Leaving the city behind, one can make their way north ofLisbon behind them. 15 minutes into your journey will see you pass thewindmills placed upon the hills at Malveira, and fill you with a sense ofcomplete relaxation as you breeze along the excellent roadways that windthrough the Portuguese countryside. At this point, your only focus will be theultimate destination in mind; Óbidos.
The name Óbidos derives from the Latin term oppidum, meaningcitadel, or fortified city. Roman occupation of the area was confirmed byarchaeological excavations, revealing the existence of a Roman city civitasnear the hilltop on which the village and castle were established.
In 1210, King Afonso II handed over the charge of thisvillage to Queen Urraca. Since then, Óbidos has often been patronised by theQueens of Portugal, giving rise to its informal title as Vila das Rainhas (Townof the Queens). The title, ‘Vila das Rainhas’ still serves as a popular brandof Ginja, a cherry liqueur that the region is renowned for.
The Church of Santa Maria in Óbidos was the venue for thewedding of King Afonso V to his cousin Princess Isabella of Coimbra, in 1441,when they were both still children aged 9 and 10, respectively. In retrospect,one can understand why such a spot may have been chosen.
Óbidos is a village approximately 73 kilometres away fromLisbon. It is a pleasant one and a half hour ride that is picturesque if oneenjoys the country side. The town isreasonably small and you can see it all in approximately half a day, though anovernight trip is advised as it turns spectacularly scenic after sunset, withlittle lamps adorning the walls of houses on either side of the littlecobblestone streets. There is plenty of browsing possible in the local shopsfor ceramic and curio lovers. For those that are fans of water-colourpaintings, there are a series of variants available with depictions of thesurroundings.
All in all, it is an excellent trip to undertake, if inLisbon, and definitely a vacation hot spot for true romantics who want to makethe most of a cozy getaway.
