On the third day of my Portuguese Way of Saint James, I had to walk 25.7 km from Esposende to the town of Viana do Castelo.
The route did not go along the ocean but followed the classic Camino Portugues Coastal route through Marinhas, Belinho, Castelo do Neiva, Chafe, Vila Nova de Anha, and Viana do Castelo.
There are more pilgrims on the Coastal Route than on the Litoral Way. There are also many churches and places where you can get the stamp.
Autumn morning, the last look at Esposende. The morning hours are the most pleasant on the way – it is still fresh, and you are full of strength and enthusiasm.
The Forte de São João Baptista can be seen ahead (map). There were several such forts on the way.
The fort in the rays of the morning sun
Далі на шляху зустрілася церква Igreja matriz de São Miguel Arcanjo das Marinhas (Головна церква Архангела Сан-Мігеля морської піхоти, мапа), в якій я поставила печатку в паспорт пілігрима
Further along the way I met the church Igreja matriz de São Miguel Arcanjo das Marinhas (Main Church of the Archangel São Miguel, map), where I stamped the pilgrim’s passport
Interior of the Church of Archangel San Miguel
A sign for pilgrims
On the way in the city of Marinhas I met the cross Cruzeiro de São João no lugar do Monte em Marinhas and the chapel Capela de São João do Monte – map
In the town of Belinho, I saw a church Igreja Paroquial de Belinho (map)
The road often went through the forest and went uphill
Chapel in the town of Antas – Capela de N. Sr.a dos Remédios (map), and next to it is a sculpture of a pilgrim
Pilgrim sculpture near the chapel
The road went through the forest
On the way I met such a pilgrim altar
The road began to get harder
And then the road became like this – narrow, with roots and stones. On the way, several cyclists were dragging their bicycles along this path
The road descended to the Rio Neiva and the bridge
Pointer in the direction of Castelo do Neiva
After the thickets, the road went through the town
Albergue Dom Nausti (map)
A cute detail of the path
Then I saw the church Igreja de Santiago de Castelo de Neiva (map)
Near the church, I saw a large number of pilgrims were relaxing. Here I put another stamp.
Interior of the Church of St. James in Castel de Neiva
Pilgrim sculpture near the Church of St. James in Castel de Neiva
Church and monastery of Saint Roman in Neiva (map) Igreja e Mosteiro de São Romão do Neiva
The main church of the parish of St. James in Vila Nova de Aña – Igreja Matriz da Paróquia de São Tiago de Vila Nova de Anha (map)
The city of Viana do Castelo has already appeared in the distance, on the mountain is the Church of Santa Lucia.
The last hours of the journey are the most difficult – firstly, you are already very tired, and secondly, it is very hot.
It is interesting that this is already the third city that I enter on the bridge over the river.
This bridge was built in 1877-1878 according to the project of Gustave Eiffel and is called the Eiffel Bridge – Ponte Eiffel (map)
But in the end, I came to my hotel, then bought a new charger in the shopping center and even took the funicular up the mountain to the Church of St. Lucia.
Statistics for today
Portugal
Porto
Hotels
- Residencial Princesa do Ave, Vila do Conde
- Baixinho Guest House, Vila Praia de Âncora
- Hotel Terra Linda, Viana do Castelo
- River Zen House, Esposende
