From Lisbon to Fátima “Caminho de Fátima” by bike, it's a great experience!
Fátima is a sacred place for Catholics, it’s the place where, according to the Catholic religion, in 1917, Our Lady appeared several times, to speak with 3 little shepherds.
For this reason, every year millions of people from all over the world visit Shrine of Fátima.
May 13, the commemoration of the first Apparition, and October 13, the day of the last Apparition, are the days that attract the greatest number of pilgrims. Around 200,000 people are usually in Fatima on these dates, but for example when Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis were present, it’s estimated that half a million pilgrims were in Fatima.
Like Santiago de Compostela, there are also many people who go to Fátima on foot and by bicycle. For that reason, there are many trails in Portugal to this place.
One of these paths, which I usually do by bike, starts in Lisbon. There are about 160 kilometers to reach Fátima, bit it’s a great experience.
The first part of this path, the one I do on the first day, is about 100 km. It starts in Lisbon Center and finish in the small town of Santarém, where you can visit Gothic style monuments, from SEX XIII and XIV. Here there are several places to sleep (hotels and hostels) and very good restaurants, for me it’s always important. I always ride along the Tagus River, in an area where there are many agricultural land, without traffic (away from the crowds) and where everything is flat, something that allows minimal effort to cycle. This gives me the possibility to enjoy the wonderful landscapes and wildlife. It’s an amazing day that I feel peace and tranquility.
The second day is very different, but also very beautiful. The route is shorter, about 60 km. The Tagus River disappears from the landscape, the trail is in the middle of agricultural land and thousands of olive trees. Now is also the time to make some climbs, something that requires more effort when cycling. It’s a physically more tiring journey, but it’s a healthy tiredness. This gives us a stronger feeling when the final goal is reached - when we arrive at Shrine of Fátima.
In addition to enjoying wonderful landscapes, a feeling of peace and tranquility throughout this tour, you’ll have the possibility to visit Fátima and some small Portuguese villages. You’ll meet other people, those who are also taking this tour and people who live in these places, who have very different lifestyles.
If you need more information about this tour, which I highly recommend, you can contact me by email (info@freebiketourslisbon.com).
