Óbidos, the castle city close to Lisbon

A beautiful and different city close to the capital of Portugal that is fashionable, even though it is ancient: Óbidos, which is famous for being inside a castle. In fact, the city began inside the walls, but over time it also developed outside, where the majority of the population is concentrated. Currently, just over 100 people live within the walls in the historic area of the city.

The city seen from the top of one of the walls

Located at a high point, close to the Atlantic coast, Óbidos had strategic importance in Portuguese territory. Already occupied before the Romans arrived in the Iberian Peninsula, the town became more prosperous from the moment it was chosen by the royal family.

As soon as we arrive in Óbidos, we see an old aqueduct, which transported water from the highest parts to the walled center of the town. The cars stay in the parking lots located in this area and from there we continue on foot, a distance of a few hundred meters until we come face to face with the main portico of the city where we enter the city. Óbidos Castle.

Inside the walls, we find a well-preserved castle and a labyrinth of streets and houses, well painted, tidy and with the typical colors of Portuguese architecture, white framed by blue or rust yellow. Between Manueline porticos, flowered windows and small squares, there are several reasons to visit, good examples of religious and civil architecture from the town's heyday.

Taken by the Moors in 1148, it was only in 1195 that it actually became a village and continues in the same way as it was almost a thousand years ago, without changes to its structure and architecture. The little houses were transformed into shops and restaurants, but without interfering with their original identity. Óbidos is a city that has managed to preserve its history well and is therefore included in the list of Wonders of Portugal.

Óbidos can be visited throughout the year, as there are many activities held there, including the traditional Christmas Fair, when the town is transformed, and the Medieval Fair, when the castle and the walled area go back in time and transform just like they did. They were in the Middle Ages, with staging and typical decoration. But that's not all: there is also the famous Chocolate Festival, where man-sized pieces of chocolate are produced and children participate in workshops and can make their own chocolates.

Óbidos is included in PortugalAfora's personalized tour itinerary. Schedule yours and tour with us.

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