Carmelites Route – Rota Carmelita – Portugal

The Carmelites route is a Path to Fátima in the territory of Central Portugal, between Coimbra and the Sanctuary of Fátima. Known as Rota Carmelita, this thematic itinerary is inspired by the life and work of Sister Lúcia, one of the three child visionaries of Fátima, who in 1947 entered the Carmelo de Santa Teresa in Coimbra and lived there until her death in 2005. The route begins at Carmelo de Santa Teresa, next to Sister Lúcia’s memorial. It is 111 km long, along many trails for hikers, where nature is beautiful and life is peaceful.

The Carmelites route proposes tourism and spiritual evolution

The Carmelites Route is a proposal for discovering the territory, where it is possible to enjoy the landscape and culture. The fauna and flora, the mountains and the water courses crossed, offer great natural richness during the journey. The chapels along the way, the contact with people, the historical heritage spaces, are all good reasons to experience the Carmelites route!

Being a path of Carmelite inspiration, this Route is also an invitation to travel kilometers in the spiritual evolution to which we are all called. For religious people, it is a Route that finds inspiration for this journey in the life and work of Sister Lúcia. For everyone, it is an invitation to take an inner journey in communion with the elements that surround us.

Starting from the Carmel of Santa Teresa in Coimbra, the Carmelite Route is an invitation to reach the Sanctuary of Fátima through 111 km crossing the municipalities of Coimbra, Condeixa-a-Nova, Rabaçal, Ansião, Bofinho, Seiça and Fátima. It is an alternative route to the major roads offered to walkers and cyclists.

The 6 stages of the Carmelites Route

Stage 1 Carmelites Route: Coimbra – Condeixa-a-Nova

The Carmelites route begins at Carmelo de Santa Teresa and runs through the council of Coimbra, involving the pilgrim through spaces that invite the enjoyment of nature and religious meditation. Captivating city that has an outside history, with varieties of interesting tourist attractions.

In 1948, Sister Lúcia enters the Carmel of Santa Teresa, giving her life and spreading the message of Fatima. It is possible to visit the Baroque-style Church and the Memorial, where you will find an exhibition dedicated to Sister Lúcia’s entire life. The place houses unique pieces, for personal use, in addition to the recreation of her cell, handwritten texts and samples of correspondence.

From Carmelo, pilgrims can go down through the city to Largo da Portagem (Portagem lake). You can do so through the historic center of Coimbra, with multiple religious and cultural attractions, through the woods of the Botanic Garden or more directly through the Couraça de Lisboa, benefiting from this variant of a panoramic view over the Mondego river, the Monasteries of Santa Clara and the São Francisco Convent.

After crossing the Mondego River towards Santa Clara, you can climb the Calçada da Rainha Santa towards the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova, the third variant, from where you will enjoy a unique view over the city.

The first stage ends in the palatial village of Condeixa-a-Nova, a place with several attractions, from the writer Fernando Namora, to ceramics inspired by Coimbra ceramics from the 17th century. XVII, to the roasted Goat dish or even to the sweet Escarpiada. Condeixa-a-Nova is a place with a unique centrality, a municipality with unique resources that punctuate the Carmelites Route in the next stage.

Stage highlights:

• Distance: 16 km
• Approximate duration: 3h50m
• Memorial of Sister Lucia
• Coimbra city
• Santa Clara monasteries
• View over the city of Coimbra
• Palatial villa of Condeixa-a-Nova

Stage 2 Carmelites Route: Condeixa-a-nova – Rabaçal

Condeixa-a-Nova is a privileged place for having many stories. A visit to the Interpretive Center of Roman Portugal in Sicó (POROS) and the ruins of Conimbriga, which the Carmelite Route itself crosses, is a must.

The city of Conimbriga was a privileged station on the great Roman road that connected Lisbon to Braga. A visit to the Monographic Museum and the ruins of this city is a must. Villas were built around it, rural residences that you will find throughout this adventure, such as Villa do Rabaçal or Villa de Santiago da Guarda.

After leaving the ruins of Conimbriga, follow the Rio dos Mouros valley with beautiful landscapes. With a length of 4 km, the fluviokarst canyon of this river forms the transition between the Mondego Basin and the Sicó Massif. With extraordinary botanical value and an impressive waterfall, this valley will accompany you to Rabaçal. The route, overlapping with the St. James’ Way, proposes a walk along the right bank of the Rio dos Mouros (Mouros river).

It is in the company of this river that we cross typical places such as Poço, Fonte Coberta or Zambujal, and the Church that is worth visiting. It is this town that says fairwell to the region of Condeixa-a-Nova on Carmelites route.

Stage highlights:

• Distance: 13 km
• Approximate duration: 3h35m
• POROS Museum
• Roman ruins and monographic museum of Conimbriga
• Rio dos Mouros (Mouros river) Fluviokarst Canyon
• Path parallel to the river
• Zambujal Village

Stage 3 Carmelites Route: Rabaçal – Ansião

The Rabaçal Valley and its enchanting natural landscape. Crossed by the Roman road that connected Lisbon to Braga, this Valley has dry and arid soils, with vineyards and olive trees standing out in the landscape, species that are symbols of resistance and longevity.

It is recommended to stop in Rabaçal to visit the Roman Villa (and its museum), and on the way up to Germanelo, the view is beautiful. Alvorge welcomes Ansião, leaving the Rabaçal Valley behind and opening the way to the Santiago da Guarda plains. The road to the village of Ansião is rural, with agricultural land.

In the village of Granja you will find the Chapel of N. Sra. da Orada (Our lady of Orada), the oldest Christian building in Ansião. You can also visit the ruins of a Jesuit Palace with precious inscriptions and the House-Museum of Sicó Fossils.

Stage highlights:

• Distance: 19,50 km
• Approximate duration: 5h50m
• Rabaçal Valley
• Roman Villa of Rabaçal
• Rabaçal Cheese
• Ancient olive trees
• Alvorge and Granja villages
• Santiago da Guarda Monumental Complex

Stage 4 Carmelites Route: Ansião – Bofinho

The fourth stage of the Carmelites route connects the village of Ansião to the village of Bofinho, in the middle of the mountains and in the municipality of Alvaiázere. Until then, Vila de Ansião has some places worth visiting: Ponte da Cal, Parque Verde, Igreja Matriz or Igreja da Misericórdia. And 3 km from Ansião is the Constantina Chapel.

In the outskirts of Venda do Negro we enter the wonderful Gramatinha/Ariques Ecological Park, the largest Iberian stretch of Carvalho-Cerquinho oak tree, a characteristic species of the Sicó Limestone Massif. This intermunicipal park, distributed between the municipalities of Penela, Ansião and Alvaiázere, contains more than eight hundred plant and animal species, including several endemics, such as lilies and wild orchids that make the landscape unique.

The central route of the Rota Carmelita runs through the west of the municipality of Alvaiázere through farms and picturesque places until reaching Bofinho.

Stage highlights:

• Distance: 13,50 km
• Approximate duration: 3 hours
• Ansião Village
• Gramatinha and Ariques Ecological Park
• Alvaiázere Village

Stage 5 Carmelites Route: Bofinho – Seiça

Bofinho is home to the famous “Olho do Tordo”, a water spring that flows from a deep well, transforming into a stream painted white in spring. This resurgence is a geological phenomenon typical of limestone areas, with water coming from the rise of the water table.

Entry to the municipality of Ourém is through Freixianda, where the main church, in honor of Our Lady of Purification, is worth a visit. Admire the painting by Saint Teresa of Ávila, responsible for the reform of this Order in 1562, and discover her admirable texts. Until you reach Seiça, the landscape is through the Medieval Vineyard of Ourém, where ancestral techniques prevail in wine production. The harvesting of grapes from the varieties of Fernão Pires (white must) and Trincadeira (red must) is done exclusively by hand. Enjoy the experience!

Between the villages of Maciço Calcário de Sicó-Alvaiázere and Maciço Calcário Estremenho, we recommend visiting the parish church of Rio de Couros e Caxarias, with its square blessed by Saint Bartholomew.

Stage highlights:

• Distance: 26 km
• Approximate duration: 5h50m
• Olho do Torto (water source and route)
• Villages of Rio de Couros and Caxarias
• Medieval wine from Ourém

Stage 6 Carmelites Route: Seiça – Fátima

In Seiça, we suggest a visit to the Casa Museu, the territory’s cultural reference, and the Main Church. Then the city of Ourém welcomes the last journey of the Carmelites Route. At the entrance to the city, visit the Jacinta Marto Memorial in the Cemetery. In the center, look for the Administrator’s House, a building that welcomed the visionaries in 1917 during their interrogation and which today is an infrastructure dedicated to the dissemination of Ourém’s cultural identity and heritage.

We suggest visiting the Medieval Village of Ourém, an option that will take you to enjoy a stunning view. Enjoy the Gothic Fountain, visit the old Collegiate Church, the Castle and Paço dos Condes and taste the medieval wine and the traditional ginjinha liquor from Ourém. The uniquely beautiful trails take you from Ourém to Fátima.

Before reaching the Sanctuary, pass by the Main Church, whose original building hosted the baptism of the Little Shepherds. We still recommend visiting the village of Aljustrel (shepherds’ houses) and the Hungarian Calvary as an optional option. This location offers a panoramic view over the entire Sanctuary of Fátima, the arrival point of the Carmelites route.

Stage highlights:

• Distance: 23km
• Approximate duration: 5h
• Villages of Seiça and Vale Travesso
• Jacinta Marto Memorial and Administrator’s House in the City of Ourém
• Mother Church of Fatima

Venturing the Carmelites Route is not easy, but it is worth undertaking this pilgrimage journey, with incredible experiences, stunning places and landscapes. And by reaching the end of this route, the pilgrims realize that they have surpassed their limits, emanating a feeling of pride and realization, after an incredible journey.