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Wise Pilgrim APPA small town but the first in a while with anything resembling suburban sprawl — welcome proof that civilisation hasn't abandoned this stretch entirely. Services are plentiful by the standards of the preceding 50 km: bars, shops, a pharmacy, and accommodation.
The albergue is near the church at the upper end of town, with a laundromat beneath it. O'Bras, a reliable restaurant, is along the bike path at the top. The ruins of the Castelo de Alvaiazere are visible on the hillside above but there's not much left to see.
The hills around here are limestone country, covered in olive groves. The name Alvaiazere derives from the Arabic al-bazira — the falconer.
The Arabic origins of the name — and of Alvorge further along the camino — are reminders of the centuries of Moorish presence in central Portugal. The Reconquista pushed through here in the 12th century, but the linguistic traces remain embedded in the landscape.
There are several roads out of town, but the camino is well marked. Still, pay close attention to the arrows and if you are a pre-dawn walker, you are advised to check it out in advance.Leave town by way of the road in front of the church, turning right at a B large palm tree.
