Alcobaça & Óbidos: Self Guided Tour

The DIY Tour was designed especially for those seeking total autonomy as they set about discovering our wonderful Portugal. This interactive guide will prove to be your perfect travelling companion enabling you to enjoy your chosen destination very much at your own pace. The visit begins in Lisbon, from where we head towards Alcobaça, a city home to the Monastery of Alcobaça, also known as the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1989. The construction of the Monastery began in 1178, by order of King D. Afonso Henriques, and the monks occupies it in 1223. It is one of the largest and best-preerved complexes of the Cistercian Order. King D. Pedro chose the church of the monastery as the burial site for himself and his beloved, Inês de Castro, whose impressive tombs can be visited. We will then proceed to the village of Óbidos, enjoying some of the most beautiful landscapes in western Portugal. In Óbidos, accompanied by an audioguide that will provide detailed information about each point of interest, visitors can explore the churches, see the walls and the castle, or stroll through the streets lined with colorful houses adorned with flowers. The village of Óbidos was probably founded by the Celts in 308 BC. Recent studies have led experts to believe that Óbidos was part of the anciente Roman city of Eburobrittium. The village was later occupied by the barbarians and then by the Moors. The first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, conquered this village from the Moors. In the 18th century, Óbidos still held its noble status as a place for the royal summer holidays. King John V stayed in Óbidos for eight years on the advice of his doctors to go bathing in Caldas da Rainha to treat his arthritis and obesity. Places of interest in Óbidos: 1 - Town Gate or Our Lady of Sorrow, patron saint of Óbidos; 2 – St. Peter’s Church, has a medieval foundation and still has its original portal. It was renovated in the second half of the 16th century. 3 – Pousada of Óbidos, the first in Portugal to be built from an historical building. It is located inside what was once the Paço do Alcaide. 4 – St. James Church Over the centuries, during their stays in Óbidos, the royal family attended the St. James Church, founded by king Sancho in 1186. 5 – St. Mary’s Church of Óbidos Legend has it that St. Mary’s Church of Óbidos is located in the exact same place as the old Visigoth temple used to be. The temple was later turned into a mosque. When the Christian conquest by Alphonse I took place in 1148, it became a catholic church. This interactive guide, extremely easy and intuitive to use, is provided along with the necessary equipment at the beginning of your DIY Tour. A process of discovery at your own pace, taking the time you want and in accordance with your own interests ensuring you truly enjoy that which most brings you pleasure.