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Obidos: Treasure of the Queens

Perched 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
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.
Obidos Castle
Castelo de Obidos. Source: aesta1

A Bit of Obidos History

Obidos 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 Portugal
Obidos. Source: aesta1

Gifting of Obidos to the Queens

In 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.
Children in Fete Natal in Obidos
Fete Natal in Obidos. Source: aesta1

Fete Natal in Obidos

Obidos 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
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.
Pousada do Castelo Obidos
Entrance to the Pousada do Castelo. Source: aesta1

Where to Stay in Obidos

We 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
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
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
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. 
Grammarly Writing Support
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.
MiniCar in Obidos
Mini-car in Obidos. Source: aesta1

More Interesting Things to Do in Obidos

Other than the fair and the walk around town, you can make your experience even more interesting:
  1.  Go in and light a candle in the Church of the Assumption. Pray for any particular intention or forgiveness for having hit the Ginja too hard. 
  2. Rent an electric mini-car and have lunch in the Lagoon de Obidos.
  3. Lunch at the Pousada Hotel and enjoy the best view of the Village and the countryside.
  4. Experiment with a range of Ports.
  5. Sit al fresco on the main street and assess other tourists as they poke and prod the goods in the stores. 
Hunting Birds Obidos
Fair in Obidos. Source: aesta1
But nobody can beat the people of Obidos in hosting festivals. Here are the ones you can target:
  • Medieval Festival (July). Obidos recreates the medieval spirit around the Castle with heraldic banners, traditional market, minstrels, jesters, medieval crafts, medieval plays, jousting knights, costume parade, and armed combats. Roasted hog, rabbit, lamb, quail, sausages, and hearty soups are eaten from wooden trenchers and taken with filled pewter tankards are the bill of fare.
  • The International Festival of Chocolate (16 April-3 May). You can't miss this one especially if you have a chocolate addiction. You can O. D. on a full range of local candies. Kids will have a feast especially with the Chocolate House. You can also take a cooking class and bring a taste of Obidos home with you. 
Obidos Restaurant
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. 
Obidos Countryside
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:
  • Bussaco: A Palace and A Historic Battle
  • Castle of the Templars and the Convento de Cristo in Tomar, Portugal
  • ​Lisbon, Portugal's Capital City
  • Elvas: Portugal's Garrison Town
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      • Tips for a Meaningful Travel to Vietnam >
        • 13 Interesting Places Not to Miss in Vietnam
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        • Hanoi: The Rising Dragon >
          • 14 Interesting Things to Do in Hanoi
          • Discovering Hanoi's Hidden Secrets
          • Where to Shop in Hanoi
          • Pho Sach: Book Street in Hanoi
          • Downtown Park in Hanoi
          • Ta Hien and Ma May: Food Streets in Hanoi
          • Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi
          • Temple of Literature in Hanoi
          • The Citadel in Hanoi
          • Tea at Dinh Co Vu Temple
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            • Cha Ca La Vong in Hanoi
            • Behind the Green Curtain
            • Mau Dich So 37 Restaurant: A Trip into Hanoi's Past
            • Mau Dich So 37 Restaurant Pictures
          • Hanoi Street Food: A Truly Tasty Experience
          • Vietnamese Women's Museum
          • Museum of Ethnology: A Peek at Vietnam's 54 Ethnic Groups
          • Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Pictures 1 >
            • Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Pictures
          • Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi >
            • More Pictures of Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi
          • Fine Arts Museum of Vietnam
          • One Pillar Pagoda
          • Pilgrimage to the Perfume Pagoda
        • Halong Bay, Vietnam
        • Dong Ho: Folk Painting Village in Vietnam
        • Indigo: Saving Vietnam"s Traditional Handicraft
        • Phu Vinh: BambooCraft Village in Vietnam
        • Ho Chi Minh Trail
        • Hue: The Ancient Imperial Capital of Vietnam
        • 9 Ways to Enjoy Hoi An in VietNam
        • My Son: The Centre of Cham Culture
        • Ninh Binh: A Must Do Day Trip from Hanoi
        • TET: Lunar New Year in Hanoi >
          • New Year with Vietnamese Friends
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          • Tonle Sap: Cambodia's Environment Hotspot
          • The Ancient Secrets of Preah Vihear
          • The Water Festival of Cambodia >
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          • Khmer New Year 2016 Pictures
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          • Pich Mkot Temple: An Oasis Outside of Phnom Penh
        • 13 Fabulous Items to Buy in Cambodia
        • Where to Shop in Phnom Penh >
          • The Streets of Phnom Penh
          • 6 Most Popular Traditional Markets in Phnom Penh Cambodia
        • Siem Reap, Cambodia: Things to Do Other than Visiting the Temples of Angkor >
          • Ta Prohm Temple
          • Angkor Temples in Cambodia
          • Beng Mealea: Cambodia's Jungle Temple
          • Traditional Silk Making in Angkor
        • Cool Things to Do in Mondulkiri Cambodia
        • Things to Know Before Visiting Ratanakiri in Cambodia
        • 10 Fascinating Places to Visit in Takeo, Cambodia >
          • Tonle Bati: Scenic Lake in Cambodia
        • The Unique Taste of Cambodia
        • Cambodia: A Unique Adventure
      • 11 Top Must Do in Myanmar
      • Singapore: The Chameleon of Asia
      • Cool Things to do in Luang Prabang Laos
      • The Mighty Mekong
      • Cruising the Chao Phraya
      • Puerto Princesa, Palawan
      • The Best of Ilocos Norte, Philippines
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    • Europe >
      • Why Visit Spain >
        • Top Places to Visit in Spain
        • Top Food to Enjoy in Spain
        • In Search of the Cecina de León
        • Sweet Indulgences in León: Mantecadas, Nicanores, and Rosquillos
        • La Feria del Libro de Madrid 2022 and The Cat Who Saved Books
        • From royal stables to a majestic garden: Jardines de Sabatini
        • An Afternoon in El Parque del Oeste Madrid
        • Puertas de Alcalá and Toledo: Time travels in Madrid
        • A Walk in Loyola
        • The Castle Against Navarra's Sky
        • The Sta.Clara Island Lighthouse in San Sebastian, Spain
        • San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and its magic
        • The Blacksmith of Talavera
        • Toledo Spain: 10 Points of Interest
        • The Alhambra in Granada Spain
        • The Holy Mountain of Montserrat
        • Olympic Park iBarcelona
        • Joan Miro Museum in Barcelona
        • Trujillo: Cradle of the Conquistadors
        • Why Visit Badajoz Spain
      • Best Cities to Visit in Portugal >
        • 8 Interesting Neighbourhoods of Lisbon
        • Top 11 Points of Interest in Porto Portugal
        • Elvas: Portugal's Garrison Town
        • Bussaco: A Palace and a Historic Battle
        • Obidos: Treasure of the Queens
        • The Shrine of Fatima
        • Convent of Christ and Castle of the Templars in Tomar, Portugal
      • 10 Best Places to Visit in Croatia >
        • 10 Top Things to Do in Dubrovnik
        • The Palace of Diocletian in Split
        • Salona: The Ancient Capital of Dalmatia
        • 8 Best Places to Visit in Istria, Croatia
      • Fun Things to Do in a Day in Kotor Montenegro
      • Why is Italy a Premier Destination? >
        • Cool Things to Do in Venice
        • Erice, Sicily
        • Assissi: A Visit to the Franciscan Roots
        • The Ancient Roman Port of Ostia Antica
        • Pompeii: A World Frozen in Time
      • Perouges: The Medieval Village in France
      • Avenches: The Ancient Roman Capital in Switzerland
      • Gruyere: A Postcard Pretty Medieval Town in Switzerland
    • South Africa >
      • Franschhoek: The French Corner in South Africa
      • Cape Agulhas: The Southernmost Point of Africa
      • Tulbagh: A Less Obvious Destination in the Western Cape
      • The Penguins of Boulder Beach
      • Mandela, Yet Another Reason to Visit South Africa
      • The Swallow: A Tale of the Great Trek
    • Canada >
      • A Fall Visit to the McMichael Museum
      • Port Carling: The Hub of Muskoka
      • Muskoka: Quintessentially Canadian
      • Autumn in Muskoka
      • The Historic Town of Huntsville Ontario
      • Georgian Bay: Paradise of 30,000 Islands
    • South Asia >
      • Sri Lanka: Garden of the Gods
      • Boudanath
      • Thangka Painting
      • The Durbar Square of Kathmandu
    • Other Destinations >
      • Top Holiday Destinations for the New Year >
        • San Xavier del Bac Mission
        • St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery
      • Istanbul >
        • The Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia
        • Ephesus: The Biblical City of the Aegean
      • The Bund in Shanghai
      • A Fascinating Trip to A Berber Village
  • Global Travel
    • 7 Tips to Make Your Travel More Fun >
      • 8 Ways to Prepare for Airline Travel
      • 5 Tips for a Most Satisfying Travel
      • 10 Great Ways to Upgrade Bucket List Tourism into Technicolor Memories
      • 7 Tips for Foodie Travel
      • 11 Reasons Why You Don't Wait Till You Retire to Travel
      • When A Guided Vacation is Better
      • 15 Tips to Whisk Through Airport Security
      • Travel As A Marinade, Not A Spritzer
      • 8 Tips on How to Make Group Travel Fun
      • 7 Ways to Restore Your Well Being After a Long Flight
      • How to Choose Travel Insurance
      • Road Travel: Top 5 Ways to Engage Kids
      • Solo Travel – Is it For You?
      • Travel: A Unique Experience in Life
      • 10 Best Insights into Travel
      • Stories of Bargaining in Asia
    • What You Bring to Your Travel
    • Rural Tourism and Why You Need to Try It >
      • Top Possibilities of Rural Tourism
      • 7 Benefits of Rural Tourism
    • The Charm of Alleyways
    • 5 Effective Steps to Travel Packing
  • Global Careers
    • The Obsession with Success
    • Fun in Leadership
    • Do You Have a Blueprint for Success? >
      • 8 Steps to Becoming More Persuasive
      • Why Making Conscious Decisions is Key to Personal Development
      • 7 Key Steps to Personal Success
      • 7 Sure Steps to a Successful Career
      • 9 Sure Steps to Your Dream Job
      • What to Do When You Are in a Wrong Career
      • 7 Steps to Build Your Cope with Change Muscles
      • 10 Winning Attitudes for a Successful Career Kick-Start
      • 6 Ways to Make Risk Taking Easier
      • The First Thing You Do When You Find Yourself in a Hole
      • Key Steps to Becoming a Good Mentor
      • 5 Key Steps to Top Performance
      • 7 Sure Steps to Coaching Success
      • 7 Key Benefits of Finding a Career Coach
      • 13 Tips for Effective Training
    • Ever Dreamed of Working in Other Countries? >
      • 10 Steps to a Successful International Assignment
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      • 8 Reasons Why International Consultants Fail
      • 10 Challenges to Working Internationally
      • 7 Benefits of Working Internationally
      • 9 Steps to International Consulting Success
    • 11 Steps Towards Successfully Working for Yourself >
      • Why I Work for Myself and Why You Can Too
      • Self Employment: It Ain’t All Roses
    • Global Business >
      • Expanding Your Business into the Global Market
      • Positioning Your Business in the Global Market
      • The Global Market Has Changed-Have You? >
        • Asia Shaping the World Economy
        • Mr. Ka is Asia
        • Tips to Doing Business in Myanmar
        • Entrepreneurship in Asia
      • 9 Steps to Success in the Global Market
      • Bureaucracies: Worldwide Garrottes?
      • Mobile: Today's Global Platform
      • 7 Key Steps to Grow your Small Business >
        • Adding Value in Your Business: The In-Between Step
        • 5 Winning Characteristics of Employees You Keep in your Small Business
        • 8 Steps to Build a Stronger Customer Base
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    • How Do We Expand our Global Circles and Make them More Inclusive?
    • Too Much Information
    • 9 Ways of Enjoying Being Offline
    • Healthy Eating Is Meant to Be Fun >
      • 7 Simple Steps to Limit Food Waste
      • Why Eat Bitter Melon
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