The Camino de Santiago Central Portuguese has, since last Sunday, the 5th of March, the stages of Faro the Almodôvar recognized in the field, with the traditional yellow arrows marking the terrain. This work was done by the Camino de Santiago Volunteers Group in the Algarve.
From the Algarve pilgrims, who had already started the signposting of the Camino de Santiago since Faro on July 3, Associação Espaço Jacobeus highlights «the courage with which they continued the mountain range that separates the Algarve from the Alentejo» on this journey.
«In adverse conditions of constant rain and wind, but with the footsteps of someone who has a well-defined destination and a well-designed path, they crossed watercourses and marked the necessary detours for the flood season, as in Ribeira do Vascão», he adds. .
The third and fourth stages, between Salir and Almodôvar, with about 50 kilometers, had an intermediate rest in Ameixial, where the Group of Volunteers got supplies and stayed overnight at the hostel of the Parish Council of Ameixial. This is considered by Susana Sousa as a case of good practice to follow, due to the excellent facilities.
“Accommodation is very important for pilgrims, as they need to replenish their energy to continue their journey the next day. And it can't be too expensive, because a long-distance pilgrim, one who travels from Faro Santiago de Compostela, for example, can spend an average of 40 days away from home. Anything above 15 euros is expensive», he said.
The work of recognition and marking of the Portuguese Central Way in the Algarve had, for example, in the last two stages, the support of the Municipality of Loulé, the Parish Council of Ameixial, the Union of Parishes of Querença, Tôr and Benafim, of the Franciscan Order secular of Faro, the Algarvio Escalfadinhos Marafados Hiking Group and the Ameixial Hiking Festival.
The initiative was made within the scope of a Master's thesis by Susana Sousa, a student at the University of Algarve, and leveraged by the Espaço Jacobeus Association, with the collaboration of the Ameixial Hiking Festival and the Algarvio Escalfadinhos Marafados Hiking Group as well.
This dissertation was supervised by Luís Filipe Oliveira, who even gave a lecture on “historical superficialities referring to the true role of the Order of Santiago in the conquest of southern Portuguese territory”, on March 4, at the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo, in Tavira.
The fourth stage, between Ameixial and Almodôvar, will be covered again on April 29, in the edition of Ameixial Hiking Festival.
The group will enter Almodôvar through Rua do Algarve towards the Church of Santo Ildefonso and will be received at the Museu da Escrita do Sudoeste from 15:30 pm.
Those interested in the Camino de Santiago can participate in the group open to the public that meets at the Igreja de São Francisco, in Faro, on the second Wednesday of each month, between 19pm and 00pm, in “Pilgrims Meeting Point (PEP)” mode, where you can purchase the pilgrim's credential and clear up all kinds of doubts.
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