The Mayor of Pombal and President of the Fátima Paths Association (ACF), Pedro Pimpão, has challenged pilgrims from the North of the country to try out the Centenary Path to Fátima, which was inaugurated on May 4th.
The route, spanning a total of 200 kilometers, connects Vila Nova de Gaia to the Sanctuary of Fátima and offers safer alternatives to national roads by utilizing secondary and rural paths. It passes through 14 municipalities: 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.
The inauguration ceremony took place at kilometer zero, in Jardim do Morro, Vila Nova de Gaia. The event was attended by the mayor of that municipality, Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues, and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce, and Services, Nuno Fazenda, among others.
“The route of the Centenary Path was carefully designed to facilitate the movement of individuals or groups traveling on foot, drastically reducing pedestrian traffic on national roads and offering alternatives via secondary and rural roads, which are well signposted, with information points and support along the way,” ACF said in a statement.
The itinerary “offers a rich and diverse personal, spiritual, and touristic experience because it allows the enjoyment of the territory, history, heritage, nature, and gastronomy,” the statement emphasized, adding that “similar to the Camino de Santiago in Galicia, Spain, it is hoped that the official pilgrimage routes to Fátima, focused on the safety of people and their belongings, with cultural and touristic intentions, will help develop the municipalities that manage the route, attracting more national and international pilgrims interested in transforming an ancient pilgrimage tradition into a memorable experience.”
“Put on your backpacks and start your journey, walk this route that leads us to the Sanctuary of Fátima. Allow yourselves to be absorbed by all the transformative experiences the Centenary Path offers,” Pedro Pimpão urges, as quoted in the note.
News published on PombalTV.