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 Óbidos Accommodation
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Óbidos Accommodation - Pousadas
Pousada Castelo do Óbidos
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Campo Real Golf Course
Bom Sucesso Golf Course
Praia Del Rey Golf Course
Royal Obidos Golf Course
West Cliffs Golf Course
Óbidos Wines
Estremadura
Óbidos - History
In 1148 Dom Afonso Henriques recaptured the town from the Moors.
Later in 1282, the King of Portugal Dom Dinis made a wedding present
of the town Óbidos to his new wife Dona Isabel. This Queen
was later to become the famous subject of the “miracle of the roses”. At
that time the town was a important trading port but in the 16th Century the
river access silted up and destroyed its previous trade. In the main church
within its walls the later to be King, Dom Afonso V at the tender
age of ten was married his young cousin Dona Isabel who at the time
was also only eight years old. Recently discovered at approximately one
kilometre to the northeast of the town is the ruins of a sizable Roman town
originally believed to be called Beleza Moreira. (Visit - Portugal History)
Óbidos - Description
To the visitor this charming small and fortified town is suggestive of a
medieval film set. It has been carefully preserved and its inhabitants take
careful pride in maintaining the architectural image of days gone by.
Impressive 18th Century blue tiles line the walls within the southern gate
that is appropriately known as Porta da Vila and acts as the main
entrance. Besides its historic importance, the Igreja de Santa Maria
is also the resting-place of the Count of Dijon, D. João de Noronha
and his wife D. Isabel de Sousa whose tombs were finely sculpted c.
1525 by Nicolau Chanterenne.
On the opposite side of the square to the church is a Manueline pillory
adorned with a fishing net that symbolizes the efforts of the local
fishermen who unfortunately failed to save the Queen’s son from drowning.
The ancient town walls have been restored over the centuries and the castle
itself has been carefully turned into a charming Pousada. The town was also
the permanent home of a competent lady painter of the 17th Century.
Josefa de Óbidos as she is commonly known was born in Seville
but her Portuguese father who was also a painter brought her back to
Óbidos at the age of six where she was to remain for the rest of her
life. Not withstanding the high quality of her work, the fact that she as
a woman of that time and was given public commissions and accepted in
society makes Josefa de Óbidos an exceptional artist in history. The
small museum alongside the main church has a just a few of her little
remaining works.
Reasonably close to the town is the Santuário do Senhor da Pedra
that was built as from 1740. This architectural hexagonal shaped church
stands quite alone on the landscape and was sadly only completed as a
building in this century.
Óbidos - Nearby Locations
To the north is the Spa town of Caldas da Rainha that is renown for
for its Spa Hospital and local ceramic industry that can be seen in the
Museu de Cerâmica. Within this town is also the Museu de José
Malhoa, a prominent artist who lived from 1855 until 1933. The museum
not only exhibits a substantial collection of this artist’s works, it also
has on show many of the works created by the amusing ceramist and
caricaturist of the same period, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro.
To the west of Óbidos is the small fishing town of Peniche
that besides its excellent fish restaurants is also know for the
Fortaleza, an uncomfortable 16th Century fort that was used as a
prison for political prisoners during the dictatorship of Salazar. A local
museum exists to tell the stories including the famous escape of Álvaro
Cunhal, the notable leader of the Communist Party. From this town
there is a ferry that takes visitors to the Berlenga Islands, a
voyage of about one-hour and about 11 kms from the mainland. These are
rocky virtually uninhabited Islands that are reserved for bird life. On
the largest of the Islands is a 17th Century Fort that has been converted
into an unpretentious Hostel. From here small boats can be obtained to
explore the coves, reefs and grottoes. A 70-metre tunnel opening
approaches the spectacular Covo do Sonho on the Island of Furado
Grande into a cove lined by red granite cliffs.
Óbidos Weather (detailed)
Detailed Óbidos weather conditions
Detailed Peniche weather conditions
Óbidos Photos
View of Óbidos
· Town Pillory
· Óbidos Church
· Óbidos House
· Óbidos Castle Walls
· Óbidos Street
· Óbidos Public Fountain
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Óbidos Events |
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| Festa da Nossa Senhora da Graça |
2nd February |
| Town Holiday |
11th January |
| Festa de Santa Cruz |
3rd May |
| Festival Sabores do Mar (Peniche) |
September |
| Festa de Santa Iría |
20th October
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Costa Prata Towns
Alcobaça
· Aveiro
· Batalha
· Caldas da Rainha
· Coimbra
· Fátima
· Leiria
· Tomar
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Useful Óbidos Telephone Numbers
2510
