In this article we’ll explore what this region has to offer, so follow along for tips that will increase your curiosity about this destination.

But where is the Silver Coast Portugal?

Silver Coast lies between three districts: Lisbon, Santarém and Leira, straddling both the Atlantic coastline and the interior of the country. As well as stunning landscapes and charming towns and villages, the region is close to the capital Lisbon.

Destinations in focus in the Silver Coast Portugal

Óbidos the most charming medieval town in Portugal

This town is one of the most picturesque in the country, surrounded in its entirety by medieval walls (well preserved), offering visitors narrow streets full of flowers and whitewashed houses creating a charming atmosphere.

These are some of the points not to be missed during a visit to the town:

• Town main entrance and its XVII/XVIII-century tiles
• Church of Santa Maria de Óbidos
• Santiago bookstore (ancient royal chapel)
• VIII century Moorish castle

Peniche, the surfers “Meca”

This is probably the best-known surfing destination in Portugal and abroad. This peninsula is home to some of the best waves in the world. Supertubos beach and Baleal are the beaches of choice for practicing this sport. You can always combine sport with the rich gastronomy associated with fresh fish.

Not to be missed in Peniche:

• Supertubos beach
• Baleal beach
• Carvoeiro cape
• Museum of Independence

Nazaré, the land of Giant Waves and fishing traditions

Yes, if Peniche is known for being the “Mecca” of surfers, Nazaré is no exception and in the last 15 years has become known as the land of giant waves. Today the town attracts professional surfers from all over the world who want to surf what are considered to be the biggest waves in the world.

Then, of course, there’s so much more! Highlights include the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and the coastline, as well as the traditions associated with its people, such as the drying of the fish or where the oldest women still wear seven skirts. Caldeirada de Peixe (fish stew) or Arroz de Marisco (seafood rice) are two gastronomic dishes to try.

What to visit if you’re in Nazaré:

• São Miguel Arcanjo fortress
• Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré
• Funicular

Caldas da Rainha and its centuries-old thermal baths

This city planted between hills and beaches is known for its thermal baths, where its thermal hospital is considered the oldest in the world. But not only that, the city is also known for its rurality, where the “Praça da Fruta” is the only traditional open-air market open every day of the year. Here you can find fresh fruit and vegetables as well as a variety of local cheeses.

Off the beaten tourist track, this is the place to visit:

• Thermal Hospital
• Street market
• D. Carlos I
• José Malhoa Museum

Alcobaça the city of love

Alcobaça is known for its monastery and for the love story of King Pedro I and Queen Inês de Castro. But there’s more to discover in the city. In association with the monastery of Santa Maria, you can try the convent sweets, including the cornucopia.

Not to be missed in Alcobaça:

• Santa Maria monastery (UNESCO heritage)
• Wine museum
• Conventual pastry

Silver Coast Portugal: Culture and traditions

The Silver Coast Portugal is rich in cultural traditions, crafts and festivities, some of which are centuries old. These include:

• Ginja de Óbidos: A true nectar of the gods that today is drunk in a glass of chocolate.
• Bordalo Pinheiro: The master who revolutionized ceramics and the dynamics of the city of Caldas da Rainha.
• Dried fish: In Nazaré there is an open-air museum showing how this activity is carried out.
• International Chocolate Festival: This is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals in the country and brings even more magic to the surroundings of Óbidos castle.

Gastronomy in the Silver Coast Portugal region

The Silver Coast is known as the “breadbasket” of the capital. Fresh ingredients abound, transforming the quality of any dish.

• Fish stew: in this stew, the star of the dish is the fresh fish
• Bacalhau à lagareiro: as it should be, here too we find the king of the Portuguese table (codfish)
• Pão de Ló de Alfeizerão: This delicacy of the gods is one of the most popular conventual pastries in Portugal (similar as a Sponge cake).

When is the best time to visit the Silver Coast Portugal?

• Summer: this is the ideal time to visit the region’s long sandy beaches and also to enjoy festivals such as the Óbidos Medieval Market.
• Autumn: The mild temperatures will allow you to visit the historic towns, or go birdwatching in the Óbidos lagoon.
• Winter: Ideal for watching the giant waves of Nazaré
• Spring: If you like hiking or walking outdoors, this is the ideal time to visit the region.

Events not to be missed in the Silver Coast Portugal

Let’s make a list of events and activities that you’ll want to visit in the Western region:

• Medieval Market: In the summer this is probably the most popular event. It takes place during July and August in the town of Óbidos
• Caldas Late Night: This is an art festival held by university students at Caldas da Rainha (late May)
• International Exhibition of Alcobaça Conventual Sweets & Liqueurs: takes place during the month of November
• World Surf League: Every March at the Supertubos beach in Peniche

Conclusion

In conclusion, this region north of Lisbon is the perfect example of how you can mix history, culture and nature in your trip, and is ideal for planning a shorter or longer visit if you have the time.

Either way, we’re here waiting to show you the best we have to offer. Get to know more about the Silver Coast destinations.

Get local with a local!

The post The Silver Coast Portugal: A guide to explore this fascinating region appeared first on Silver Coast Travelling.

The town lies between the sea and the hills of the West, just an hour away from Lisbon by car and bus.

History of Óbidos

Roman origins and influence

The occupation of the territory where the town of Óbidos is located today dates back to prehistoric times, and it is believed that the Celts were here between the second and third centuries BC. However, it was the Romans who had the greatest influence, creating roads to facilitate trade and the defense of the territory.

It was also the Romans who brought the famous Óbidos fruit to Portugal: the sour cherry!

The Muslims and the Christian Reconquest

The Muslims were in Óbidos for five hundred years. They turned the town into a stronghold. The church of Santa Maria de Óbidos, for example, is thought to have been a mosque before being baptized by the first Portuguese king, Afonso Henriques. Óbidos was conquered by the Portuguese a year after the conquest of the castle of Lisbon, in 1148.

Vila das Rainhas: A gift from King Dinis to Queen Santa Isabel

The fact that Óbidos is so well preserved to this day owes a lot to the legacy that the Portuguese queens left here.

It all began in the 13th century when King Dinis gave his wife Queen Isabel the castle and lands of Óbidos. And with this gesture a tradition began in which kings offered the town and its lands to their queens as a dowry, and today the town is known as “Óbidos the town of queens”.

The recent past and the present

The twentieth century brought major changes to the town of Óbidos. Major reconstructions were carried out within the town. One of these was the Moorish castle, which was transformed into a Pousada. This hotel model was implemented in Portugal during the 1940s and 1950s by the Estado Novo, and the Óbidos castle is the first example of all.

What to do in Óbidos

Strolling through its narrow, medieval streets

This is a unique experience because Óbidos is a beautiful picturesque town, with its whitewashed houses and blue, yellow or red stripes. There are fantastic corners that will add even more life to your Instagram. Rua Direita (the main and most popular street) has craft stores and cafés where you can stop (or as many as you like) to shop or have a drink.

Visit the Moorish Castle

This eighth-century castle at the top of the hill is one of the stops you can’t miss. From here you’re sure to get some of the best views of the picturesque village. Today it houses a luxury inn, but you can still visit its courtyard and get an idea of what the castle would have looked like in medieval times.

Taste the Ginjinha from Óbidos

As written before, sour cherries were brought to the region by the Romans from what are now Greece and Turkey, but it wasn’t until the 12th century that the first monks at the Santa Maria de Alcobaça monastery began to develop the fantastic nectar we have today.

Nowadays, the great “new” tradition is to drink your ginjinha in a glass of chocolate, providing a unique experience.

Exploring religious heritage

Church of Santa Maria de Óbidos

This church was baptized in the 12th century by the first Portuguese king D. Afonso Henriques and is today the town’s main church. We highlight the artistic tile work from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, as well as a unique treasure: the five paintings by the Baroque painter Josefa de Óbidos known as the “Holistic Marriage of Saint Catherine”.

Church of São Pedro

This Baroque church was built during the 13th century but was extensively damaged during the 1755 earthquake, which severely damaged the structure of the town of Óbidos.

Highlights of the visit include its imposing Baroque altar and the Portuguese choir on the church’s ceiling.

Sanctuary of Senhor Jesus da Pedra

The main feature of this church is that it is hexagonal. It was built in the eighteenth century and is associated with one of the local legends.

Themed festivals in the town of Óbidos

In recent years, the town of Óbidos has been transformed culturally and is now home to some of the biggest festivals in Portugal.

Christmas Town: It takes place during the winter and has a different theme every year. This is probably the biggest festival of them all and is focused on a younger audience.

Medieval Market: It’s held in the summer and usually takes place in July and August. In addition to the medieval theme, this event is made even more popular by the fact that you can rent medieval costumes. Food, drink and shows are always present.

International Chocolate Festival: As you can already tell, this festival is a favorite with the sweet tooth. Just like Vila Natal, it changes its theme every year. It takes place in March and April.

FOLIO: This international literary festival brings writers from all over the world to Óbidos. It takes place in October and turns Óbidos into a giant bookshop! The town is part of UNESCO’s network of literary towns.

Here are some tips for visiting Óbidos:

When is the best time?

Yes, you can choose any time of year to visit the town of Óbidos! Entrance to the walled town is free and you can stroll through its streets at any time of day, but there are “times” and “seasons” to do so:

• Spring and fall: Pleasant weather and probably fewer tourists
• Summer: Busier, but the Medieval Market festival is definitely worth a visit
• Winter: Perfect time to visit the Christmas Town festival.

How to get to the village

The town of Óbidos is about an hour away from Lisbon.

• By car: The quickest way is to take the A8 highway, taking the exit that says “Óbidos”
• By bus: There are regular bus departures from Lisbon from the Campo Grande terminal
• By train: It is also possible to get to Óbidos by train, but it takes longer and the train station is a long way from the town.

Where to eat

Being an international destination, there are many restaurants with a varied gastronomic offer (sometimes it is more difficult to find options for vegetarians).

Where to stay

For a small town like Óbidos, there are many choices for overnight stays or longer vacations. You can choose from hotels inside and outside the walls, as well as local accommodation.

Conclusion

This is certainly a destination not to be missed in Portugal. If you’re planning your next trip, book a guided tour of Óbidos with us and have a unique experience.

If you want to have a greater experience at the Silver Coast book your Óbidos Tour!

The post Óbidos: the jewel of the crown appeared first on Silver Coast Travelling.