Sam Hardman
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2006, 2007 Camino Francés
2017 SJPdP - Belorado
2018 SJPdP - Fisterra/Muxía
2019 Camino Primitivo
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Hi,again,I cheated slightly,and got the train to Azumbuja,but mainly because I had walked some of the Lisboa,bit in reverse,I walked from Azumbuja to Tui,last September and October and never booked once,you'll enjoy the quieter bit to Porto,about the same amount of pilgrims as the Primitivo,I'm at the early stages of planning to walk from Lisbon to Santiago this year and am wondering what the albergue situation is like? I have walked the Camino Francés and Primitivo before and didn't do book any accommodation in advance and always managed to find somewhere to stay. Is this the same in Portugal? From what I have read I should have no problems after Porto but what about before that. Can I relax and assume I will always find a place or do I need to do a lot more planning this year?
Thanks for the advice as always!
Look at the list of the Via Lusitana (the Lisbon-based amigos group that runs the Alpriate albergue and will soon be opening another albergue in Azambuja). For the 300 kms between Lisbon and Porto, I count 22 albergues and numerous other places to stay for 20 euros or less. I think the infrastructure is quite adequate for the number of people who walk. Not sure what kind of stages you walk, but if you look at that list, I think you will see plenty of options.I'm at the early stages of planning to walk from Lisbon to Santiago this year and am wondering what the albergue situation is like? I have walked the Camino Francés and Primitivo before and didn't do book any accommodation in advance and always managed to find somewhere to stay. Is this the same in Portugal? From what I have read I should have no problems after Porto but what about before that. Can I relax and assume I will always find a place or do I need to do a lot more planning this year?
Thanks for the advice as always!
Look at the list of the Via Lusitana (the Lisbon-based amigos group that runs the Alpriate albergue and will soon be opening another albergue in Azambuja). For the 300 kms between Lisbon and Porto, I count 22 albergues and numerous other places to stay for 20 euros or less. I think the infrastructure is quite adequate for the number of people who walk. Not sure what kind of stages you walk, but if you look at that list, I think you will see plenty of options.
And one thing I have forgotten to mention lately. The Via Lusitana has an SOS pilgrim help line. This has been in effect for years and years and was particularly helpful when the infrastructure was much more sparse and infrequent. But the association is there 24/7 with a phone call, so if you are worried about accommodation, having their phone number is not a bad idea.
SOS Pilgrim phone — speaking English, French, some German, Portuguese, Spanish (+351) 915 595 213
I did it last year from Lisbon. There's plenty of accommodation and never once did it get anything close to full. There's nothing to worry about.
Well until Porto it's all the same, but from Porto I went to the Coastal route as far as Caminha. Then the weather started to turn, so I took the route that rejoins the inland instead. I found the Coastal route lovely. It's a good mix of wild heathery trails, cute beachside villages and touristic beach towns.Excellent! Thanks for this. May I ask which route you took and how you liked it?
Cathedral is the easiest place, probably. And they are really nice! Picture here.I am starting in Lisbon. Where in Lisbon can I get a Pilgrim's Passport/Credential?
I hope we aren't going to have to start putting Spoiler Alerts on Camino Forum threads! ;-)And for any of you who don’t mind seeing pictures ahead of time, a peregrino currently walking from Lisbon is posting every day on Facebook.
I thought we had a time traveller,!I hope we aren't going to have to start putting Spoiler Alerts on Camino Forum threads! ;-)
Thanks for thisAnd for any of you who don’t mind seeing pictures ahead of time, a peregrino currently walking from Lisbon is posting every day on Facebook.
I read somewhere that the Camino Portuguese started at the Igreja de Santiago, and proceeded from there to the cathedral. Is that true? It might only be 400m or so, but it would be interesting to start there if that is indeed the start point, not the cathedral.And look for the small yellow arrow low down on the wall on the right as you enter the cathedral for the start of the Camino.
As far as I know, the first arrow is at the Cathedral. But the Igreja de Santiago is very close. If it is open, I believe there is a stamp available. So it would be easy to start there, meander over to the cathedral and then be on your way. That church does not sell credentials, however, at least they didn’t the last time I was there. But the information desk to the right when you enter the cathedral should have lots of the beautiful Via Lusitana credentials.I read somewhere that the Camino Portuguese started at the Igreja de Santiago, and proceeded from there to the cathedral. Is that true? It might only be 400m or so, but it would be interesting to start there if that is indeed the start point, not the cathedral.
I ordered mine online from the Associacao de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fatima (caminho.com.pt). They have several variants, some just for the pilgrimage to Fatima, others if you are walking to Santiago.I am starting in Lisbon. Where in Lisbon can I get a Pilgrim's Passport/Credential?
The reason I ask is that I have tracks from two sources that have start points at the Igreja de Santiago, while the CSJ guide (2017) is silent on this in the main text, listing both the cathedral and the church without indicating one or other is the definitive start point. In an appendix that guide suggests the cathedral as the start point.As far as I know, the first arrow is at the Cathedral. But the Igreja de Santiago is very close. If it is open, I believe there is a stamp available. So it would be easy to start there, meander over to the cathedral and then be on your way. That church does not sell credentials, however, at least they didn’t the last time I was there. But the information desk to the right when you enter the cathedral should have lots of the beautiful Via Lusitana credentials.
When are you starting from Lisbon? I step off 1 April.I am starting in Lisbon. Where in Lisbon can I get a Pilgrim's Passport/Credential?
Out of curiosity, @dougfitz, is your credential the one made by the Via Lusitania? (you can see it here https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/portuguese-credential-has-arrived.60265/)I ordered mine online from the Associacao de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fatima (caminho.com.pt). They have several variants, some just for the pilgrimage to Fatima, others if you are walking to Santiago.
It hasn't been delivered yet, but I am expecting it to have different artwork, etc.Out of curiosity, @dougfitz, is your credential the one made by the Via Lusitania? (you can see it here https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/portuguese-credential-has-arrived.60265/)
I read somewhere that the Camino Portuguese started at the Igreja de Santiago, and proceeded from there to the cathedral. Is that true? It might only be 400m or so, but it would be interesting to start there if that is indeed the start point, not the cathedral.
I hope to pick up a Portuguese credential at the Cathedral in Lisbon or la igreja de Santiago or the Pilgrim's office. One of them has to be open on the day before I start. I will be staying a little north of the Igreja and the cathedral so it won't be out of my way to visit both on the start of my Camino.
It hasn't been delivered yet, but I am expecting it to have different artwork, etc.
Thank you for your concern. I do recall that discussion, but hadn't considered this would be an issue with an association credential. Perhaps I am being naive. That said, I have a credential that Ivar sent with the Brierley guide as well, so I can use that from Tui if I cannot confirm that the Associacao de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fatima is authorised. The Pilgrim Office FAQ on who are authorised is being updated at present, and isn't providing any information on this.And I ask that question only because I remember there was quite a kerfuffle a few years ago about the cathedral’s decision to only accept approved credentials for the Compostela. See Ivar’s post in this thread.
And Brierley's guide, which arrived today, doesn't help clarify the matter. The Lisboa map on p 33 would indicate the route starts at Igreja de Santiago, but over the page on the Section map (p 35) it looks like the start is at Se Cathedral.The reason I ask is that I have tracks from two sources that have start points at the Igreja de Santiago, while the CSJ guide (2017) is silent on this in the main text, listing both the cathedral and the church without indicating one or other is the definitive start point. In an appendix that guide suggests the cathedral as the start point.
Given the Igreja is more or less on the way from where I will be staying when I arrive, I guess that I will go there first in any case.
I really don’t think there will be any problem, just wanted you to know . The notice that Ivar posted indicates that the credential will indicate whether it has cathedral authorization. It was a headache for the Via Lusitana to get that authorization but they decided to wait it out and it finally happened. Since the Fátima group isn’t a camino group, I have no idea whether they would think it worthwhile to go through the hassle. Anyway, there is boilerplate ”cathedral authorization language” that you can see on the one from Ivar, and it will be the same on any “officially recognized” one. If I didn’t know you like rules even more than I do,Thank you for your concern. I do recall that discussion, but hadn't considered this would be an issue with an association credential. Perhaps I am being naive. That said, I have a credential that Ivar sent with the Brierley guide as well, so I can use that from Tui if I cannot confirm that the Associacao de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fatima is authorised. The Pilgrim Office FAQ on who are authorised is being updated at present, and isn't providing any information on this.
I have been doing so much reading and research about the CP that I am nearly on overload. I read somewhere on the forum about an office of tourism or the like near the Lisbon Cathedral not a Pilgrim Office as in St Jean or Santiago.I am virtually certain that the Santiago church does not sell credentials, and there is no pilgrims office in Lisbon. But the cathedral is a sure bet!
And I ask that question only because I remember there was quite a kerfuffle a few years ago about the cathedral’s decision to only accept approved credentials for the Compostela. See Ivar’s post in this thread.
I know that part of the reason for the long time it took the Via Lusitana to actually produce their credential had to do with getting that cathedral approval. I would also be stunned if the office actually denied the compostela to someone who was using a credential issued by the Fátima association (I doubt they have gotten cathedral approval, but I could be wrong), but anyway it is just a little factoid to consider. I know that their main targets were the tour companies issuing their own credentials and selling them to their clients, not a small religious association like the Fátima group.
I have been doing so much reading and research about the CP that I am nearly on overload. I read somewhere on the forum about an office of tourism or the like near the Lisbon Cathedral not a Pilgrim Office as in St Jean or Santiago.
The Via Lusitana website says:
You can get the Pilgrim's Credential at
the Cathedral of Lisbon, every day from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
At the Cathedral of Porto, every day from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
At various hostels along the Way.
At Tui Cathedral.
It can also be ordered directly from the Association of Pilgrims Via Lusitana or from the Espaço Jacobeus Association, who send it by mail.
The facebook posts I referred to earlier just posted about a place in Ansiao that I had never seen or heard about. https://ansiturismo.com/. It looks like kind of a spa/hotel, with prices that are not out of the ballpark. The post describes a heated salt water pool, sounds pretty plush.
I stayed there. It is a very modern and very upscale spa hotel. Also, there is an excellent restaurant about 2 blocks north of the Ansiturismo spa.
And one thing I have forgotten to mention lately. The Via Lusitana has an SOS pilgrim help line. This has been in operation for years and years and was particularly helpful when the infrastructure was much more sparse and infrequent. But the association is there 24/7 with a phone call, so if you are worried about accommodation, having their phone number is not a bad idea.
SOS Pilgrim phone — speaking English, French, some German, Portuguese, Spanish (+351) 915 595 213
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