Obidos was the traditional
present of the king of Portugal to his wife, a tradition which commenced
in 1282 when Dom Dinis gave the town to his wife Dona Isabel.
In those days, the sea
came up to the walls of the castle but by the15th century the sea had retreated
and the land was cultivated.
This slow process can still
be seen by driving the six kilometers to Foz de Arelho which is between
the remains of Obidos lagoon and the presentAtlantic coast with its long
sandy beaches.
The town has changed little
over the years and still has narrow cobbled streets and white washed houses
with blue and yellow edges and many flowering plants.
The town is surrounded by
old walls which can be 'interesting' to walkaround. Please note that care
is needed - an acquaintance of the writer needed the assistance of the
fire brigade to get down again! Within these centuries old walls,
is the castle which has been converted to make one of the country's finest
hotels - and one of the first to become a Pousada.
The Pousada only has six
bedrooms and three suites all with private bathrooms. All rooms have en-suite
bathrooms and air conditioning. The Pousada does not have a swimming pool.
The restaurant specialises in regional dishes and in the nearby fishing
port of Peniche there are many restaurants which barbecue the local fish.
Visitors will enjoy walking
in the old town with its village museum, local churches and old pillory.
A short distance outside
the town is a very large church which was never used and is now falling
into decay. In the buildings surrounding this church are some restaurants
which provide good lunches. |
Pousada de Obidos
Obidos 
