Places to Visit
Obidos
Perched on a hill rising out of an agricultural plain, Óbidos is one of Portugal’s picturesque gems. From its lofty centre one gazes upon expanses of vineyards speckled with whirling windmills and terracotta-roofed homesteads. Nearer, narrow cobbled streets, lined typically with whitewashed, bourgainvillaea-draped houses, wind up to the walled interior; the name Óbidos stems from the Latin for citadel.
First remarked upon for its beauty by the 13th century Queen Isabel de Aragon, Óbidos was presented to her as a gift by her romantically inclined husband King Dinis and thenceforth it has been offered by princes to their brides.
The Manueline style Obidos castle crowns the town and now houses guests in its luxurious rooms. In past times, however, this was a formidable medieval fortification. It was won back from the Moors in 1148 by the king and his men, apparently disguised as cherry trees, and lovingly restored after extensive damage in the 1755 earthquake. Equally interesting history is attached to the renaissance church, the Igreja de Santa Maria, where Prince Afonso V married his cousin aged ten and eight respectively. Here 17th century tiles adorn the walls which house a handsome example of renaissance tombs and paintings by the artist Josefa d’Óbidos.
The ramparts are traversed through an ornately tiled gateway and few vehicles bother negotiating the ancient streets, making it ideal for mooching around the higgledy piggledy houses and walkways, which in spring come alive with a cascading array of brightly coloured flowers. Local crafts, delicacies and liqueurs abound in the traditional shops which line the main street, including the famed local tipple Ginginha, a sweet brandy liqueur made with local cherries.
Alcobaca
Alcobaça is known for its principal attraction, the Abbey of Santa Maria. Founded in 1153 to commemorate a victory against the Moors, it was finally completed in 1223. It is now Portugal's largest church, and one of its outstanding architectural monuments.
It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and its excellent state of preservation makes it the finest example of Cistercian architecture in Europe (it is also the continent's largest building of the Cistercian order).
Basically Gothic in structure, it contains five cloisters, seven dormitories, a library, and a huge kitchen.
Nazare
Nazare was once a picturesque seaside village which has today grown into a busy seaside resort. The town itself was first established up on the cliffs at Sitio above today's resort which would have been underwater. You can take the funicular up the 110 metre rock face (7.15 am-2 am daily) for the viewpoint at the top, Promontorio do Sitio, where it is said that Dom Fuas Roupinho, when out hunting, was led to the cliff by a vision of Nossa Senhora da Nazare. This is said to have led to the original settlement of Nazare and the church which took the place of the hermitage that was established was thus named.
Despite its popular seaside status there are still elements of traditional ways of life with the brightly painted fishing boats moored at the beach and you'll see women in traditional black dress under which are the "Seven Skirts of Nazare", seven layers of brightly coloured petticoats. They are said to represent the days of the week or the colours of the rainbow but seems to have arisen from fishermen's wives trying to keep themselves warm in winter. These days the women are often busy mending nets or hawking fruit and nuts on the beach to the visitors. Although there has been more modern development of the resort for accommodation, the traditional narrow streets of the fishing area still remain giving the visitor an idea of how the picturesque resort once looked. This area is now dominated by restaurants and cafes.
Caldas da Rainha
Has a market every day in the central square selling fruit, vegetables, nuts, cheese, flowers, sausages and cakes. It's all fresh, local produce. The side streets are packed with small shops selling all the things that have disappeared from the High Streets of many British and European towns. Caldas is excellent for clothes shopping with branches of Mango and Etxart & Panno and other well-known retailers. There are dozens of shoe, sports, lingerie, kids, casual and perfume shops and an excellent cinema with Hollywood movies in English released at the same time as London.
Peniche
Wonderful beaches. It is very much an old-style fishing town. Every evening the fishing boats leave harbour and return to port during the early morning with their catches of Sea Bream, Sole, Halibut and of course, sardines. The catches are on sale that day in the big covered market in the centre of town and in the many fish restaurants throughout the town.
Fatima
This place of religious worship is about 60 Kms. north and is reputably named after an Arab girl captured by a Christian and brought back to live in the area. Now a point of pilgrimage for the Roman Catholic religion due to the vision of the Virgin Mary by three young children in 1917 whilst tending their flock. Today, on both the 13th of May and the 13th of October each year, thousands of pilgrims make their way from all over the world to celebrate these occasions. It was reported that three messages were given to the eldest, 10 year old Lúcia. Two of these messages were divulged and proved to be correct. The third has never been divulged by the Catholic Church and it is said to foretell a forthcoming disaster. All the children are deceased with Lúcia, who became a nun, living until she was in 90s. The Basilica that has been constructed has an apron twice the size of St. Peter’s square in Rome to provide sufficient space for the gathering of pilgrims. The ceremony of mid-night mass that takes place yearly on these two days is immensely moving. The night is filled with thousands of twinkling candles, silent people breaking into chant at chosen moments, and the electric atmosphere created by the respectful reference of the multitude. There is close by an Ethnological Museum devoted to the event.
Sintra
Considered not only one of the wonders of Portugal but indeed of Europe, Sintra is truly a gem. Once the royal town of the country, it now deservedly holds UNESCO world heritage status and attracts hordes of visitors throughout the year. Its unusual geography, nestled in a stretch of hills surrounded on all sides by plain, estuary or ocean, and its subsequent climate, which is perhaps more typical of Northern Europe, create a verdant paradise where ornate palaces lie hidden behind tall trees and walled gardens, history abounds and romantics feel that they have at last found their nirvana.
Hans Christian Anderson found inspiration here, describing Sintra as the "most beautiful place in Portugal" and Lord Byron during his time here christened it his "glorious Eden". However, perhaps the most distinguished homage is paid by Portugal's national poet, Luís de Camões, in his epic poem Os Lusíadas
Wider Afield
Lisbon
Visit the Oceanarium, the Zoo, the Pavilion of Knowledge
For further information on tourism in Portugal try
http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/index.html
or
For the West Portugal Tourist Board
http://www.rt-oeste.pt/custompages/showpage.aspx?pageid=10a9f954-ff21-4d16-8cc5-b755605309d1&m=a82