If you are looking to savor the atmosphere of a small and historic village in Portugal, there is nowhere more picturesque and charming than Obidos. This quaint town is made up of a maze of cobblestone streets and white washed churches, surrounded by tall castle walls. Although a little touristy at times, there is a great ‘lost in time’ atmosphere that takes you back to a medieval era gone by.
As you pass through the cobbled entrance to the village, shops greet you selling pretty flower wreaths for your hair. Further along, children play in the center square, dressed like royalty with their princess dresses and crowns.
Ginja
Obidos is known for its Ginja (also called Ginjinha), a traditional Portuguese sour cherry liqueur. Made since 1890 by infusing sour Morello Cherries with Aguardente (Portuguese brandy), sugar, and cinnamon, Ginja is a sweet delight. Local custom serves it up in dark chocolate cups, the perfect accompaniment.
Following a local tip we were looking for Ibn Errik Rex (Son of Erik the King), which was recommended as the best bar to sample Ginja. It wasn’t hard to find, located at the end of the main street Rua Direita, just a few buildings before the church. The historic bar is decorated with ceramics and hundreds of tiny bottles hanging from the ceiling. Jeweled bottles of Ginja sit on the wooden tables, served by the glass along with a selection of tasty appetizers. The location is perfect to order one, or two, Ginjas and let minds wander to the clashes of Kings that saw Obidos taken from the Moors by the first king of Portugal all the way back in 1148.
After sipping our Ginja, we were ready to explore the rest of the town. One of the highlights was walking high atop the stone castle walls that surround the city. The walls are narrow, tall, and un-even in areas, but surrounding the tiny village perfectly adventurers are treated to glimpses into the life below and unbroken views out to the horizon.
During this trip we wanted to experience as much of Portugal as possible, visiting big cities like Lisbon and Porto, sunbathing by the Algarve Coast, and drinking the most amazing wine in Douro. It was also important to us to also see another side of Portugal, the small hilltop villages and their medieval history. Obidos, consistently ranked one of the top-1o walled cities in the world, was the perfect town for this, wooing us to fall in love with its Portuguese character and medieval charm.
Sails & Spices Tips
- Obidos can be visited as a day trip from Lisbon. Many tour operators operate round-trip bus service, however to avoid some of the tourist crowds it’s recommended to stay the night.
- For an exciting and novel experience, stay in the Castle’s refurbished luxury hotel, Casa das Senhoras Rainhas.
- If an overnight stay isn’t feasible for your itinerary, consider renting a car and driving yourself. Catch Obidos in the golden hour… the tour buses will have departed and you’ll be spoiled with a quiet town and stunning photos.
- Every summer Obidos hosts a Medieval Festival, where the town is truly transformed back in time. You can rent a costume to get into character, watch knight’s joust on horseback, and dine on a medieval style feast at this unique celebration.
PORTUGAL CITY GUIDES
If you are planning a trip around Portugal, check out the rest of Sails & Spices Portugal City Guides:
- A Romantic Weekend in Porto
- A Wine Lover’s Dream in the Douro Valley
- Lisbon City Guide
- Pena Palace in Sintra
- Pastries and Parapetes in Belem
- A Vegetarian Guide to Lagos
]]>
When we were planning our trip to Portugal, as soon as we saw Pena Palace we just knew we had to visit. Where else in the world can you find such a colorful fantasy palace right next to an old medieval stone castle? These are the sites of legends and fairy tales. Only 30 minutes out of Lisbon, there is really no excuse to miss it.
Not ones to settle for the bus, we decided to hike up through the forest to the palace. Expect a good 1.5 hour climb, taking time for pictures, and another 45 minutes just to find the trail head when you first reach town. Our day was a summer cooker, but it felt like quite an accomplishment when we reached the top and could see the Castle of the Moors looming behind us.
The Pena Palace is whimsical and immaculately detailed, a UNESCO world heritage site, known for its romantic style architecture. As you walk around the palace walls, there is an impressive view of the Castle of the Moors with the valley below. From the palace terrace, arches frame the view out towards the ocean.
Walking through the inside of the palace is a journey back in time. All the rooms and have been preserved so you can peek in on the interior decor of ancient kings and queens. Walk the grand dining room, the royal quarters, and the best part, the huge chefs kitchen… filled to the brim with copper cookware and everything you can imagine to cook a huge feast.
Some tips for visiting The Pena Palace and Castle of the Moors in Sintra:
- Plan for a long day if you are going to hike up the hill to visit both the Pena Place and Moore Castle. It is a long walk up, and they are not immediately adjacent (read, more walking to get to the second stop). Combination tickets are available.
- The hike up through the forest was a highlight, and on the way down you can take convertible buggy for around 5-euro p.p. which raced us back down the narrow streets to the town of Sintra in about 10 minutes.
- Avoid going on the weekends if you want to miss the crowds, so much as is possible. During the week parking is relatively easy. We had read recommendations to park in the outskirts of town, fearing no spaces and steep one-way streets. This advice was a bit overkill, as arriving by 10:00am into Sintra on a Monday there were parking spots at the castle once we finally made it to the top.
PORTUGAL CITY GUIDES
Portugal is filled with medieval castles of an age gone by, which is part of what makes it so unique and fun to visit. Sintra is a great day trip from Lisbon, especially if you are staying in Lisbon 3 days or more.
If you are planning a trip around Portugal, check out the rest of Sails & Spices Portugal City Guides:
- A Romantic Weekend in Porto
- A Wine Lover’s Dream in the Douro Valley
- Sipping Ginja in Obidos
- Lisbon City Guide
- Pastries and Parapetes in Belem
This trip has inspired me visit the amazing castles and palaces in places like India, Moscow and France.
Have you visited any castles that you thought were really impressive that we need to check out? Let me know in the comments!
]]>