It is one of the best preserved medieval villages in Portugal and the literary heritage of UNESCO. Obidos, in the west of the country, deserves to be known at any time of the year
Portugal is in the mouths of the world. The number of tourists in the national territory reached historic highs this year – in June alone, Portugal received three million travelers, an increase of 6.7% compared to the month of May, according to Euronews. And the truth is that it is difficult to find places that have not already been discovered. It remains, therefore, to visit our usual places, not letting tourism fuscent us.
One of the most charming villages, which seems “exit from a fairy tale” for the US travel magazine Travel+Leisure, is in the West of Portugal. “The most beautiful villages in Europe rarely remain hidden for a long time. The notion of small towns and villages full of old-world charm has inspired centuries of travelers to spread across the continent in search of these perfect destinations for a postcard.The first requirement of an idyllic European village is a scenic location,” writes Travel+Leisure in an article entitled 22 Postcard-perfect European Villages Straight Out a Fairy Tale.
And it is in this description that the village of Obidos is inserted, with architectural heritages dating back to the medieval age and the best preserved localities in Portugal. “Since delighting royalty in the 13th century (the village was a gift from her husband, King D. Dinis, Queen Elizabeth), Obidos continues to impress visitors who pass through its formidable fortifications. Inside the walls, there is a labyrinth of cobbled walks, whitewashed villas covered with live bougainvillea and many bars ready to serve shots of ginjinha, a local liqueur made with cherries, “reported the same article.
Classified as a literary village by Unesco, it finds several events and cultural spaces dedicated to literature, such as the Livraria Santiago, inserted inside a church of the 12th century. An accommodation option is The Literary Man Obidos Hotel, a hotel that, as the name implies, gives all the attention to literature.
Within walls, you will find a well-preserved castle and a labyrinth of white streets and houses that delight visitors. “Between Manueline porticos, flowery windows and small squares, there are several reasons for visiting, good examples of the religious and civil architecture of the village’s golden age”, reads the website of Turismo de Portugal dedicated to this locality.
“The Mother Church of Santa Maria, the Church of Mercy, the Church of St. Peter, the Dollo and, outside walls, the Aqueduct and the Sanctuary of the Lord Jesus of the Stone, of round plan, are some of the monuments that justify a careful visit. As well as the Municipal Museum of Obidos, where are the works of Josefa de Obidos. It was, in the century. XVII, a reference painter and a woman with an irreverent artistic attitude in her time. His paintings reflect learning with great masters of the time such as the Spaniards Zurbarán and Francisco de Herrera, or the Portuguese André Reinoso and Baltazar Gomes Figueira, his father.
Until Sunday, September 1, it is still possible to take advantage of the program of the event Ibidos Villa das Rainhas. Its itinerary allows you to know the old fence of the Castle of Obidos and understand how you lived in medieval times through historical recreations in built scenarios. Entrance fees cost 3 euros for children up to 4 years and 5 for those over 12 years old.
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