The ACF – Associação dos Caminhos de Fátima, in collaboration with the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia and more than 40 organizations associated with the initiative, inaugurated the Centenary Way at a ceremony held in Jardim do Morro, Vila Nova de Gaia.
The event was attended by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services, Nuno Fazenda, who presided over the ceremony, the President of ACF – Caminhos de Fátima Association, Pedro Pimpão, and the Mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia, Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues.
The Centenary Way, which connects Vila Nova de Gaia to the Sanctuary of Fátima over a distance of around 200 kilometers, drastically reduces the number of pilgrims on national roads by offering alternatives via secondary routes. Its kilometer zero is at Jardim do Morro and it crosses 14 municipalities, namely Vila Nova de Gaia, Santa Maria da Feira, São João da Madeira, Oliveira de Azeméis, Albergaria-a-Velha, Águeda, Anadia, Mealhada, Coimbra, Condeixa, Soure, Pombal, Leiria and Ourém, arriving at the Sanctuary of Fátima.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Nuno Fazenda, describes this project as “very important” as it “aims to promote our historical, cultural and religious heritage”. “As far as the government is concerned, we will continue to support this project, which aims to enhance the paths of Fátima. Investing in cultural and religious tourism makes it possible to diversify the tourist offer and reach other segments of demand,” stressed the Secretary of State, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony of kilometer zero of the Centenary Way.
Pedro Pimpão, president of ACF – Associação dos Caminhos de Fátima, said during his speech that “80% of the route of the Centenary Way is off the busiest national roads”.
“The main objective of this project is to guarantee the safety of pilgrims”, by creating an alternative route ‘to avoid serious accidents on the main roads’. “We’re talking about more than 200 km on a route we’ve called the Centenary Way because it was born in 2016 with the impetus of marking the centenary of the apparitions of Fátima,” reveals the leader of the ACF.
The launch of the Centenary Way was also attended by representatives of Turismo de Portugal, the Centro Regional Coordination and Development Commission, the Sanctuary of Fátima, the Bishop of Porto, the Order of Malta, the Portuguese Federation of the Caminhos de Santiago, the National Scout Corps and all the municipalities involved.
After the unveiling of the inauguration plaque, all those present walked to the Gaia pilgrim support post and the ceremony ended with a social gathering at the Vila Nova de Gaia Town Hall.
News published in the newspaper Notícias de Coimbra