Alcobaça and Obidos



The medieval town of Obidos serves as a great base for visits in the area. You can go to Tomar one day to see a bastion of the Knights Templar. Another day travel to Alcobaça about a 40-minute drive away.



The graves of Pedro and Inês rest in the transept of The Monastery of Santa Maria d’Alcobaça. The Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Portugal’s first king, Alfonso I, founded this monastery in the 12^th century as a gift to and home for the Cistercian order of monks. Here is a link to professional photos of the monastery today:  https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/505/gallery/



Several of Pedro’s royal ancestors are buried here. Make your way here to contemplate the graves of Pedro and Inês which are set facing each other as Pedro wished. Why? But of course, at the end of time when the trumpets sound at the second coming of Christ and we all rise from our graves, Pedro and Inês will see each other first.



The tombs are regarded as the best of Gothic sculpture in Portugal. Death in Coimbra gives us insights to Pedro’s commission of the tombs and explains “Até o Fim do Mundo.” When you go in person, you can read the story of this couple in the carvings at the foot of one their sarcophagi.



Obidos is a walled medieval town occupied cheek to jowl with houses, shops, churches, and a marvelous castelo. We booked a room in the original castelo tower in late December. After a supper reminiscent of 14^th century Portugal, we ascended the steps of the tower all the way to the roof where we gazed over the land under a full moon. A totally magical experience. We walked the walls of the castle complex. Below is a view from the wall across to the castelo (now a pousada) where we stayed.