Batalha. Alcobaça. Óbidos. Nazaré

In the village of Batalha you will find one of the most beautiful Portuguese monuments - the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória.

This Monastery is also popularly known as Monastery of Batalha, alluding to the decisive Battle of Aljubarrota, between the Kingdom of Portugal and Castile - 1385 - from which Portugal emerged victorious and with a consolidated independence from Spain of nowadays. 

This magnificent building presents itself as an authentic passport for time travel: from the Middle Ages, to the  Age of Discoveries. Rest assured that this masterpiece of Gothic and stone lacy, Manueline - rehearsed in this place, for the first time, in Portugal, will surprise you, for sure. 

Classified by UNESCO in 1983.

Óbidos is a  medieval, romantic village that developed between walls. 

Narrow streets and sidewalks; the white houses with blue or yellow stripes; geraniums and bougainvilleas... all this add color and charm to the storefronts, restaurants, cafes and terraces. 

Though is very well known as Queen's Village or Literary Village the famous Main Gate of the Walls and no less famous cherry - based liquor Ginjinha - served in a chocolate cup - are the responsible ones to spread photos and the word about this village all over the world. 

We also find in the hilltop the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré - from 17th century - where we have a painted wooden black Virgin statue - and the Ermida da Memória [a Memorial Chapel] built in 14th century where - according to a local legend this statue was found underneath and venerated by pilgrims, since then, through times. 

It's it believed that this statue was brought here from Mérida, in Spain, in 8th century.