Walking Final Stages of Fatima Caminho
Addicted to caminho’s?! The caminho was on the bucket list of Jaap-Willem. He wanted to walk it once… For me it seemed very boring.
Jaap-Willem started his first caminho from Vigo to Santiago, spiritual route, three years ago in August 2021. We lived in Portugal next to the caminho for a year. It happened to be that our daughter Cinta went to The Netherlands for holiday and we were able to walk without a five-year old. At that time he wanted to know if he could walk 20 km daily again after his dreadful brain stroke.
Now three years later, Cinta goes to The Netherlands again. Time to walk Jaap-WIllems second caminho. Who knows our friend Chief pilgrims joins and will walk on his knees around the church to give thanks.
The path from Lisbon to Santiago is quite empty these summer months, we don’t have pilgrims sleeping over, these four days. It is an opportunity to just go, even if it is hot. We just start when the sun rises.
Our Route Starts in Freixianda
I already walked the first stages from Casa da Lima to Ansiao, and Ansiao to Freixianda. And I actually walked from Freixianda to Ourem and Fatima too. I don’t remember the path anymore because it was a bad timing for me. I was not walking mindfully at all. I did witness the night and morning of the Fatima celebrations 12-13 October, that I do remember. The procession and praying always have a powerful impact on all the thousands of people and pilgrims present. In front of me were lots of people but when I looked behind me I saw a really large crowd.
We will start our caminho from Freixianda, we will park the car there and continue to – Ourem – Fatima – Tomar – Freixianda.
Castello Ourem
We have a lot of castles here in mid Portugal. We will also walk to Tomar the Templars castle after Fatima, but Ourem also has an old prehistoric one. We will sleep up the hill near the castle. The streets of the medieval village of Ourém – with its white houses full of flowers and several viewpoints, offers us a great views. A true journey back in time!
Ourem and Fatima
The story goes that the name of the cities Fatima and Ourem come from a Moorish princess, Fátima, who was kidnapped by a Templar knight. They fell in love and she converted to Christianity, adopting the name of Ouerana. This would also be the name for the famous town Fatima. The legend states that she was the daughter of a Moorish governor and was known for her beauty.
Car of Foot Pilgrims to Fatima?
In September I will tell the history and legends of mysteries of Fatima to my first religious group of ‘car-pilgrims’ from Asia. I will show them all sacred places. I will use this visit to freshen up my memory. My uncle and aunt and family from Indonesia will visit Portugal for the first time just to witness Fatima.
Are you a foot pilgrim inspired by the BBC One Pilgrimage series? Read about our 6-day fully arranged caminho to Fatima here. After this, connect to your own caminho to Santiago de Compostela. Follow the yellow arrows to Tomar and further north to Santiago.
