Monsanto - Fátima

From Monsanto, reaching Fátima is more of a challenge, passing through mountainous areas that rise above the landscape. Time moves slower because the slopes are steep, offset by the sweeping landscapes and ancient trails shaped by shepherds, travellers and pilgrims who defied the altitudes, walking alongside stone walls built by several generations of mountain populations. 

To discover Minde is to have conquered the Serra de Aires e Candeeiros Nature Park, a land of limestone where excess water creates inland seas and amazing reliefs are carved into the rock. The park is a paradise for caving-lovers, who can explore a number of caves and pits therein. From the park’s peak, the Polder of Minde, a vast lagoon that forms when the grounds cannot absorb any more water, can be seen during the winter months.

The village of Minde has developed thanks to the weaving industry and the entrepreneurial spirit of its inhabitants. An example of this is the creation of their own dialect, minderico, a secret code spoken by the manufacturers and merchants of blankets.

From here the path continues towards  Fátima, the final destination of the pilgrim's journey. From the top of the road into Fatima you can see the Shrine of Fátima, the Altar of the World.