Coimbra

Today we were back on the move. We loaded up early and started the journey north.

First stop was close to the outskirts of Lisbon in a place called Sintra. This is the site of the summer palace of the King and is a beautiful area. It is up quite high and has thick forest growing around the town so it is quite pleasant on a warm day.

The palace was first started in the 15th century but added to over the years so it is a bit of a mix of styles. The town is overlooked by the moorish castle that is high on the hill behind the town. Our guide took us through the palace and then for a quick walk around the old part of town. Sintra is a holiday destination for people from Lisbon but they usually stay in the newer part of town which is a bit away from the palace.

It was a classic palace with some great features. See photos.

Next stop was the old town of Obidos. This is a classic old hill top town dating back to the early Muslim period with the current town and walls being built in 1400s. It was a really interesting place to walk around as the walls are still intact so you can walk around on the ramparts.

They also have a local specialty a cherry liqueur that is traditionally drunk from chocolate cups. I had to have three of them!

After Óbidos we continued north to the town of Coimbra. This town is on the Mondego River and used to be the capital of Portugal in the 12th and 13th centuries. We were a bit late to have a look around so we are getting a tour tomorrow.

Dinner was at an authentic Portuguese seafood restaurant, really good.Baca lagi