A Day In Obidos, Portugal

I have fancied playing in the UEFA Champions League. I have fancied working in a movie with Christopher Nolan. I have fancied dating Emma Watson and I have also fancied riding a dragon. Clearly I have dreams – either that or I suffer from delusions of grandeur. But why am I spilling the beans in public? Well, because one of my delusional dreams has come true! No, I am not dating Ms. Watson; neither have I received a call from Christopher Nolan and with the running capability of an average Indian, I am not about to be called for UEFA Champions League in a million years. The dream that came true this November was the dream of visiting the beautiful country of Portugal, the country of my favorite football player - Luis Figo. This blog is about a day in Obidos, Portugal. I visited three places in Portugal - Lisbon, Almada and Obidos. I will not tell you which one was my favourite but I will tell you about Obidos - the charming little town that is famous throughout the world for its quaint beauty and the formidable Obidos Castle. Though I only had a day and a half to explore the cobblestoned streets of Obidos, here are some of the attractions that left me in awe…

Castelo – Obidos’ claim to fame is its centuries’ old and absolutely stunning castle. Almost a thousand years old, the castle still stands as formidable as it might have been when it was built. Going through the entire castle would have taken me more than a day. So, I made a compromise and covered about half of the castle. The castle suffered severe damage in the 1755 earthquake, the marks of which can yet be seen in the castle despite the excellent renovation work.  The castle is aptly termed as one of the greatest medieval castles of Portugal with its gates, towers and battlements. The entrance to the town of Obidos is the castle’s much photographed gate called the Porta da Vila. Some part of the castle has now been converted into a deluxe pousada (inn).

Igreja de Santa Maria – Obidos’ ornate main church, Igreja de Santa Maria, stands on the foundations of a Visigothic temple. This was pointed out by the guide and he also told me that the Visigothic temple was then converted into a mosque by the Moors. The inside of the church is riveting, to say the least. I could only stand there mesmerised by the beautifully painted ceilings and the walls that were adorned by white and blue hand painted tiles. On the right of the altar, there were several beautiful paintings. I was told by a local that they were painted by renowned 17^th century painter Josefa de Óbidos.  On the left of the altar, I was informed, is a 16^th century renaissance tomb, which in all probability was craved by French sculptor Nicolas Chanterène.

Municipal Museum of Obidos or Museu Municipal – The Municipal Museum of Obidos, as I found out, is located just next to the Santa Maria Church. After walking in to the museum, I discovered the world of exquisite art. The museum houses a small collection of sculptures and paintings that cover several centuries. I can’t say that I have the eye of a connoisseur when it comes to appreciating art but I can definitely say that I have a discerning eye for masterpieces. The masterpiece that this museum houses is a portrait by Josefa de Óbidos.

Cave Do Vale – Well, after satiating the appetite for history and art, it was time to satiate the cravings for a glass or two of good wine amidst the hospitality of the Portuguese. I headed out to one of the medieval themed bars in Obidos called Cave Do Vale. It’s a simple but beautiful house in Obidos. I had to descend to the basement, which consisted of a few small rooms where patrons sit and have a few drinks.

When the night came calling, I uttered my goodbyes and headed out to my hotel. The unhurried walk to the hotel was something that I would remember for a long time as I saw the charming town of Obidos illuminated in the night lights.