I absolutely love visiting small towns, they have their unique aesthetics and vibe. Most of the stories I share here are about the small places, like Baden bei Wien, Makarska, Saint-Malo and others. Here is one more - about a Portuguese town of Óbidos.
A bit of history
Óbidos, located about 80 kilometers north of Lisbon, is a well-preserved example of a medieval town. Humans settled around Obidos even before Roman times. But let me skip several centuries and take you to the year of 1148 when he first king of Portugal conquered this town. Relatively soon after that, in 1228, another king of Portugal gifted Óbidos as a wedding gift to his queen. Since that time Portuguese kings often gave Óbidos to their queen as part of their dowry which led to Óbidos being called Vila das Rainhas (Town of the Queens).
Best time to visit
Óbidos is beautiful at any time of the year. I visited it in September on a rare for Portugal grey and cloudy day and still enjoyed my little trip a lot.
However, I should mention that Óbidos, despite being a tiny town, hosts three exciting festivals: Medieval Market in July, International Chocolate Festival in March, and Christmas Market in December.
During the month of the Medieval Market you can attend the medieval shows, horse displays and a costumed parade – everything to soak the atmosphere of medieval Europe.
The International Chocolate Festival runs for three weekends and has a different topic each year. The town is full of chocolate decorations and sculptures. You get to try a lot of chocolate, too!
For Christmas Óbidos turns into one big Christmas Market full of activities, events, decorations, and treats.
What to see
Óbidos can be explored on foot in a couple of hours which makes it a great day trip from Lisbon. Just follow the picturesque narrow streets of the town and they will take you to every place that you must see: the medieval castle, Saint Mary’s Church (Igreja de Santa Maria) and the bookshops. Surprisingly, this little town has about 14 bookshops, the most famous one is located in the church of Santiago. In 2015, Óbidos was even recognized as City of Literature by UNESCO.
Óbidos Specialty
Óbidos is famous for its sour cherry or I’d rather say for the Ginja liqueur made from these cherries. It is a special variety of cherry with a unique aroma and flavor. The liqueur (18-24% ABV) is a traditional digestif known from the ancient recipes of the monks. Drinking Ginjinha is a fun activity as it is usually served in a chocolate cup that should be eaten together with the liqueur.
