Camino Portuguese, Lisbon and Porto- 2025

Sneak preview of our arrival in Santiago, 3 weeks after landing in Portugal. 

Full touring days in Lisbon and Porto before starting the Camino Portuguese. 

EXPLORING LISBON

Big walk up from the river....this tram was very tempting! 

CASTILLO S. JORGE 

Restaurant sign depicts where castle was positioned in relation to the Roman town on the hill- siege machine attacking near the Viking boats 

 

View to the rio 

50-60 peacocks screeching inside the castle grounds! 

1755 earthquake revealed the Roman presence from 2000  years ago 

Timeline of Lisbon's evolution 

Inside the castle walls

Culture clash ☺️

Archeological digs explained by a very animated tour guide- free with our entry ticket! 

Unbelievably ancient section of this excavation- 7th  century BC Phoenician foundations 

Above this layer are younger layers- Roman (5th c. BC to 4th c. AD)

Christians following the Romans, then Moors until the 11th century 

Lisbon street scene from the 17th. century ☺️

After touring the Castillo we went to a Fado show accompanied by a tasty dinner of traditional Portuguese food

Exploring PORTO! 

Wandering Porto- love this gem of a little city....view from the Pont Luis looking down the rio Douro 

And now a view UP the river 

Caution required! 

Walking down the beautiful alleys that all lead to the river

Hanging out the laundry..

Busker near the Luis bridge 

Cruising the Douro River on the 5 Bridges Tour 

View across the Douro  

Burmeister Port Wine Tour 

Hung out at the cathedral every evening....vibrant! The music was just amazing, 

People getting up to dance and socialize....

Our accommodation was a 5 minute walk away and was right beside a huge food court which was integrated with the old railway station. 

Took the metro and bus to Esposende with very helpful people pointing us in the right direction.  English very prolific in Portugal as they take it in school from grade 4. The urban (concrete and asphalt) walking too tough on this gal's legs.  Google maps by bicycle or car- 52 kms. 

ESPOSENDE to VIANA de CASTILO- 23 kms. 

Calla lilies growing wild everywhere 

Only 208 kms. to go. 

Starting to do some serious walking- ready to go, go, go! 

After a lovely stretch through woodland, we enjoyed this bridge over the river 

Destination of Castillo Viana- 

Beautiful Paco d'Anha - charming Vila surrounded by vine yards 

Sunset at Paco d'Anha 

Met some lovely gals our first full day of walking.  They kept going up the coast while we took the Variant. 

ANHA accommodation TO ANCORA - 

Love this lighthouse which guides in the boats to safe harbour 

ANCORA to VILA NOVA de CERVEIRA 

20 kms. 

Along the waterfront from Ancora , weather starting to turn quite bad. 

After much murky rain, we made it to Vila Nova de Cerveira. 

Our Youth Hostel accommodation was lovely and very welcoming.  After dinner we explored the castle which overlooked the river. 

Easter decorations in VN de Ceirvera 

Good Friday mass 

Washer woman from centuries ago ....☺️ 

On the coast beside a grain storage 

Thunder, lightning, hail equals train and bus- on time even though it was Easter Sunday....so grateful to see the bus appear in the pouring rain. 

VILA NOVA de CERVEIRA  to REDONDELA and PONTEVEDRA  

Wet and chilly....time to take a break! 

Time to find a lavadora- soooo many! Many pilgrims needed to dry out from the torrents of rain and blustery winds. 

VARIANT ESPIRITUAL- 3 days 

PONTEVEDRA to ARMENTEIRA 20 kms. 

So excited 🎉 to spot the sign for the VARIANT ESPIRITUAL 

Beautiful ARMENTERIA Monastery 

A few crypts near the Monastery 

Market day for Easter 

Pulpo time! 

From 2018 in Melide on the Camino Frances 

Cheers and Hooray to Denmark! 

Quite a lengthy walk from the Monastery to our accommodation....which was absolutely lovely!

 

ARMENTERIA  -RIBUDEMIA

11 kms. 

Ruta de Pedra y Agua- take your time on this stage and savour each moment 

Walking away from Laredo Pension 

Vineyards throughout this region 

With "Kentucky Man", alias Dan- W. met up with him on the train to Porto 2 weeks later!   Yes, we talked politics....😱

Water mills to grind the grains and....a museum! 

Beautiful walk along the river- yes, you can do the Camino by horseback! 

Which way should we go? 

Cyclists everywhere, a very popular option to do a Camino

RIBUDEMIA- VILANOVA DE AROUSA

 

22 kms. modified ;-)

We took a wrong turn....shoulda walked across the bridge!! 😱

Vilanuevo Arosa to Padron by boat

(Alternative by road)

Book Barca Peregrino ahead! 

Now we are 3 peregrinas! 

Welcome, Frances! Flew from Scotland, grabbed a bus in Dantiago and came down to VD Arosa! 

8:00 am sunrise departure 🎉 Sadly, not on this beauty....

Beautiful memorials lit up by the sunrise along the River 

Viking boat replica seen behind us....

Exploring Padron starting at its harbour  

PADRON TO SANTIAGO- 27 kms.

CELEBRATION TIME WITH EMILIO! 

Mass to commemorate our Camino Portuguese

My credencial

Last Sunset