The medieval town of Obidos comes highly recommended, so it’s a place I absolutely had to visit while in Portugal. About an hour or two from Lisbon, it made a lovely day trip, and I had a nice time exploring this gem of a town.

A Short History of Obidos

Though it’s known for its medieval heritage, the area of Obidos has been inhabited since prehistory and was a Roman outpost. When the Moors and the Mozarabs came in the 8th century, it was converted to a city with a castle – much like it is today. In 1148, when … Continue reading

Lisbon’s a popular city to visit, and with so many recommendations and history there, of course I had to visit. There are so many great things to do in Portugal’s capital city, and these are my top recommendations.

Lisbon’s Top Sights

Since Lisbon is so popular, there are lots of places that tourists flock to. Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular.

One of the most beautiful places is the castle that overlooks the city, Castelo de Sao Jorge. Despite being one of the city’s most iconic places, little is actually known about its origins, though the … Continue reading

The Portuguese city of Coimbra actually first came on my radar when I saw a job there for English speakers. Since it had a decent amount to see and do, particularly drawn in by its library, I decided to visit on my first trip to Portugal. It was definitely a highlight of my trip and I can’t recommend a visit to Coimbra enough because of all of the stunning history it has!

A Brief History of Coimbra

Coimbra first came to be during the Roman period when Aeminium was established. It was actually a less important city than the nearby … Continue reading

Honestly, my day trip to Tomar was very last minute and I didn’t know much about it before visiting. I was looking for a small medieval town to see and it fit the bill. I have to say, it made a very nice day out and the convent was, of course, the main highlight of the day.

The Knights Templar in Tomar

Templarios by José María Rodríguez de Losada, 1826

We talk a lot about the Crusades but there were normal, everyday Christians during this time that tried to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem, as well. The Templar Order (or “Poor … Continue reading

With a bone chapel and Roman temple, Evora jumped high on my Portuguese to-visit list and it was a definite stop on my first trip to Portugal. It did not disappoint! There’s so much beauty and fascinating history to be seen in this small town.

A Short History of Evora

Evora has a noted history that goes way back, before the Roman era, to the Celts. Eburos is a Celtic name for yew tree, and the name Evora comes from it. So the name dates back about 3-5000 years!

When it became part of the Roman empire, it was called … Continue reading

Cesky Krumlov (pronounced “chesky krumhov”) is a fairytale town a few hours from Prague and it’s been at the top of my bucket list for some time. Actually, it was the only place I visited aside from Prague because I really, really wanted to see it. I thought it made a nice trip out.

A Brief History of Cesky Krumlov

There’s lots of evidence of a large settlement in the area during the Bronze age, dating back about 8 thousand years, and later a large Celtic settlement.

“Modern” Cesky Krumlov history starts in the 6th-7th centuries, when Slavic tribes settled … Continue reading

One place I’ve always wanted to visit was Nuremberg. The home of a famous artist, with a preserved and rebuilt medieval center – it looked like a magical place. I finally got to visit and Nuremberg is definitely as lovely a city as I could’ve imagined it.

Some of Nuremberg’s History

Nuremberg prides itself on being one of Germany’s most important medieval cities. It was first mentioned in the historical record with its imperial castle in 1050, but it had probably existed at least several years before then, so its origins are still unknown. It was a popular stop on … Continue reading

Vienna is known for its imperial architecture and world-class art museums, so it’s been on my list for a long time. After spending a few days museum hopping and exploring the what I could of the city, I really liked Vienna and can’t recommend a trip enough for art lovers.

A Brief History of Vienna

Ironically, Vienna started as a Roman settlement named Vindobona or “white base/white city.” When I think of Vienna today, I think of all the white Baroque buildings that give the city its personality.

The city grew with ties (and animosity) to surrounding Celtic and Germanic … Continue reading

Whenever I hear of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it’s accompanied by that picture. You know the one. I get worried when towns become synonymous with a certain view because I think, is that all there is? But I was still eager to see what all the fuss about Rothenburg was about and visited myself. It’s a cute town, for sure.

A Short History of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The modern history of Rothenburg starts in the 10th century, when the town Detwang was founded next to what is currently Rothenburg. A castle was built here on the hilltop in the … Continue reading

Prague has always been high on my list so I was super excited when I scored cheap-ish plane tickets there. I absolutely loved it, and I got to do and see a lot in the few days I had there. The museums can be quite expensive and Prague doesn’t have a great combo pass, so I hope this guide is helpful in deciding what to (and what not to) see.

A Brief History of Prague

The area around Prague was first permanently settled by Slavic and Germanic tribes and it became a city in the 800s, at the site of … Continue reading