Óbidos is an enchanting medieval castle and village on top of a hill. Nazaré, a coastal town famous for its fish, beaches and giant waves. Fátima, ‘Altar of the World’, has one of the most important catholic sanctuaries. Alcobaça is a symbol of the tenacity and ingenuity of the Cister monks, as well as to the greatest love story in Portugal. And Batalha, with its monastery, serves as memory to one of the biggest portuguese military victories.

‘House of the Queens’ since the early 13th century, being offered to several wives of the portuguese kings, Óbidos was developed throughout the centuries with the help and taste of the queens. It still holds the image of a very romantic destination. The ‘Village Gate’, with a panel of famous Portuguese blue tiles, ‘azulejos’; the narrow alleys inside the walls of the castle, with flowers covering the windows, door arches or balconies; and the many wonderful viewpoints to the village and the hills are the biggest highlights, as well as a famous traditional liqueur, ginja.

Driving near the Coast we reach Nazaré, a fishing town surrounding the beach. It’s famous for the seven skirts the local women wear at the same time; the restaurants with some of the best seafood of Portugal; and the cable-car to the higher area, Sítio, where one can visit a famous sanctuary and also get the best views of the bay. Nazaré got worldwide recognition in the last decade because of the massive waves, some over 30 meters, surfed on the north side, a short walk or drive down from the Sanctuary of our Lady of Nazareth.

In this path of courage, love and faith, the mountain roads lead to one of the most important catholic sanctuaries in the world, Fátima. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima, who is believed to have appeared to three very young shepherds a hundred years ago, in 1917. The sanctuary is visited by millions of pilgrims every year, from all over the world, mainly in the day 13th of the six months between May and October. In these days the enormous plaza between the two basilicas is covered by the faithful. Those who aren’t catholic or don’t believe in God, normally say they still feel very appeased and relaxed when visiting the sanctuary.

A few kms inland, Alcobaça is an ancient town that grew around one of the most important monasteries in Portugal. The Cister monks managed an enormous estate, dried swamps to gain fertile lands for settlers, and also launched some of the first free schools in Europe. Even more famous than the Abbey are the tombs of several kings and noblemen that can be seen there. Especially D. Pedro and D. Inês, facing each other inside the church, waiting to reunite. They represent the tragic but also greatest love story in portuguese history. And Batalha, a few kms away, is another symbol of resistance and courage. After one of the greatest battles in Portugal, in 1385, the king D. João I ordered the construction of a monastery to thank the Virgin Mary for winning against the enemies of the spanish kingdoms, who had a far bigger army. The Monastery of Batalha is one of the great examples of late gothic.

This full-day tour is one of the more enriching for those who want to travel outside of Lisbon, but to make all the stops and visit all the cities and points of interest one cannot take too much time in all of them. The guide knows the schedule and the area well, and will warn if it’s impossible to stop or even pass some of the places. We recommend a planning discussion when the tour starts in the morning, as the vehicle exits Lisbon.