North Portugal Tourism Guide - Obidos & Caldas da Rainha

Lagoa de Obidos and Obidos Tourist Guide

Heading north from Peniche along the coast between Praia D'El Rey and Foz do Arelho is the lagoon, Lagoa de Obidos. This is a popular place for rowing, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing. The Escola De Vela Da Lagoa offers sailing and windsurfing tuition and equipment hire. The lagoon is open to the sea but is a calmer waterbody away from the Atlantic waves making it an ideal location for beginners as well as experienced sailors and windsurfers.

Escola de Vela da Lagoa, Marginal da Lagoa, Foz do Arelho/Nadadouro, Portugal 2500. Tel: 351 262 978 592. Fax: 351 262 978 592.

Obidos Tourist Guide

Obidos itself is known as "The Wedding City". After Dom Dinis gave the town to his soon to be wife Dona Isabel in 1282 after she fell in love with it, it became the customary bridal gift of the kings of Portugal. It is a small town enclosed by medieval walls, with narrow cobbled streets and steep steps leading up to the ramparts that overlook the rural landscape beyond. It is a pretty town attracting many day trippers with whitewashed and brightly painted houses that show up the brightly coloured flowers spilling out of window boxes. The limestone ridge on which Obidos stands was once lapped by the Atlantic Ocean and boats were moored to its walls. Over the years the sea has receded leaving the fertile farmland that now surrounds the town.

The town is full of historic sites and medieval walkways taking you back in time. From the unprotected ramparts you can walk round the old city and view the town and surrounding countryside dotted with vineyards and windmills. The walls date from the Moors but were later restored after damage during the 1755 earthquake. The castle, now a posh pousada, is the most impressive historic building with its many towers and castellated walls. This was Dom Dinis' castle built in the 13th century. The 3 kilometre long aqueduct, west of the main gate, dates from the 16th century. Like all self-respecting Portuguese towns there are several churches worth a look. The main church, Santa Maria, was built on the site of a Visigoth Temple and is mainly Renaissance in style with beautiful 17th century blue and white azulejos and wonderful painted ceiling. It's actually more famous for being the church where 10 year old Afonso V married his cousin aged 8 - shocking! Other churches include Capela de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Igreja da Misericordia and Capela de Sao Martinho.

Other attractions in Obidos are the month long music festival from mid September to mid October where a variety of events are held at different venues in the town including the purpose-built Casa da Musica. There is a medieval fair in July which seems fitting with the castle as a backdrop with hog roasts, falconry exhibitions and tournaments. There is also a Tourist Day in August with the promise of free wine! The Tourist Information office is at Parque de Estacionamento da Porta da Vila - 2510-089 Obidos. Tel: 351 262 959 231. Fax: 351 262 955 501. E-mail: info@rt-oeste.pt.

Josefa de Obidos

Obidos was also home to one of the very few celebrated women artists, Josefa de Obidos (1630-1684). Her real name was Josefa de Ayala Figueira but was given the nickname Josefa de Obidos as she spent most of her life in the town.

She was a painter in the 17th century who had studied at a convent but didn't take her vows. She remained chaste and religious throughout her life and much of her work was richly coloured still lifes and detailed religious work. Her interpretation of religious subjects was unique in that her work ignored established iconography and encapsulated a personal and sympathetic style that evoked a sense of innocence.

Some of her paintings are hung in to the right of the altar in the Igreja de Santa Maria. The town museum, Museu Municipal, houses one of her paintings, Faustino das Neves (1670) as well as other artefacts including an 18th century roulette wheel made out of paper and wood! The Museum is open daily 10 am-12.30 pm and 2-6 pm).

Golf Resorts In Obidos Portugal

Praia D'El Rey Golf and Country Club is a popular golf resort on the coast 15 kilometres from Obidos. The golf course itself is a links course that stretches out to sand dunes on the seaward side overlooking cliffs and pines. It is an award-winning 18 hole championship golf course designed by American architect Cabell B Robinson. When you've finished a round of golf you can relax in the restaurant that has fabulous sea views over the course. You can book week long holidays or short golfing breaks. With it being just 50 minutes from Lisbon airport it's an easily accessible option.

Within the Praia D'El Rey complex there is also a tennis academy with seven courts, volleyball and handball courts, an international FIFA standard football pitch and trails for walking and cycling. The Atlantic Coast Spa at the Marriott Hotel on the complex is open to guests and visitors and offers a full range of holistic treatments and beauty treatments. The beach is just 100 metres from the resort, so you'll something to do to suit all tastes. Check out the booking section for more information on the accommodation.

Caldas da Rainha

As you head for the coast from Obidos you pass through the former royal spa town of Caldas da Rainha. Its history seems to be attributed to Dona Leonor who was much impressed by the strong sulphuric waters of the town and subsequently founded a hospital here. It became the in-place to be in the 19th century when convalescing at spas was en-vogue. There is a daily fruit market in Praca da Republica which leads down to the imposing Hospital Termal Rainha Dona Leonor, the site of the original spa but which is only accessible today to those on doctor s orders. There is a museum here that is open to visitors between Tues-Sun 10 am-12.30 pm and 2-5 pm). Caldas da Rainha. The town is a handy base for visiting the historic sites of Alcobaca, Batalha and Fatima and for exploring the Silver Coast.

The town also houses several good art museums containing the works of the town's famous ceramicists and sculptors. Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro is one of the most prolific potters and ceramicists of the town who took his inspiration from wild flora and fauna. Museums include: Museu de Ceramica, Quinta do Visconde de Santarem, Rua Dr. Ildio Amado, 2500-217 Caldas da Rainha. Tel: 351 262 840 280. Fax: 351 262 840 281. Email: mceramica@ipmuseus.pt. Website link right.

Museu de Jose Malhoa is a huge museum built in 1940 to house the works of Jose Malhoa (1855-1933), a painter born in the town, whose subjects included local scenes and portraits of his townsfolk. Works by other artists are housed here including Sousa Lopes, Silva Porto, Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro and sculptures by Manuel Teixeira. The museum is located at Parque D. Carlos I, 2500 Caldas da Rainha. Tel: 351 262 831 984. Fax: 351 262 843 420. Email: mjm@ipmuseus.pt. Open Tues-Sun 10 am-12.30 pm and 2-5 pm. Website link right.

Museu Sao Rafael (Rua Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro 53) which is part of the original 1884 ceramics factory which is still in production. The museum has displays of the imaginative Pinheiro works (Open 10 am-12.30 pm and 2.30-4.30 pm). Website link right.