At the end of town the signage has been improved, and a picnic area has been built but the fountain has not been connected. Turn left here and onto a track to Poço.
Pass left through Poço and descend through the forested hillside all the way to the museum and ruins of Conímbriga.
Conímbriga is not a town as much as it was a town; in fact, it was quite important to the Romans whose footprint still exists here.
Allow for some time to explore the museum, the only option for food or drink is in the visitor center.
Leave by way of the road that exits the site. Turn right at the first intersection, heading straight towards and underneath the highway.
Once past the highway, you will pass a series of hamlets (Valada, Atadoa, Orelhudo, Ribeira de Casconha, and Casconha) before...
Accommodation in Conímbriga
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1 |
Albergue privado de Conímbriga Private
Rua da Lagoa, 15
7 12€ |
At or around Orelhudo a new type of camino marker appears. They are beautiful but not bountiful, always appearing at the beginning and sometimes at the end of town but seldom in the middle. Arrows will keep you on the camino in between them.
To leave town, continue along the road you came in on, past the church, to the roundabout with the clinica.
Turn right there and pass under the N1 highway. Turn left at the next main road and follow it to the town of Pousada. In Pousada turn right past the church and then left...
Accommodation in Cernache
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1 |
Albergue de Cernache Municipal
Álvaro Anes, 37
10 8€ |
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Bigger than the average village but with no services for pilgrims.
The way through town is well marked, as is the way out.
After crossing the N1 turn right, then left both times in the direction that takes you uphill. When you get to a T-intersection, take the steep path straight ahead, up to the Alto de Santa Clara.
Arrows lead you easily out of town, and steeply downhill to an intersection where you turn left to follow a road parallel and immediately adjacent to the highway. The camino crosses over the highway and passes underneath an arch of the Roman aqueduct. You will shortly come to the suburbs of...
Follow the winding cobbled lane downhill all the way to the bridge into Coimbra.
Accommodation in Santa Clara
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1 |
Albergue de Peregrinos Rainha Santa Isabel Parochial
Alto de Santa Clara
18 10€ |
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Coimbra is the third largest Portuguese town along the camino and offers all services and numerous accommodation options, but no pilgrim specific albergues yet... apart from the Santa Clara Convent on the other side of the river.
If you are not staying here, avoid the temptation to skip the route through town; a bit of exploring is in order. Afonso Henriques, first King of Portugal, was born here and is buried in the Monastery of Santa Cruz. The same is true for his eldest son Sancho I. It has two Cathedrals, distinguished with the names Sé Nova...
Coimbra was the capital of Portugal during the 12th and 13th centuries, it lost prominence to the port of Lisbon but gained instead the University of Coimbra which remains the oldest university in the Portuguese speaking world.
Fireworks on the 4th of July, in celebration of Queen Elizabeth of Portugal.
If you are keen to pass through Coimbra, turn left after crossing the bridge and begin following the river walk. It will pass underneath the highway and then veer right to parallel a canal (on your left).
Stay on this paved road through a roundabout and soon you will have a...
Accommodation in Coimbra
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1 |
BE Coimbra Hostels Private
Corvo, 33
Booking.com |
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2 |
Grande Hostel Private
Antonio de Quental, 196
33 18€ Booking.com |
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3 |
Olive Street House Private
Azeiteira, 58
Booking.com |
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4 |
Serenata Hostel Private
Largo da Sé Velha 21-23
50 17€ Booking.com |
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5 |
Hostel Sé Velha Private
Norte, 11/13
Booking.com |
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6 |
Pousada de Juventude Coimbra Private
Henriques Seco, 14
70 11€ Booking.com |
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7 |
Coimbra Portagem Hostel Private
Couraça Estrela, 11
Booking.com |
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8 |
Pensão Santa Cruz Pension
Praça 8 de Maio, 21
Booking.com |
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|
9 |
Hotel Avenida ⭑ Hostal
Emídio Navarro, 37
Booking.com |
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10 |
Hotel Astoria ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Emídio Navarro, 21
Booking.com |
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11 |
Hotel Jardim ⭑⭑ Hotel
Emídio Navarro, 65
Booking.com |
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12 |
Hotel Ibis ⭑⭑ Hotel
Emídio Navarro, 70
Booking.com |
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13 |
Hotel Domus Hotel
Adelino Veiga, 62
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Cross the bridge over the canal which you have been walking along and you are in Adémia de Baixo.
In Fornos, keep to the left at the first fork (a big garage door with blue tiles above). Cross a roundabout and turn uphill all the way to Trouxemil, passing underneath the A1.
Accommodation in Fornos
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1 |
Casa Morais Casa Rural
Rua Capela
Booking.com |
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Pass straight through Trouxemil on the main road. The town is spread out along the road to Sargento Mor which is also spread out along the road. Continuous asphalt the whole way.
A bar and two mini markets along the main road. Follow it all the way to Barcouço (Santa Luzía on some maps).
The camino leaves the road at the start of town near the restaurant Manuel Julio.
Camino Portugues Map 9
Be careful not to follow the old camino arrows which have you follow the N1.
Turn left off the N1 at the start of town. DO NOT stay on the road to Lendiosa.
The camino leaves the N1 and paved roads and into a eucalyptus forest. It will take you to Lendiosa by way of Mala.
When the camino emerges onto a paved road, follow the arrows to...
Turn right at the start of Lendiosa, at the bus stop. The arrows lead you to a road which ends into a trail. This trail will take you to the outskirts of Mealhada, via a roundabout with a statue of Bacchus seated atop a wine barrel.
Vegetarians avert your eyes, Mealhada is Portugal’s center of leitões (suckling pig).
The camino leaves town along the highway towards the suburb of Sernadelo where the private albergue is located. The arrow for the turn-off from the main road is not easy to see but can be recognized for the Restaurante Tipico with its massive awning.
Accommodation in Mealhada
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1 |
Hotel Restaurante Oasis Hotel
Floresta ,Nº39 (N1)
Booking.com |
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2 |
Pensão José Ferreira Castela Hotel
Rua Doutor Paulo Falcão, 10
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The albergue known as Hilário is in Sernadelo and is located just past the turn that takes you off the main road to the right. See map on the previous page.
Accommodation in Sernadelo
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1 |
Albergue de Peregrinos Sernadelo - Hilarios Private
da Restauração 30
16 10€ |
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2 |
Hotel Quinta dos Três Pinheiros Hotel
Estrada Nacional 1
Booking.com |
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Follow the camino around the church and onto the road to Aguim.