled meats are just some of the many medieval style meals on offer from dozens of "taverns" and stalls spread throughout the market.

Drinks served in pewter tankards and eating from wooden tables all adds to the experience. A low entrance fee is charged to enter.

The traditional Christmas Village runs from late November until early January. The whole Medieval Market is decorated like Santa’s Workshop and you can ride on a Christmas Train or have a hot chocolate at the Ice Bar, a bar made entirely of ice.

It’s an amazing place to take the children or adults reliving their childhood with low entrance fee.

Other

Currency - Euro (EUR)

Language - Portuguese

Visas - Not needed for travellers from the US, Canada and Europe

Best Time To Visit - March – October

Timezone - Western European Standard Time (GMT)

Homosexual Activity - Legal