Óbidos walking tour (3)

This is the final leg of Óbidos walking tour. 

Here, to enjoy better, you need to know a little bit 

about the Portuguese history. 

17. St. Mary's Church
Igreja de Santa Maria

There used to be a mosque in the Muslim period
and after the first King of Portugal took over Óbidos,
he built a church on this ground.

Igreja de Santa Maria is the place where
King Afonso V and Isabel got married in 1447,
when they were fifteen years old.
As cousins, they had known each other for a long time
and Isabel's father was also the regent for the young king.

She is thought to have been poisoned to death at the age of 23. 

Her father was killed and her brother was exiled.  

So later the queen cleared her father's name and had him reburied. 

It is suspected that her attempts to exonerate her father got 

her enemies to feel threatened so they poisoned her.   

Her last son later becomes King John II. 

Inside the church, 

don't miss the masterpieces of Josefa. 

18. Pillory/Pelourinho de Óbidos
King John II, the last son of Queen Isabel, married Leonard who later founded the city of Caldas da Rainha.
After losing her son, the crown prince, Queen Leonard was in despair.
She spent her time in Óbidos and Caldas da Rainha trying to get over her sorrows.
This Pillory was given to the town by the queen as a present
and its head has net-like decorations alluding to the fisherman's net which wrapped her dead son's body.

However, this pillory was used to punish guilty people,
either by hanging or tying the condemned to humiliate.

The aqueduct you saw before entering the town
provided clean water to this place.

19. Town Portico

It used to be an indoor market.
On the wall I saw the poster below.

This historic town has an escape room?
Well, I wonder what this is about.

20. Igreja de São Tiago
St. James’ Church was built in 1186
and after the 1755 earthquake
it was renovated
and now it's a lovely bookstore.
However, when I went there,
it wasn't open.

So I decided to get back later and forgot.
That's why I couldn't see the inside bookstore.
Next time, I go to this beautiful queen's village,
I am definitely going to check it out.

21. Obodios Castle
Castelo de Óbidos was a fortress and palace.
Queens coming to this village stayed here.
Now it's a Pousada, meaning a historical building
which is now used as a restaurant or hotel.

This Pousada is a hotel 

so you can't see inside the castle if you are not a guest.  

However, its yard is open to the public. 

Feel free to go in. 

22. Old Arms Square
Inside the castle walls, here in Old Arms Square
all the activities happen.
Normally there is no entrance fee.
However, during the festivals
such as Chocolate or Medieval Festival,
the fee will be charged.

캡션 추가

Walking along the narrow road of the castle walls can be exciting.
The height is about 13 meters so be careful.
There are no railings.
Even a warning sign mentions possible incidents.

Outside of the castle walls, I saw the pot cases below.
They are just so adorable, reminding me of this city's medieval history.

Just strolling around and taking pictures of Óbidos,
I felt blessed.

23. Our lady of grace gate
​This gate was built around the 12th or 13th century.
Well, this place is also one of the places
I am planning to go next time I am in Óbidos.

24. Our lord jesus of the stone sanctuary
The Santuário do Senhor Jesus da Pedra is outside of the village.
It took about 10 minutes on foot.
From here, you can enjoy the overview of Óbidos.

The sanctuary has an interesting story to go with.
To mark the way to  Caldas da Rainha,
Queen Leonard put a big wooden cross on the ground.
And then this cross was forgotten for some time.

Later a farm who had suffered due to severe drought found this cross
and prayed for rain.
Then came the rain.
To celebrate this miracle, this church was built
and it was completed in 1737.
Its baroque architecture style with hexaganol construction itself makes it worth the visit.