Obidos: Treasure of the QueensPerched on a hilltop and gift-wrapped by a fortified wall, approaching Obidos is like being in a dream.
Suddenly, you're on cobbled streets and in curving alleyways that pull you into a search for goblins and princesses and fairy tale windows. 
Fete Natal in Obidos. Source: aesta1
Wafting whips of chocolate and the hint of Ginja tickle your nose, and you are pulled further into a world of fantasy.
Entering the Village through its main gate, Porta da Vila, you are immediately confronted with the ceiling teased in 18th-century blue tiles telling stories and hinting in color and image of what lies ahead. 
Castelo de Obidos. Source: aesta1
A Bit of Obidos HistoryObidos has poked its whimsical nose into the text of history for at least 3000 years. Said to have been inhabited since late Paleolithic times, Celts and Phoenicians settled in this region.
The Romans declared the site to be Eburobrittium and capitalized on its hilltop security. The Visigoths conquered the region after the great Roman retreat. They, in their turn, were followed by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries. 
Obidos. Source: aesta1
Gifting of Obidos to the QueensIn 1148, the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, began the long process of recovering Portugal for the Crown and eventually converting the Moors or pushing them out.
But the gifting of Obidos to Queen Urraca in 1210 by King Alfonso II ensured Obidos' place in romantic history. Since then, the town came to be known as Vila das Rain has, Town of the Queens. 
Fete Natal in Obidos. Source: aesta1
Fete Natal in ObidosObidos welcomed us for the fete natal highlight in the annual calendar. The crowds were well beyond the usual busloads of trudging day-trippers from Lisbon, and the majority were school children who came for the day to enjoy the Christmas festival.
Their teachers had threatened them with bad outcomes if they let go of the ropes and in their assorted hats weighed down by lunch boxes, burdened with mother-crafted lunches, they squealed happily in anticipation of a fun-filled day. An open area near the city wall and Castle was set aside as the fairground. Locals in elegant medieval dress and jester costumes ensured the fairy tale image and knew how to pose for selfies with the kids. One merchant had a dozen eagles and hawks and harriers and owls. Perched on leather-covered wrists and stands for photos. These were all for sale but not to the children. In the corners of the field were groups of school escapees with painted faces and already plundered lunch boxes. A few were already prone, already overcome with excitement, candy, and sandwiches.
Around them were magic performances, jugglers, puppets, and the full range of medieval hi-jinks. In the center, like a crown on a queen's head, was Santa's house handing out fear to those who have misbehaved all year. Christmas songs filled the air, and for us who had for years been in countries where Christmas was a working day, this is just so much fun. The Christmas spirit transformed Obidos into a Disney-like fantasy and lifted the hearts of the kids and the vintage wayfarers as well. In the street beyond the fairgrounds were older students in medieval attire dancing and singing and making the day special. 
Dancing in the Streets of Obidos. Source: aesta1
The whole town was like a centuries-old vision of the wretched miniature New England villages that are the fascinations of some collectors. The feeling of being a time traveler was bizarre indeed.
Christmas decorations and displays were everywhere as the residents of Obidos did their best to make the gift to the Queen an exceptional place at this time of year. One store drew us in with its display of hand-painted tiles featuring 17th-century peasants getting about their daily business. 
Entrance to the Pousada do Castelo. Source: aesta1
Where to Stay in ObidosWe stayed for three nights with the commitment that the only place to stay is in the Castle once you're here. The Pousada de Obidos is inside, and it has been gorgeously refurbished with the government's help to show off the history of the Queen's gift.
It has the best view of the Village, and if you're young and agile, the Pousadas' rooms in the fortress are perfect. It is an old castle, so some compromises favor the 17th century rather than a Hyatt, but you'll have a taste of what it was like to live like a King. 
Nate de Pasteis. Source: aesta1
We are vintage, so the Pousada understood our state and gave us a bigger room with a fireplace and a service lift. The service was superb, and the well-informed staff went out of their way to fill us in on Obidos' history and treasures.
One breakfast, the waiter of the day heated some Nate de Pasteis and made us coffee with cinnamon. A lovely touch. Another time, we left the lights on in our car, and they went to our room, asked for the key, and fixed the problem. 
Courtyard in Obidos. Source: aesta1
There are other places to stay inside the Village, and restaurants line the main street, and in almost every corner, you can have a shot of Ginja in a chocolate cup. Go for it. It's worthwhile. But watch it; stumbling Seniors are sometimes mistaken for the gnarled gnomes and driven out.
What to Buy in Obidos
Store in Obidos. Source: aesta1
Like any tourist village, souvenirs are hung outside every store decorating the fortress-like wall along the streets with beautiful tiles, multicolored scarves, and leatherwork that are worth looking over.
Given the great history of tiles in Portugal, covering whole buildings in many towns, these seemed to be a perfect souvenir to take home. The owner showed us many vintage historic tiles they had collected and priced to make the newer tiles seem a bargain.
The shop had been initially a wine press, and all the mechanisms for this function were still in place. The negotiations for the tiles have the same pattern that formed the heart of bartering for thousands of years, and while we don't have the skills of American Pickers, we won our spurs in the markets of Asia.
We discovered hidden behind a vine-covered garden a little atelier where the tiler does her work and will chat about the history of her patterns.
She told us that she made the tiles the same way over the centuries and painted them with traditional Portuguese patterns and images you can find in most villages in Southern Portugal. We got a Portuguese rooster, the national symbol. 
Mini-car in Obidos. Source: aesta1
More Interesting Things to Do in ObidosOther than the fair and the walk around town, you can make your experience even more interesting:
Fair in Obidos. Source: aesta1
But nobody can beat the people of Obidos in hosting festivals. Here are the ones you can target:
Alleyways in Obidos. Source: aesta1
The fairies of Obidos picked us for the perfect parking spot in front of the Castle, so we did not move the car an inch for three days. What a great decision. We were able to take our time to poke into nooks and crannies and grottoes.
It was like being transported to medieval times with only the fouler odors of old villages missing. Going down narrow alleys, my husband would peek around corners fearing goblins and committed Inquisition monks. He started looking for an elf suit for disguise. 
Countryside in Obidos. Source: aesta1
Interesting Facts on Obidos:Population: 11772 (2011)
Area: 141.55 sq. km. Region: Centro Sub-Region: West District: Leiria Elevation: 49 m Area Code: 295 Website: cm-obidos.pt If you plan a trip to Portugal, check out these other posts:
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