We traveled south from Porto heading to the coastal town of Nazare, stopping in at Coimbra, a well known university town. The uni was established in 1290 in Lisbon relocating to Coimbra in 1537.

We stayed in an Airbnb apartment behind the headland in Nazare. Nazare is world famous for having one of the biggest waves to ever be surfed, breaking alongside the headland.  Unfortunately, nothing much was happening when we were there. I spotted a random figure standing in front of the setting sun.

While in Nazare we explored some of the towns and monasteries scattered inland.

Castelo dos Complarios or the Convent of Christ is a former Roman Catholic convent in Tomar. Portugal was originally a 12th-century Templar stronghold.

On the way to Tomar

Fatima is a famous shrine in the Catholic world. The church forecourt is larger than St Peter’s Square in Rome, and the new church offers space for up to 9,000 Christians.

We saw people crawling on their knees—with and without knee pads—along a 182-metre path, from the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity to the Chapel of Apparitions. They are praying for specific needs or have returned to thank Mary for favours granted.

Fatima’s fame is due to the Apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary that appeared to three shepherd children; the last one, on October 13th 1916, was confirmed as a miracle. A nun prays beneath a wall figurine of one of the children.

Alcobaca's monastery was founded in the medieval period by the first Portuguese King, Alfonso Henriques in 1153. The fifth picture is the kitchen with its rather large chimney.

While wandering through the cloisters I heard the most beautiful singing in this room.

Obidos is a small picturesque walled town with narrow cobbled lanes, a medieval castle and white and yellow houses The town is famous famous for it's annual chocolate festival.

Batalha Monastry

A couple of the statues found in the monastry