American magazine Architectural Digest has included the picturesque town of Óbidos on its list of 11 “must-see walled cities”.
“Some of the world’s most beautiful buildings take a little work to find. Walled cities helped protect medieval people from foreign invaders but today they can hold a treasure trove of architectural masterpieces,” reads the introduction.
Óbidos, in central Portugal in the district of Leiria, is placed fourth on the list and praised for its “whitewashed houses that line crooked cobblestone streets, where traditional restaurants serve octopus salad and the Portuguese drink ginjinha”.
The magazine highlights “the historic heart of the city” in its 12th-century castle, “which was converted into a medieval-inspired boutique hotel in the 1950s”.
It recommends visits during the summer, when “leafy church squares abloom with wisteria and geraniums form the perfect backdrop to the ancient architecture”.
The list of “must-see walled cities” also includes Dubrovnik (Croatia), Avila (Spain), Carcassonne (France), Jerusalem (Israel), Essaouira (Morocco) Pingyao (China), Itchan Kala (Uzbekistan), Jaisalmer (India), Monteriggioni (Italy) and Bourtange (the Netherlands).
