Obidos, Alcobaça, Nazaré, Batalha, Fatima, full day

Travel northwards through the countryside by a landscape of vineyards, cork trees, pine and eucalyptus forests. Beautiful Portuguese typical homes with laid out gardens and an outlook of windmills toping the hills, make us feel we left the big city.

We step back in time when we arrive at the stunning and very ancient walled town called Obidos. A medieval city surrounded by the walls of the castle with picturesque narrow streets, whitewashed houses, iron balconies, flower pots in every window. Inhabited by Romans and Arabs, this was the dwelling place of the Portuguese court for more than 500 years.
We’ll walk through the feudal streets up to the main square close to the highest castle-tower, from where you can enjoy a nice view over the countryside and Obidos. Walking the ramparts, visitors can enjoy views of windmills, vineyards and surrounding farmlands. Time to visit the many handicraft shops and wine taverns with the local liqueur “Ginginha”. Just walk around and let the streets lead you into the steep alleyways with colourfully framed houses.

Drive to Alcobaca and stop in this charming ancient town. You may wish to visit the XII century Alcobaca Monastery. Is one of the few European monuments that has managed to preserve intact an entire group of medieval buildings and its church is the largest early Gothic creation in Portugal. Moreover, it’s the longest church in the country, an amazing construction which resisted time and earthquakes. See in the transept the tombs of king Pedro and Ines, the 2 lovers of the most dramatic Portuguese love story.

Free time for lunch in Nazare, the most colourful of Portuguese fishing villages and the richest fishing region in Portugal. A lot of restaurants serve a great variety of the local speciality, which is of course fish and seafood.
Narrow streets with white-washed houses where one can still see fishermen and their wives wearing traditional clothes, brightly painted boats, with their high pointed prows, and its sizable beach with locals drying the fish on wire racks. This seaside resort is also famous for its beautiful handicraft, made by fishermen’s wives while the husband is at sea, fishing.
After lunch, go up to the cliff called Sitio. Located on a rocky promontory over 100m above the main part of the town, Sitio provides wonderful views over the bay and beach of Nazaré.

Continue to XIV century Batalha Monastery, the supreme achievement of gothic architecture in Portugal. Manueline additions in the 15th and 16th centuries, gave the monastery it's finer detail. Here you can admire the highest church in Portugal.

Finally Fatima - the center of Christian faith and a local of world's pilgrimage. See the chapel on the place where Our Lady appeared to the shepherds, the Basilica and the vast square where people crawl on their knees towards the heart of the shrine, in a impressive sign of faith and devotion, lightning a candle, praying and making a vow to Our Lady or fulfilling a promise. Religious services can be attended. Visit also Aljustrel with the humble houses where the shepherds lived.