After yesterday’s stage, the Camino de Santiago gives us a short stage to recover strength before entering Oporto.
Let’s go on the Camino Portugues!
This stage is the prelude to Porto. Many pilgrims will be tempted to complete the stage in a single day, but we recommend dividing the tour into two short stages. The most beautiful thing about this stage awaits us in Grijó and the Monastery of San Salvador. However, in Escapães some pilgrims will have a pleasant and emotional surprise.
If you are thinking about walking the Camino de Santiago from Coímbra tell us what your plans are for the Camino de Santiago and we will contact you to advise you on everything you need.
Itinerary stage São João da Madeira – Grijó
Today’s stage is a route of 19 kilometres, with some steep ascents and descents, which will become harder than expected, due to the bad state of the paths.
São João da Madeira (Km. 0). Beginning of stage
Practical tips for this section: In this section, many of the signalling arrows are discoloured and are almost imperceptible. You have to be very attentive. Buen Camino!
Today’s stage begins in Rua Antonio José de Oliveira Junior, which starts from the circular plaza of Largo Luís Ribeiro. 500 metres later we pass by the Museo da Chapelaria and arrive in front of a petrol station.
We turn left onto Rua da Fundição, passing by some factories, one of them transformed into a creative and business centre. We continue along Rua da Várzea, right, up to a roundabout. We then cross it and continue to the locality of Arrifana (km. 1.6).
Following the Pilgrim’s Way, we cross the old town, pass by a small square with a cross, a chapel and finally to the Main Church, which stands out for its tile façade.
To the left of the church, we find a ramp that leads to the beginning of Rua Professor Vicente Reis, which we follow until the end to continue along Rua Bada de Música, Rua Outeiro, Rua Ramalhal and Rua Aldeia Nova. In this section the dates are often discoloured, so on many occasions, we can only guess where to go.
When we reach a corner café, we turn right on Rua dos Bombeiros Voluntários. In Rua de Santo António we turn right again and we arrive at a church with a modern belfry. We are in the neighbourhood of Infestas, the Parish of Escapães.
Escapães – barrio de Infestas (Km. 3,8)
Practical tips for this section: We recommend a visit to the Santo António-Casa da Árvore children’s home. The welcome that the children of this school make is very endearing and perhaps it is one of the best memories that you take from this experience. Buen Camino!
We passed by the Santo António – Casa da Árvore Children’s home, where a poster invites the pilgrims to ring the bell. From here the pilgrim path continues in a strong ascent until reaching the N-1 road, which we continue to the left by a wide pavement.
We continue the walk for 2.5 kilometres along the keeping on the left-hand side, passing by roadside restaurants, crucifixes with flowers from people who died on the road, car and tyre workshops and various small chapels. After the Pedra Bella Restaurant, the arrows indicate that we must cross over to the right-hand side. It must be done with caution because this point is quite dangerous and there is no pedestrian crossing (km. 6.9).
After crossing the road, take a detour on the right-hand side Rua da Estrada Romana. At once, we reached a beautifully paved road of about 100 metres, surrounded by trees. The section corresponds to the layout of the old Roman road.
We cross a small road and we continue straight to link again with the Roman road, which this time, runs for 400 metres with a pavement of stone slabs.
Then, we go through an endless number of urbanizations, where old houses are combined with modern homes. The pilgrim path goes into Estrada Real, where we go down to a petrol station and cross the district of Ferrada, finding numerous granaries.
Continuing straight, between chalets and small houses, we reach a small grove.
Without leaving Estrada Real, we pass by a deposit at the top of the Iocal factory, and we enter a village of narrow streets. In this place, the route advances by Rua Romana, parallel to the national road, until finally going out to meet up with it. We follow the cobbled pavement of the road for 500 metres and left it by a curve where there is a shrine. We find ourselves in the Parish of Mozelos.
Mozelos (Km. 13,4)
Practical tips for this section: Today’s stage has no great attractions, so let yourself be seduced by the small towns and villages. Buen Camino!
Continue straight onto Rua Central da Vergato, passing by a business and an exhibition of sculptures, mostly religious images. by Rua Joaquin do Porto, turn left and cross the road over a pedestrian crossing.
We continue along Rua de Ermilhe, on a steep descent, and we enter a paved street on the right. The arrows lead us to cross the road again and to go up Rua Nossa Senhora dos appears, going towards Nogueira da Regedoura.
We descend on a paved street and asphalt in a bad state of repair, to turn right by Rua do Bairro Manuel Lima, which leads us to cross the viaduct of the A-41 motorway. We arrive at a small chapel and soon, a modern urbanization. We cross the residential complex by a cobblestone street which is named Ru da Urbanização.
Following the indications of the arrows and stones on the Camino de Santiago, we arrive at some paved roads, except for a small stretch of land, surrounded by rubble. We return then to the cobblestones and pass by the chapel of Santa Rita, in the Parish of Grijó.
From the chapel, we go down a small cobblestone road that passes under the A-1 motorway bridge. Next to a small roundabout, we will find the stone wall of a wooded estate, owned by the Monastery of São Salvador.
Following the wall along the cobbled street, we pass by the Pilgrims’ hostel and, 50 metres later, at a crossroads with a cross. A few metres further ahead, we will find the urban centre of Grijó.
Grijó (Km. 19). End of stage
Practical tips for this section: The entrance to the locality can be somewhat dangerous, if you want, you can cross the cemetery and thus avoid the edge of the road. See you tomorrow!
Grijó is a small town that will allow us to finish recovering our strength to make our entrance tomorrow in Porto. The Monastery of San Salvador will be on your way, but if you want, you can unload your backpack and then make the visit.
Comments stage São João da Madeira – Grijó
Today’s stage does not present great difficulties, however, given the condition of the paving, it is advisable to take certain precautions. Here are some tips to complete the stage without any alarms and to enjoy the gastronomy of this region.
Precautions stage São João da Madeira – Grijó
The greatest difficulty of this stage is the paving along the route, mostly on cobbled pavements in poor condition, with tunnels, and along stretches of secondary roads where the hard shoulders are conspicuous by their absence.
On rainy days, the situation gets worse, as the cobblestones are very slippery and it is easy to end up with a sprained ankle.
Gastronomy stage São João da Madeira – Grijó
During today’s stage, we will approach the gastronomy of Oporto. Feel free to try any of the following dishes during the day.
- Lamprey
- Sardines
- Cod
- Goat
- Broa Avintes (Local Bread)
- Velhoes da Braguesa (Local pastries)
- Sweet Bread and Dry Soup
- Leite Creme Queimado (Cream Caramel)
Services stage São João da Madeira – Grijó
Meet the main health care services, cafes, ATMs, restaurants and are in this stage of the Portuguese Way of St. James.
Map stage São João da Madeira – Grijó
Consult the map with the route, points and towns along the stage.
Profile stage São João da Madeira – Grijó
Consult the profile of the stage: altitude and degree of difficulty of each section.
What to do stage São João da Madeira – Grijó
Unfortunately, this stage does not have many places of historical and/or tourist interest. It passes by some places with a certain charm and concludes in Grijó, where we will be able to visit the Monastery of San Salvador. Below we give more details.
Escapães
Escapães is a Parish in the Council of Santa Maria da Feira. It has an area of almost six square kilometres and a population of 3,300 inhabitants.
In the small village, you can visit the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Necessidades, a stone cross, the Main Church of São Martinho, the Chapel of Santo António and the houses of Valen Grande and Fidalga.
Mozelos
Mozelos is a Parish of the concelho of Santa Maria da Feira. The villa has a surface area of five square kilometres and a population of 7,000 inhabitants.
In its streets, you can visit the Main Church of São Martinho, the Chapel of Pinheiro Das Sete Cruzes and a stone cross.
Grijó
Grijó is a Parish in the Council of Vilanova de Gaia, from the district of Porto. It has 10,500 inhabitants. The town, being very small, is known for the book Morgadinha dos Conaviais, set there.
Its name comes from the Latin Igriji, which means small church. This is because before building the Monastery of San Salvador, in the village there were many small temples that rose to venerate the saints. Today, its main attraction is the Monastery of San Salvador.
Monastery of San Salvador
The Monastery of San Salvador is located at the foot of the Camino de Santiago in its passage through Grijó. The building dates from 922 and was the work of two brothers who were priests, Guterre and Ausindo Soares. The construction was carried out with the aim of giving shelter to the monks of the Order of Saint Augustine, who occupied the enclosure until the end of the 16th century.
In 1572 an important renovation of the building was carried out, which did not conclude until 1629. Later, in 1770, the property of the monastery was transferred to the new convent in Mafra.
The monastery is made up of the church and the cloister. The temple presents a single nave and its façade is characterized by the eclectic style of its architectural elements. This one is divided into three heights.
In the first one stands the portico, flanked by half-point arcades, in the second one a large window stands outflanked by reliefs with the figures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, each in a niche. Finally, on the upper floor, there are two other small windows that follow the same style as the central floor.
The set is topped by a triangular pediment. In the centre of this, there is a clock on which a cross is supported.
In the interior of the church, the set of six side chapels stand out, each decorated with an altarpiece of the head of the temple is covered by a vault of panels ornamented with geometric elements. Under this one is the major altarpiece, where the Transfiguration of Christ is represented.
The cloister is divided into two floors that are distributed around a square-floored courtyard. The first floor consists of a set of Ionic columns and the second one by Corinthian columns. The most important thing about this construction is its composition of polychromatic tiles representing the apostles and the masters of the monastery.
On the north side of the cloister lies the tomb of Don Rodrigo Sancho, the illegitimate son of King Sancho I. This sepulchre is considered the oldest Portuguese funeral monument, thanks to the statue placed on it.
