“On the outside looking in”
Obidos, Portugal. May 2019. (15 photos)
This is Part 4 of my Portugal 2019 photo series, and also Part 7 of my Europe 2019 photo series.
Recently I spent a month visiting France and Portugal, with a short visit to Singapore for good measure.
To the north of Lisbon, about an hour’s drive by express bus, lies the medieval walled town of Obidos, which was voted as one of the seven wonders of Portugal (7 Maravilhas de Portugal) in 2007. On the day I visited there was dense cloud cover the entire day in Obidos, despite it being hot and cloudless in nearby Lisbon. Must be one of those “microclimate” things. Such is life.
“Obidos streetscape”
Obidos is commonly considered as one of the most charming and picturesque towns of central Portugal. Within the town are traditionally whitewashed cottages trimmed with blue and yellow paint, narrow cobblestoned streets, and an old Moorish castle.
“Obidos Castle”
Construction of Obidos castle began in Roman times in the mid 1st century, but it wasn’t until the occupation by the Moors that the fortress was completed. In 1148 the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, defeated the Moors and conquered the village and its castle. In 1210, King Afonso II gifted the town of Obidos to his wife, Queen Urraca. Since then, Obidos was often patronized by the Queens of Portugal, giving rise to its informal title as Vila das Rainhas (town of the Queens).
“Walls of Obidos”
The wall of this medieval town is about 1.5 km in length and some of it is open to be walked.
“On the Walls of Obidos”
I tried to time my multiple walks across the wall to when no-one else was coming from the other direction. But when there was, I always made sure I was the one who stopped first to let them pass, so I could grab the wall for safety. I couldn’t imagine walking the walls in full battle armour.
“Above Obidos”
“Don’t look down”
I came across one guy who had just walked up a set of stairs with his children to the top of the wall. As soon as he saw how narrow the path on the wall was, he hesitated and walked straight back down.
“A commanding view”
There were some lovely views over the town and also across the surrounding countryside with numerous orchards and vineyards.
“Igreja de Santa Maria”
Back on the ground, the town has many points of interest.
“More Walls of Obidos”
Bougainvillea abounds in Obidos.
“A wall with door in Obidos”
“Azulejos”
Of course there would be painted blue tiles on the walls of Obidos.
“Chorizo Bread”
On my first full day in Lisbon I did a food tour and the guide told me they made the best chorizo bread in Obidos. It didn’t take long for me to find this bakery and coming straight out of the oven as I walked in were loaves of bread with large slices of chorizo in their centre. I immediately bought a loaf and ate it. I didn’t need lunch after that.
Another of the specialties of Obidos I indulged in was ginjinha (cherry liqueur) which I had served in a chocolate cup.
“Strolling Obidos”
“Aqueduct”
Of course there are other interesting features outside the walled town, including this 16th century aqueduct. But I didn’t venture much outside of the wall of Obidos as I had to catch the bus back to Lisbon, a 1 hour trip that took almost 2 hours because the bus broke down on the highway.
…
In May and June 2019, I visited France, Portugal and Singapore.
This is Part 7 of this photographic series and Part 4 of the posts about Portugal.
Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera 
The walls look scary to walk on.
What a charming place. Heard of it but didn’t go there. One day…
I believe it is a very popular day trip out of Lisbon, after Sintra of course. I’m sure you would have been OK on the walls. Most people were, but I really wasn’t keen on passing other people coming from the other direction on top of that wall. The views were fabulous.
I bet.
Portugal is full of such small towns/ villages worth a visit.
Very true, and often with a lovely point of interest or specialty food to enjoy. 🙂
Mmmmm. That cheese and wine. Priceless.
You’re a connoisseur, I see. 🙂
What a fascinating place to visit, I love the sound of the stuffed bread!! Great post (as always!) 😀
Thanks. The simple pleasure of freshly baked bread with a huge slice of chorizo inside made me very happy. I wish I could find similar here. 🙂
You’re a good recount writer. Beautiful photos, too.
Thank you very much. The photos do a good job of stimulating the memory.
It is true that a sky “milky”, a sky “clogged” it’s a little unfortunate for catches of evue, but you get away from it wonderfully by presenting us with beautiful, clear and colorful photographs
Thank you very much. Yes, it can be difficult, but when there is no option to return another day you have to make do.
Beautiful, but I’m not unhappy about missing the walk on the walls. My head for heights has been decapitated.
LOL, you’re not alone in feeling that way. If the rampart had been narrower I would have baulked, but as it was, and in my tourist frame-of-mind, I readily walked across them, taking videos and photos. 🙂
Fascinating. I, too, would hesitate to walk the wall and I’d really stop at taking young children! LOL! I absolutely love that yellow and white wall picture with the small flowering tree.
It’s a very picturesque town with an authentic air. I saw a few people walk very briskly across those ramparts – I had a more steady shuffling gait. 🙂
“Don’t look down” indeed! Walking those walls looks a bit terrifying — but what gorgeous vistas you captured. I love your snippets of daily life also, from the azulejos to the woman tending the oven. Gorgeous shots, all.
Thank you very much. It’s a picturesque town with everything you expect to find in Portugal. So much tradition and history. The chorizo bread was absolutely delicious.
I forgot to comment on the chorizo! The mere mention of that word makes my mouth water. Oh, dear. Here we go again … napkin, please? 🙂
Large slices of chorizo baked inside of bread. Simple pleasures are often the best.
I love this place so much, I wanna go visit! Wonderful photos (but you neglected to include the photo you must’ve taken of the cherry liqueur in a chocolate cup).
As you’ve correctly guessed I have several photos of the cherry liqueur shop and attendant, the liqueur being poured, the chocolate cup filled with liqueur and me with it. But in the interest of limiting the number of photos posted, and since this isn’t a food blog, the photo of the chorizo bread and oven won out. Be thankful I didn’t post the photo of the part eaten bread with chorizo sticking out of it. 🙂
Hahaha.. you’ve easily sold me on Obidos!
You’d love Portugal. Definitely a place to consider despite the distance.
I love all the walls with the contrasting flowers! Nothing like a bus breakdown on vacation right?!
Fortunately I had nothing planned upon my return to Lisbon apart from just wandering and eating, which I did till about midnight, so I felt no stress with the bus breaking down. All part of the experience. 🙂
That’s great!! Sometimes the hiccups are the best part of the story ;-). What’s next? I feel like you’ve covered every country in the last few years. Btw, I am drafting my Mexico experience. It’ll be posted in a month or so!
Still plenty of places to see and experience. Too many, in fact. 🙂
Have u been to Munich? If so, I need to hunt down your post about it. Going in October.
For Oktoberfest? Sorry, I haven’t.
We are skipping Oktoberfest, will be there shortly after. Hopefully that means fewer crowds!
I think that’s a good idea for a first time visit.
Very interesting photos of this place. Walking those walls is something I would not undertake if I’d had a glass or two of wine with lunch!!
Indeed, although a few might need the courage offered by a glass of wine before walking up there. 🙂 Thanks so much.
I believe I have been here before with the wonderful Restless Jo who loves climbing anything with height! There is no way I would walk on those walls, the ones around York are bad enough! No I am much happier tootling around below and seeing those lovely walls and flowers and tiles, eating delicious bread and supping cherry liqueur – but I thank you kindly for showing me the views.
Well there’s more than enough to occupy one’s time at ground level. I refrained from going crazy photographing the walls with faded/peeling paint, and adorned with various flora but it was a challenge. The chorizo bread was seriously yummy. Thanks for visiting Obidos once again, jude.
My pleasure LD 🙂
🙂
The Moorish castle and views are picturesque, but my favorite photos are the bougainvillea against the decaying walls. So vibrant.
Those small cobblestoned streets were quite picturesque and the walls and flowers were a delight to discover. I agree, very interesting and beautiful.
Amazing photos of such a beautiful place! The two pics of the walls with the flowers are really fabulous!
Thank you very much. Portugal is very photogenic.
Very much obrigado for letting us travel with you. 🙂 Marvellous, all of your Portugal posts. This narrow path, though… Nah-ah.
Portugal is one of those places easy to fall in love with. and the ramparts? I need an adrenaline rush every now and then. 😉
Never heard much of Lisbon, also never heard much of the wall of Obidos. That’s amazing the path along the wall up there is not fence – anyone can go as close to the edge as they please if they dare. Don’t blame you for stopping and letting others go first so you can clutch the wall like Spiderman 😛
Chorizo bread. Warm in the mouth must be heavenly. One hour delay doesn’t sound too bad. At least it didn’t take half a day for help to come rescue you and the other bus passengers on the road 😀
That warm chorizo bread was incredibly good. Yes, I was surprised there was a lack of safety rails and signs along the rampart, but in a way that was kind of refreshing, too. People have to take responsibly for themselves. I guess if someone were to fall though, that would all change.
Being a small country, the highways aren’t too remote. The highway patrol had found us within about 10 minutes. Everyone on the bus was calm and relaxed. Typical for Portugal.
You are right. People have to take responsibility for themselves especially when travelling. Calm and relaxed is always what you want to feel on the road 🙂
Indeed.