Steve Hackman
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (2015, 2017)
Muxia & Fisterra (2015)
Via Francigena (2018)
Camino Portuguese (2020)
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I wonder if the family of the hospitalera/owner of Quinta da Burra have decided what they will do with the property. It opened after I walked from Lisbon, but many people loved it and it was a good stopping place, breaking up the stage into Santarém.After numerous Caminos, my wife and I are looking to purchase a house (or possibly an already established albergue) along the Camino Portuguese within Portugal to establish a small private refugio for pilgrims. Ideally between Lisbon & Porto but also open to possibilities north of Porto. Appreciative of any tips on properties that would be along the trail and as an ideal break point on the way to Santiago. Thanks!
Thank you, I had read about this but was hesitant about approaching but it is a delightful place and would love to keep the spirit of it alive. Thanks for including the contact info.I wonder if the family of the hospitalera/owner of Quinta da Burra have decided what they will do with the property. It opened after I walked from Lisbon, but many people loved it and it was a good stopping place, breaking up the stage into Santarém.
You could also contact @Friend from Barquinha for her insights.
Look at Alojamento Local Ninho. It's a nice albergue, made of stone. When I stayed there in October 2021, the owner told me she wanted to sell.After numerous Caminos, my wife and I are looking to purchase a house (or possibly an already established albergue) along the Camino Portuguese within Portugal to establish a small private refugio for pilgrims. Ideally between Lisbon & Porto but also open to possibilities north of Porto. Appreciative of any tips on properties that would be along the trail and as an ideal break point on the way to Santiago. Thanks!
We are probably more open to a town or just outside of one. Interesting you mention Tomar as that is the place I keep being drawn toAre you looking for a casa rural type place in the countryside, somewhere in a village or small town, or somewhere in a larger town or city?
Tomar was always the place I had in mind during my occasional thoughts about opening an albergue in Portugal (which seem to be in the past these days). There’s a hostel there but no albergue, and all pilgrims stop there and quite a few stay two nights, so it’s a shame there isn’t one there already.
Best of luck. What a great life!After numerous Caminos, my wife and I are looking to purchase a house (or possibly an already established albergue) along the Camino Portuguese within Portugal to establish a small private refugio for pilgrims. Ideally between Lisbon & Porto but also open to possibilities north of Porto. Appreciative of any tips on properties that would be along the trail and as an ideal break point on the way to Santiago. Thanks!
Thanks for the insightful comment. Fortunately, my wife and I are not in any rush and can wait for "the Camino to provide" the right place and location, which, as you indicate, is very important. No sense opening a place that is not a natural "break" point on the journey. Having said that, I know in my previous Caminos and on the Via Francigena I've take a "short day" to intentionally stay at a place that is more that just a bed for the night, but provides a Camino experience. My wife and I have a hope of creating the kind of place peregrinos will seek out as a physical, emotional, and spiritual recharge on their journey to Santiago.I guess it's time to contribute my 2 euros' worth. I think Tomar is a very good location to consider for someone wanting to host a "south-half" Portuguese caminho albergue or guest house.
As I've mentioned, we'd bought here in Vila Nova da Barquinha, with the peregrino route to Atalaia visible at the bottom of our garden. I had thoughts of a hostel here. But--after watching pilgrims walk by, now in almost every season, I realize that there really isn't enough potential to warrant more accommodation here than already exists. And our local church-based group is, I think, working on a small lodging to augment the three hotels here in town, so our offering would definitely be more than the town needs.
It's the wrong place. The general pace and breaks in the caminho to this point (Barquinha) typically have people stopping in Golega, or thereabouts, the night before. We see most of our peregrinos coming by between 9 and 11 in the morning. Most people have limited time for their caminho. So why stop here in Barquninha, for the typical walker, when you can make it to Tomar, and then spend a lay-day there and see the splendid sights?
Tomar is the obvious day-off point for peregrinos/as who are not in a hurry. And much of Tomar's accommodation is going upscale, with new and rebuilt 3- and 4-star hotels. So friendly, moderately priced accommodation--perhaps on the quieter, eastern side of the river rather than in the quaint but pricey old town--could be a good strategy. There are some attractive little areas over there, with the property likely better priced than in the trendy old town, but still not very far, walking, from the heart of town where the restaurants and cafés are, and where people tend to congregate in the evenings.
I'd say it's worth checking out!
Sorry to hear that you have had to give up your plans for an albergue, but it sounds like the right decision.It's the wrong place. The general pace and breaks in the caminho to this point (Barquinha) typically have people stopping in Golega, or thereabouts, the night before. We see most of our peregrinos coming by between 9 and 11 in the morning. Most people have limited time for their caminho. So why stop here in Barquninha, for the typical walker, when you can make it to Tomar, and then spend a lay-day there and see the splendid sights?
Yes, us too, but the demand just isn't there. For those who want to stay the night, there's the traditional hotel (Soltejo), listed in Brierley, which is only about 15 minutes' off the walking path, very reasonable and friendly (we've stayed there, before our house was liveable). Plus in the last 5 years there are 2 new hotels near the park, owned by the same people, pricier, but very comfortable, I gather...Sorry to hear that you have had to give up your plans for an albergue, but it sounds like the right decision.
As you know, we stayed in Barquinha on our CP but that was early pandemic times and there was no accommodation open in Golegã. So we stopped in Azinhaga instead and the flow-on effect was that Barquinha made sense for the next night.
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