Richard AmmonObidos is an ancient walled Roman town that was taken over by the Visigoths from the north in medieval times. These rulers fell to the Arab Moors in the 9th century and were in turn defeated by a Portuguese army led by the first king of Portugal Alfonso Henriques in 1148. It has been been in Portuguese hands ever since. It is a picturesque walled town capped with a castle (now a hotel). Narrow stone lanes lead to numerous other hotels and restaurants and shops. Outside of town is the famous and ancient Church of Santa Maria, unusual for it five-sided shape. It was the site of the marriage of King Afonso V to his cousin, Princess Isabella of Coimbra in1441 when they were both children aged 9 and 10. Politics started early then. It is still an active church–with no chairs or pews.
