- Time of past OR future Camino
- September 2022 Frances September 2023 Portuguese
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Between Lisbon and Porto, I dont have time to do the whole thing, are there some stretches that are more worthwhile than others?
Make sure u walk right time of year. Nov I think to see the big waves they're not there all year!In order of preference, mine only: Tomar (Templar Castle), Fatima (a detour, but worth it for some folks), Coimbra (major university with an outstanding library of ancient manuscripts as well as stunning architecture). If you can't see them all, look at some of the guidebooks referenced above and decide what interests you most. Train service is pretty good all the way to Tomar, so you can pick and choose where to get on/off and walk between Lisboa and Tomar.
My only regret is that I decided not to visit Nazare, which is (has become?) one of the greatest natural surfing spots in the universe, due to the underwater offshore canyon leading to a wave break that can be 70-100 feet tall when conditions are right. As someone who lives 1/2 time on Hawaii, my oversight was inexcusable and I'll be rectifying it when I return to walk the Portuguese Caminho again in a couple of years.
Bom Caminho.
It is a wonderful stretch of the Camino, especially because it begins and ends in two great places. Tomar is a really nice place to spend the night and Coimbra, well it is one of my favorite cities on any camino. Spent a rest day there 6 years ago, Was wandering around one evening and got lost. Asked a group of wonderful university students in their black caps for directions. We ended up standing there for 10 minutes talking and then the bunch of them insisted on walking me back to my hostel. We had a wonderful conversation together. It took almost an hour to get back to where I was staying. I didn't have my phone with me and was lucky I remembered the name of the place I was staying. It was an evening to remember!Yes there are, in my view. Tomar to Coimbra is my favourite section (about 5 stages), both for the endpoints and for the trail between them, which is often on country paths going past vineyards and olive trees.
Another question for the @jungleboy man! I have read that the cathedral in Fatima is beautiful but the town itself, not so much. As a person who was born Jewish and feels no affinity whatsoever to the Church. I respect completely others beliefs but also believe that the miracle that happened in Fatima or the one here in Mexico City with the Virgin are no more than legend and story. (Again just my belief and it holds no validity as soon as the words leave my mouth). The next time I start in Lisbon I was going to walk to Fatima. If the only thing there is the cathedral is it worth it? I have been to Lourdes and I did think that it was a memorable experience to witness the procession and the faith of others. But the town was awful. The only other reason to walk to Fatima may be because it is a prettier walk? When I walked in 2017 it was the 100 year anniversary of the miracle and there were lots of pilgrims going to Fatima. In fact when I was walking north I passed many more pilgrims walking south towards Fatima than walking to Santiago.Yes there are, in my view. Tomar to Coimbra is my favourite section (about 5 stages), both for the endpoints and for the trail between them, which is often on country paths going past vineyards and olive trees.
The town itself was entirely built as a pilgrimage town after 1917, so there's nothing there that predates that (it was the countryside in 1917 when the children saw the apparitions). I wouldn't say the basilica is especially beautiful myself, and actually for Portuguese pilgrims the main focus is a little chapel near the basilica (where the apparitions appeared), rather than the basilica itself. The rest of the town outside the sanctuary mostly consists of shops selling religious paraphernalia.Another question for the @jungleboy man! I have read that the cathedral in Fatima is beautiful but the town itself, not so much. As a person who was born Jewish and feels no affinity whatsoever to the Church. I respect completely others beliefs but also believe that the miracle that happened in Fatima or the one here in Mexico City with the Virgin are no more than legend and story. (Again just my belief and it holds no validity as soon as the words leave my mouth). The next time I start in Lisbon I was going to walk to Fatima. If the only thing there is the cathedral is it worth it? I have been to Lourdes and I did think that it was a memorable experience to witness the procession and the faith of others. But the town was awful. The only other reason to walk to Fatima may be because it is a prettier walk? When I walked in 2017 it was the 100 year anniversary of the miracle and there were lots of pilgrims going to Fatima. In fact when I was walking north I passed many more pilgrims walking south towards Fatima than walking to Santiago.
Certainly the two churches in Fatima are both spectacular in their own ways. Neither is a cathedral, but I seem to recall both are designated basilicas by the Catholic Church. The modern interior of the new basilica was awe inspiring even though it was basically empty the day I visited. What it would feel like when full with 8000 people, I cannot imagine. Other parts of the area around the Sanctuary at Fatima were disappointing to me, but I expect that when the Sanctuary is full of pilgrims, that would change.I have read that the cathedral in Fatima is beautiful but the town itself, not so much.
Pretty much agree with all of this. I too walked in 2022 (aug-september) and definitely recommend Fatima, Tomar and Coimbra. Santarem was nice too. In my opinion there is not a whole lot worth seeing before Santarem and whilst there are some nice towns after that, there aren't many that I would suggest are "must see" apart from the 3 I mentioned.What are your interests and motivations here? Would you consider walking to Fatima, for example, or would you be more interested in the former Templar town of Tomar, the university city of Coimbra or the Roman ruins at Conimbriga. Those places were my favourites when I walked the CP in 2022, but stringing them or any others together will depend on how much time you have.
Yes! I walked from Fatima to Tomar, in one day and it was great. Parts of it were challenging and not well marked, in the national park, and at one point had to break branches off a fallen tree to climb over it!! It was also great to walk along the top of the aqueduct leading into TomarThe Caminho da Nazaré is a good, 2-day walk from Nazaré to Fátima. From Fátima, you can walk to Tomar in one long day 35 (kms) or break it into 2.
And agree with the post earlier, Tomar to Coimbra is a great walk!
Believe what you will, but the Apparitions and miracle at Fatima are factual and were widely reported in the media at the time. The third secret has also proven to be prophetically true, to Catholics at least.I respect completely others beliefs but also believe that the miracle that happened in Fatima or the one here in Mexico City with the Virgin are no more than legend and story.
We all have our own beliefs especially when it comes to religion. I respect any belief as long as it is not imposed on me or in any way dangerous. Belief is a choice for me. I choose not to believe it. You choose to believe it. That is fine with me. I am not Catholic and believe the strongest faith we should have is in science and knowledge. Religious faith and scientific faith are not incompatible. I just believe in the scientific. To each his own I say and it it brings you comfort and spirituality than what you believe is right for you.Believe what you will, but the Apparitions and miracle at Fatima are factual and were widely reported in the media at the time. The third secret has also proven to be prophetically true, to Catholics at least.
2 things.We all have our own beliefs especially when it comes to religion. I respect any belief as long as it is not imposed on me or in any way dangerous. Belief is a choice for me. I choose not to believe it. You choose to believe it. That is fine with me. I am not Catholic and believe the strongest faith we should have is in science and knowledge. Religious faith and scientific faith are not incompatible. I just believe in the scientific. To each his own I say and it it brings you comfort and spirituality than what you believe is right for you.
I will leave this conversation with this. I did do some research and there seems to be quite a few skeptics in the scientific community regarding these "miracles". So seriously I did do some research on this before I opened my keyboard to state what I think based on what I read. It is difficult to find unbiased information regarding this subject as much of what appears comes from Catholic publications. If what you believe is true that is great but I have my opinion and observations from what I have been able to read and ask a good friend who is an Astrophysicist and Cosmologist at Oregon State University. Good luck and good faith. Once again your faith is yours and mine is mine and neither is more valid than the other.2 things.
1. The point I was trying to make, is that that the miracle at Fatima is not in any way a matter of opinion or faith. It is factual. It actually happened . To put it in your words - it is scientific fact. Seriously, do some research.
2. In receiving the alert of your post, I notice that a "moderator" has edited my previous post. I hadn't even been advised that my post had been rewritten.That is a particularly unsavoury and in my opinion immoral act, particularly as the parts of my post that I recall to have been removed were non inflammatory, did not contain anything offensive and served only to back up my point. It has happened before where a moderator has unnecessarily changed a post of mine and I received no reply when I complained about it. As a result, I will now delete my account and I guess with that all my posts may get deleted too.
I was at the Tomar end of the aqueduct when I learned that we could walk across it. After the long day, I decided to not backtrack. Wish I would have.Yes! I walked from Fatima to Tomar, in one day and it was great. Parts of it were challenging and not well marked, in the national park, and at one point had to break branches off a fallen tree to climb over it!! It was also great to walk along the top of the aqueduct leading into Tomar
I walked out to it on my rest day in Tomar, because what else would you do on a rest day but walk a bit of a camino route, and crossed and returned along the top of the aqueduct. I enjoyed every moment of it.I was at the Tomar end of the aqueduct when I learned that we could walk across it. After the long day, I decided to not backtrack. Wish I would have.
I agree: Tomar to Coimbra is great to walk. Loved it and can recommend staying at Hostel O Lagereiro in Alvorge. Buen caminoHello, really enjoy this forum. I am traveling to Lisbon in August, then have some extra time to get up to Porto, and thought I could do part of the Camino Between Lisbon and Porto, I dont have time to do the whole thing, are there some stretches that are more worthwhile than others? Thanks for your help!
Started from Tomar. Have very similar feelings. Walked in April/May. Lost my camino family by Barcelos and am very grateful that I had the time to start where I did.I can't stop thinking about my April/May Camino from Lisbon. Loved it, especially the part from Lisbon to Porto. It was hard at first because I wasn't fit enough but after a few days my body accepted that life had changed. I met an amazing group of pilgrims from my first night in Vila Franca de Xira and onwards to PortoI was emotional arriving there but was very put off by the crowds of tourists everywhere.
I lost my Camino family after Porto as most followed the Coastal and myself the Central. I'm so glad I started from Lisbon and preferred it to Porto looking back.
difficult to say, as beauty is a matter of taste, only one thing is certain, large parts of the route are asphalt and cobblestones.Hello, really enjoy this forum. I am traveling to Lisbon in August, then have some extra time to get up to Porto, and thought I could do part of the Camino Between Lisbon and Porto, I dont have time to do the whole thing, are there some stretches that are more worthwhile than others? Thanks for your help!
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