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Ok, so I learned about that place from a fellow perigino on the Frances, after telling him I'd be on the Portuguese next. Guitars were pulled out. She was hesitant when we first met, she warned me it was sort of spartan and gave me the option to bail. I'm glad I stayed.Casa Fernanda
The sardine cannery in Matosinhos. https://www.conservaspinhais.com/. Conservas Pinhais. They have a fantastic tour and tasting room!! I highly recommend it.Planning the traditional route from Porto to Santiago during April this year. What sights or experiences should I make sure not to miss?
Like Antonius, we had mixed feelings about the walk from Porto, the first time we ever experienced that about any camino. But...as another writer suggested...start on the coastal. Walking out of Porto on the Central is miserable. And be prepared for lots (far too much, in our view) highway walking. It's not conducive to uplifting your spirits. All this said, there are many highlights, as others have suggested. This required zigzagging between coastal and central. For us, highlights included Barcelos, Ponte de Lima and Valenca on the Central, and just about everywhere on the coastal.The place where you cut inland is Vilar de Conde. La Casa de Fernanda is "the mother of all albergues". To be honest the Portugues is not my favourite camino. To much roadwalking, sometimes cobblestones, many narrow roads with no or verry narrow borders) The crowds after Tui. I would surely recommend to take the "variante espiritual" after Pontevedra. It is beautifull, quieter and includes a boatride. Before Padron you'l join the Camino again
If it is likely to be meaningful, in Padron you can walk up the hill to where St. James is believed to have done his preaching to the Iberians.-Stay in the citadel in Valenca rather than outside the walls or across the bridge in Tui. it is magical after the tourists leave around 6pm.
-Visit or stay in Combarra if you are taking the spiritual variant. It is charming and unusual with lots of stone horreos right along the water.
-visit the Tui cathedral
-take all the alternate routes, including the first day through Porto if you go the central route. I liked walking through the city and suburbs and saw an interesting monastery/church in Leca de Balio. But spend a couple of days in Porto before or after your camino so you can walk along the River and coast a bit. It’s beautiful although feels more touristy/ beachy than pilgrimy to me. Also- Porto. Absolutely loved it. Going back again in spring 2024, inshallah.
Like @lovelyshell I loved ponte de Lima. I stayed in the central part of the walled town and enjoyed walking around at night.
I also will start outside of Porto. I also hate industrial/urban areas!Casa Fernanda in Lugar do Conde is a great experience with a really fun communal dinner. Accommodation is rustic but there is a private room option. Book ahead! If you enjoy communal dinners Pilgrims Nest/Ninho in Rubiaes is great too and it will be much appreciated after hiking up a long hill all day. I also would recommend maybe walking the coastal out of Porto, I’m not sure if the town that cuts over to the centrally do some research. The walk out of Porto isn’t awful but it feels like forever. You could also take an Uber and start walking from Vilar do Pinheiro. Doing this helps you avoid the urban industrial area. I wish I spent the afternoon in Ponte de Lima relaxing and drinking wine along the river. It looked so relaxing and I loved that town but I was trying to do laundry instead.
We also enjoyed this tour.The sardine cannery in Matosinhos. https://www.conservaspinhais.com/. Conservas Pinhais. They have a fantastic tour and tasting room!! I highly recommend it.
I guitars the night I was there but lots of singing and dancing.Ok, so I learned about that place from a fellow perigino on the Frances, after telling him I'd be on the Portuguese next. Guitars were pulled out. She was hesitant when we first met, she warned me it was sort of spartan and gave me the option to bail. I'm glad I stayed.
You guys know you can get another certificate in Padron? . I hoard those things! In Padron you have to go to the church first and get a stamp, then to the library to get your "Padronestella" or whatever its called.I forgot to add my other highlight which is in Padron, on what will be your last day, stop at Cafe Don Pepe before walking. It’s right the church. The guy who runs the place is full of life. He gives people high fives and hugs, he put his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye and told me how proud he was of me. I knew him for 30 seconds but it almost made me cry and it was a great way to start the day.
For me the best of Portugal was between Lisbon and Porto.Planning the traditional route from Porto to Santiago during April this year. What sights or experiences should I make sure not to miss?
I second this - even if you're not particularly religious, the little green area by the statue is quite peaceful and a nice place to sit and reflect (or have a picnic after picking up some snacks in Padron).If it is likely to be meaningful, in Padron you can walk up the hill to where St. James is believed to have done his preaching to the Iberians.
Our last day? Ha! We are walking the snail’s routes. Still 2 more nights before Santiago for us.You guys know you can get another certificate in Padron? . I hoard those things! In Padron you have to go to the church first and get a stamp, then to the library to get your "Padronestella" or whatever its called.
If you are a book lover and have the time, I suggest you get over into the upper city in Porto so you can visit Livrariia Lello. It is a bookstore with a magnificent stairway and books in many languages. I agree about Casa Fernanda by the way!Casa Fernanda in Lugar do Conde is a great experience with a really fun communal dinner. Accommodation is rustic but there is a private room option. Book ahead! If you enjoy communal dinners Pilgrims Nest/Ninho in Rubiaes is great too and it will be much appreciated after hiking up a long hill all day. I also would recommend maybe walking the coastal out of Porto, I’m not sure if the town that cuts over to the centrally do some research. The walk out of Porto isn’t awful but it feels like forever. You could also take an Uber and start walking from Vilar do Pinheiro. Doing this helps you avoid the urban industrial area. I wish I spent the afternoon in Ponte de Lima relaxing and drinking wine along the river. It looked so relaxing and I loved that town but I was trying to do laundry instead.
Experience not to miss? Hmm. Sorry, am lost for words...Planning the traditional route from Porto to Santiago during April this year. What sights or experiences should I make sure not to miss?
When I was in Porto, the tourist desire to visit Livraria Lello was so great that it had begun to inconvenience real shoppers. There was a line up to get in and you had to buy a five euro ticket to enter the shop. The ticket got you a five euro discount on a purchase, though, soi there wasn't a cost to people who came to buy a book. I ended up getting Paulo Coelho's The Pilgrimage.If you are a book lover and have the time, I suggest you get over into the upper city in Porto so you can visit Livrariia Lello. It is a bookstore with a magnificent stairway and books in many languages. I agree about Casa Fernanda by the way!
When I was in Porto, the tourist desire to visit Livraria Lello was so great that it had begun to inconvenience real shoppers. There was a line up to get in and you had to buy a five euro ticket to enter the shop. The ticket got you a five euro discount on a purchase, though, soi there wasn't a cost to people who came to buy a book. I ended up getting Paulo Coelho's The Pilgrimage.
If you do go to the Azores and book on Azores Airlines you can get a free stopover (or in my terminology a free onward flight) to another of the islands. I got one and only flew from Las Palmas.Before you begin, spend time in Lisboa.
The Military Museum is suprisingly interesting.
The Museum of Coaches is fanatastic!
Take a tour bus to Obidos, Nazaré, Fatima - worth every penny.
Take a train to Sintra - there used to be an albergue there but worth 2 days
Consider a flight to the Azores for a few days - my familial homeland and beautiful!
What was the name of the hostel in Vila do Conde?We walked along the river Douro out of Porto and than along the coast to Vila do Conde. The youth hostel there is excellent (private rooms with good breakfast). Than we crossed to the central Route. We were so glad we did the variante espiritual where we stayed overnight in Comarro and in hospedaje Os Castanos and in Pontevedra. There we went by boat to Padron. Than we were back on the central route.
Thank you. Will be walking in AprilThe name is Pousada de Juventude Vila do Conde. It is really nice.
Pousada de Vila do Conde
www.pousadasjuventude.pt
This. I'm always surprised by the negative comments about this section. My family and I fell in love with Portugal and were so glad we started in Lisbon. Yes, we had some long (and hot August) days, but this was a pilgrimage and one that we came to value so very much.For me the best of Portugal was between Lisbon and Porto.
As I came back to Porto after finished in SdC and bussed to Muxia and Finisterre I booked a morning walking tour (much fun) through the old town of Porto and on the afternoon strolled to Vila Nova de Gaia and the Port Houses and visited one of the cellars. Quite impressing and very informative.If you have time to visit Vila Nova de Gaia (or just Gaia) across the river from Porto, you can visit the port houses for a tasting. The Sandeman hostel is excellent - incredible location, very inexpensive, lovely interior.
You actually had to book a time slot in advance when we were there in September. You couldn't even see in the windows. I feel sorry for the owners and employees. I guess if they all buy a book, they're making good money but it wouldn't be my fantasy bookstore jobWhen I was in Porto, the tourist desire to visit Livraria Lello was so great that it had begun to inconvenience real shoppers. There was a line up to get in and you had to buy a five euro ticket to enter the shop. The ticket got you a five euro discount on a purchase, though, soi there wasn't a cost to people who came to buy a book. I ended up getting Paulo Coelho's The Pilgrimage.
Our last day? Ha! We are walking the snail’s routes. Still 2 more nights before Santiago for us.