The Caminhos de Fátima Association (ACF), in partnership with the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia and more than 40 associated entities, presented two new routes, which make up the Centenary Way and connect Vila Nova de Gaia to Fátima and Coimbra to the same shrine, using secondary and rural routes that offer greater safety.
Pedro Pimpão, president of the ACF, explained the route of each of the two routes. “The one we’re inaugurating today, which runs from Gaia to Fátima, is around 200 km long, passes through 14 municipalities, and is the main route. We have another, the Carmelita route, which goes from Coimbra and passes through inland municipalities.” The project not only aims to provide greater cultural richness and beautiful landscapes, but above all to offer safety to pilgrims.
The president of the ACF gave the example of an accident last week in which a 61-year-old pilgrim died: “This accident happened on the national road in the Pombal area, off this route. So this Centenary Way is an alternative route that gives people more safety.”
At the presentation of the “Centenary Way”, which took place in Jardim do Morro, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Nuno Fazenda, explained how tourism in Portugal could benefit from these new routes. “It’s a very positive impact, not only economically, but also in terms of diversifying our offer, because it’s a new tourist asset, both in cultural and religious terms,” he said.
The entities that conceived this project say that the Centenary Way offers an experience from the personal and spiritual to the tourist level, which should be valued. Pedro Pimpão also explained the importance of the safety kit that will be distributed free of charge to pilgrims. “It’s a small bag with a rain poncho, a bottle of water, an information leaflet, a small flashlight and a cap,” said the ACF leader.
News published in Jornal de Notícias