The Hidden Caminho to Fátima
Why Hidden, you may ask?
Every year, thousands of Portuguese pilgrims take a different approach to reaching Fátima—walking long, exhausting stages of up to 78 km in a single night or day. From Casa da Lima to Fátima, they walk all day and night and family picks them up when they arrived in Fatima. Unlike other routes, there’s no dedicated app for this caminho, making it a true hidden treasure for foreigners.
Just rely on Casa da Lima to guide you through!
Fatima Credencials
We start with the credencials for you pilgrimage to Fatima. A special credencial to Fatima with already included the stamp of the Carmel where Sister Lucia lived and of course I included already the one from Casa da Lima. But you still need to earn this today.
In some churches, in cafe’s all municipal buildings they will provide you with a stamp. It is not only to remember the places you visited, or a proof that you have walked the path, but it really is the story of the person in the tourist office, it is the information that the man from the municipality gives you., it is the bartender from the cafe who can give you lots of tips. They are proud to reward pilgrims to Fatima with their stamp. Really, my caminho became more interesting when I started collecting stamps in a swimming pool or local cafe.
Day 1: Conímbriga – Casa da Lima (16 km ~ 3-4 hours)
We begin in Conímbriga, walking in the footsteps of the Romans. Do explore the best-preserved Roman ruins in Portugal. It is just a tenth of the whole village which had 100.000 inhabitants! Step into the roofed garden, just drop 50 cents into the machine to activate the charming mini fountains! on the picture below we didn’t know that there were hidden fountains… The magic starts here. There’s also a museum to visit inside. The entrance fee is €10.
Fonte Coberta
The path from Conimbriga crosses a deep valley with flowing water in winter. You’ll pass Poco and afterwards Fonte Coberta, a village rich in natural springs a long time ago, where locals still wash clothes in open-air stone basins. If you’re thirsty, enjoy fresh water from the public tap. You could fill your water bottle here. Stop by the mini labyrinth of Fátima and the chapel to light a candle in a place dedicated to Fatima. Then, take a break with tea, coffee, fruit, and cookies—don’t forget to enjoy the swing with a scenic mountain view! Plus some photo’s of all the art of Jean, also a pilgrim. And of course, leave a small donation for your hosts, who are walking the caminho to Fatima regularly. Jean just made a nice house for the chicken they like to have soon.
Rabaçal
Even if you’ve already explored the ruins of Conímbriga, make sure to visit the Roman aristocratic house ruins in Rabaçal. Across from the mini-market, a small museum offers a fascinating look into the past. For just a few euros, you’ll get a guided tour, uncovering secrets hidden beneath the sand outdoors.
From here, you’re just 30 minutes from Casa da Lima, where you can rest and recharge before continuing your journey!
Day 2 Casa da Lima – Ansiao (17 km ~ 3-4 hours)
We walk to to a beautiful dirt road via the main street of our village Ribeira de Alcalamouque. After a few hundred meters the Fatima signs turn to the left. You’ll see the milestones I made for the opposite caminho to Santiago. This stage will go up to Alvorge in one and a half hour, where you will find a restaurant to rest, drink or eat something. There is also a mini-mercado to buy some snacks for todays caminho.
When you continue there is a pump station in Venda do Brasil, on the road, where you can drink a coffee. I ran to this place because it was pouring when I walked this part of the caminho. You will end todays walk in Ansiao, the main town.
See if you walk mindfully and walk into these nice details on your route. Make sure to go into where that pilgrim on the photo is walking to, you will be rewarded with a stamp and the sight of a huge Santiago shell! At least if they are open. Normally we are earlier on the road, than their opening hours…
Day 3 Ansiao – Freixianda (25 km ~5-6 hours)
On the third day, we take on a strenuous (see the height differences on the photo below) 25 km walk, following a beautiful route along the water. There are plenty of spots to refill your bottle, ensuring you stay hydrated throughout the journey. We start at the bakery in Ansiao, the perfect place to grab something for the road, as there are very few stops along the way. Just a few kilometers before the end, you’ll find one café where you can enjoy a well-deserved drink. As you enter the town, you’ll see the church, a charming square with neatly trimmed trees, and a small mini mercado. If you take a moment to translate the message on their window, you’ll definitely want to step inside!
Day 4 Freixianda – Ourem (23,5 km ~5-6 hours)
In the minimarket or the pasteleria next to it where we start in Freixianda you can get some snacks for todays walk.
We have a tough day today, same as yesterday. An amazing route but since this is the fourth day of your caminho, you may start feeling your legs, feet or whole body ache. When I walked the 4th day, I was so stiff it was hard to even move around when I was waking up. I met a lovely Korean pilgrim who already walked a tough road for a week. She said: “Oh Ay Lin, no problem you feel this way now, every morning I feel so stiff as if I can’t walk, but still every day I manage to finalise my caminho day.” With her smiling face, I know it is pilgrims pain for a few moments and it will fade away once you’ll start walking again!
Ourem is a bigger city with large supermarkets. You will see some burned forests walking here. The last years the fires burned all down.
The Legend of Princess Fátima and Oureana
In 1158, during the time of the Christian Reconquest, a noble knight, Gonçalo Hermingues, known as Traga-Mouros, caught sight of a beautiful princess on top a tower near Alcácer do Sal.
Her name was Fátima, the only daughter of the emir, promised in marriage to her cousin Abu. But fate had other plans. The Christian knight fell deeply in love with the young Muslim princess.
For her safety, Fátima rarely left the tower where she lived with her maids. However, it was known that she would take part in the Festival of Lights—a rare opportunity that Gonçalo saw as his chance to change both their destinies.
On the night of the festival, Gonçalo and his men launched a daring raid, seizing the princess from the procession. Abu rushed to rescue his betrothed but perished in the battle against the Christians.
Fátima was now free from her arranged marriage, chose to convert to Christianity and took the name Oureana. She and Gonçalo were married, and in honor of their love story, the town where they first settled was named Fátima, after her Muslim name. A few kilometers away, where they later made their home, the town was named Oureana—over time, evolving into what is now Ourém.
Day 5 – Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima
One of the largest Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. This sacred site honors the 1917 apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children; Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta. These took place in Cova da Iria, a rural property once owned by Lúcia’s family, who later donated the land to the sanctuary. Five of the six apparitions occurred here, making it a place of deep spiritual significance. If you are on one of the days when Maria appeared it is crowded, and full of vibes. Pilgrims arrive crying, laughing full of emotions. However, if you are there on an ordinairy day, it is a large empty square.
One of the children Lucia lived in Coimbra in the Carmelite cloister. That is also why the Carmelite route starts in Coimbra in front of the cloister. Recently she died. In her memory they made an archive and her humble life as a sister is described here. If you are very religious you would want to go here and read all about sister Lucia. Lots of buses with pilgrims go to this place, but if you are like us, you are still good without going in.
There are websites about the Fatima route, but unfortunately there are no albergues and there is no app included. And the stages are not so friendly: One time there is a very short route, and two days it is much too long. You can read about them here.