Save some time for browsing through the shops and searching out thick woven fabrics, regional rugs (both hand- and machine-made), raffia and handmade bags, and local lace.
Óbidos is one of the most folkloric towns in Portugal; dozens of boutiques line the town's main street, Rua Direita. These stores are loaded with ceramics, embroideries, wine, and woodcarvings. Individual outlets of note include the Oficina do Barro, Praça de Santa Maria (tel. 26/295-92-31), which is associated with the town's tourist office. It maintains a studio (open to visitors) that produces delicate ceramics -- usually glazed in white -- that resemble the texture of a woven basket. Nearby is Espaço Oppidum, Rua Direita (tel. 26/295-96-53), which does a masterful job of glazing antique terra-cotta roof tiles and etching them with artists' renditions of birds and wildlife. Finally, Loja dos Arcos, Rua Direita (tel. 26/295-98-33), sells wine, leather, and ceramics that are usually a bit more interesting than the wares at equivalent shops nearby.
