If you’re coming from the north on your way to Fátima, or from the south on your way to Santiago de Compostela, you’ll inevitably pass through the Sicó Outdoor Centre. Between mountains and valleys, this region is crisscrossed by ancient Pilgrimage Routes that have guided footsteps and prayers for centuries. More than just a place to pass through, it’ is an encounter with the landscape, the heritage – and with yourself.
Pilgrimage
Routes
Pilgrimage Routes in the Sicó Outdoor Centre
Preparing for your pilgrimage through this region? On the Pilgrimage Route interactive map, you’ll find the Northern Way, Carmelita Route and Portuguese Way, with accommodation, restaurants and points of interest signposted along the way.
Carmelita Route
Want to take the Carmelita Route? Venture along the path inspired by the life of Sister Lucia, one of the seers of the Fátima apparitions. The route connects Coimbra to the Fátima Sanctuary and includes variants in the Sicó Outdoor Centre region, passing through mountains with panoramic views, peaceful forests, hospitable villages and places that invite prayer. Along these routes, you can also visit chapels, churches, shrines and other elements of the architectural and religious heritage that reinforce the link between faith, culture and nature.
Chosen the Santiago da Guarda Variant of the Carmelita Route? Get ready for a journey that is as much spiritual as it is cultural, and don’t forget to make a stop at the Senhora da Orada Chapel, a 16th-century gem where the interlaced wooden ceiling, the Hispano-Moorish tiles and the gilded carved vault tell stories of faith and art. Close by is the Monumental Complex of Santiago da Guarda, which invites you to travel back in time through its medieval tower, Manueline palace and Roman ruins.
Prefer a shorter, quieter route? The Alvaiázere Variant is ideal for those seeking serenity. Between gentle landscapes and signs of popular devotion, this route takes you to the imposing Alvaiázere Parish Church – the perfect place for a silent prayer or a moment of reflection.
Northern Way
The Northern Way, one of the main pilgrimage routes to Fátima, connects the north to the centre of Portugal, passing through Ansião and Alvaiázere. The route passes through towns and villages, as well as along paths surrounded by rivers, mountains and valleys, offering unique moments of faith and communion with nature. You can meditate along the Pilgrimage Routes, pause to enjoy the scenery, have a picnic in the Nabão Verde Park or visit some of the local religious landmarks, such as the Alvaiázere Parish Church and the Nossa Senhora da Paz Chapel.
Along Stage 14 (Rabaçal – Ansião) of the Northern Way, you can walk through picturesque villages and karst landscapes and visit places of devotion, such as the Alvorge Parish Church, with its exuberant gilded woodwork and altar painted by Belchior da Fonseca, and the delicate Granja Chapel, adorned with Hispano-Arab tiles and 16th-century sculptures.
Stage 15 (Ansião – Bofinho) becomes more challenging as it crosses the Serra de Alvaiázere, passing through native oak forests and fields of wild orchids. Along the way, it’s worth stopping at Ansião Parish Church, and the simple Venda do Negro Chapel, places that invite contemplation and inner silence.
Stage 16 (Bofinho – Seiça) takes you along authentic Pilgrimage Routes that wind through agricultural valleys, ancient olive groves and small villages, leading to one of the most special stops in your pilgrimage: a moment of introspection surrounded by the serenity of nature, next to the Olho do Tordo spring, where water gushes from a deep well to form a stream.
Portuguese Way
The famous central route of Portuguese Way also crosses the Sicó Outdoor Centre region on its way to Santiago de Compostela, with sections that can be combined with other routes. However, regardless of the route you choose, you’ll pass by the most emblematic places in Ansião and Alvaiázere, always immersed in the region’s rich spirituality, as well as its cultural and religious heritage.
On the Portuguese Way between Tomar and Alvaiázere you can let yourself be enveloped by the tranquillity of landscapes shaped by the waters of the River Nabão, olive groves and charming small villages. Along the Way, the deep green of nature will provide moments of contemplation, particularly in the Mata do Carrascal Botanical Park, where you can rest your legs and enjoy the panoramic view.
On another variant, between Alvaiázere and Alvorge, the Portuguese Way winds through walled fields and country lanes, in a serene setting ideal for reflection. Towards the end of this stage, it’s worth visiting the 17th- and 18th-century Misericórdia Chapel, a place of worship rich in architectural and historical details.
Sites of Worship
Alvorge, Ansião and Alvaiázere are living testimonies of faith, marked by chapels and churches visited by travelling along the Pilgrimage Routes. Come and discover these towns in the Sicó Outdoor Centre region, and take the opportunity to appreciate the architectural and artistic elements that bear witness to the region’s rich religious tradition.
Alvorge is a crossing point for pilgrims on the Pilgrimage Routes, whether they follow the Northern Way, the Portuguese Way or the Carmelita Route, including the Santiago da Guarda variant. If you pass through, take the opportunity to visit the Misericórdia Chapel and the Parish Church. These places of worship, adorned with rich architectural and artistic details, are eager to welcome you for a moment of reflection.
Located along key Pilgrimage Routes, the town of Ansião also welcomes pilgrims following the Northern Way, the Portuguese Way and the Carmelita Route. Its emblematic places of worship is the Constantina Chapel (or Nossa Senhora da Paz Chapel), built in the 17th century after the “Miracle of the Holy Fountain” and now classified as a Public Monument. The imposing Ansião Parish Church is another serene place to stop and reflect, as is the Misericórdia Church, which surprises with its rich religious art and the painting of the Arms of Portugal on the ceiling.
The Alvaiázere variant of the Carmelita Route or the Portuguese Way offers another opportunity to walk sections of the Pilgrimage Routes between places where spirituality is intertwined with history, such as the Alvaiázere Parish Church, featuring 16th-century sculptures and baroque gilded woodwork. And if you’re willing to stray a little from your route, take a look at the Nossa Senhora dos Covões Chapel. About 5km from the town centre, in the mighty Serra de Alvaiázere, this haven of peace is next to the shrine that commemorates the Senhora da Memória apparitions.
Tips and Advice for Pilgrims
CREDENTIALS
Find out about tourist offices, hostels, churches and other places where you can get your Pilgrim’s Credential stamped. For more efficient planning, you can also search for accommodation and points of interest on the route maps.
EQUIPMENT
Choose equipment suitable for long walks, including comfortable shoes, layered clothing, a rucksack, sunscreen and/or rain protection. And don’t forget to take a hiking stick and a basic first aid kit with foot care products.
REFLECTION
Take advantage of moments of respite in places of worship along the Pilgrimage Routes to meditate and reflect, always respecting chapels, churches and other places of worship.
SAFETY
Take the usual precautions when hiking, especially on stretches of road where you should remain vigilant for traffic. Take useful numbers with you, including emergency numbers, to ensure your safety during your pilgrimage.
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