Shells sold in Porto

[Rainerbernd]

Olá ,

I was often asked where to buy well painted shells in Porto. There is a nice shop called Arte Sacra. It's on the right side of Torre dos Clerigos where the tram tracks go down.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I wońt say it, I won't say it, I won't say it .... Shells should be worn upon completion of the Camino. Ooops, I said it.

 

[natefaith]

Olá ,

I was often asked where to buy well painted shells in Porto. There is a nice shop called Arte Sacra. I´ts on the right side of Torre dos Clerigos were the tram tracks go down.

Great tip. Do you have a photo of one by chance?

 

[Rainerbernd]

Great tip. Do you have a photo of one by chance?

Olá natefaith, I am very sorry. I can't post a photo now, because I can only use our office computer for writing.

 

[natefaith]

No problem, Rainerbernd, I'll just wait to see them in person when we're next in Porto . We get pilgrims all the time who are going back to Porto to catch their flight - I'll mention the shop to them if they're looking for shells.

 

[Rainerbernd]

You can also get shells at Dona Lourdes shop in Rates, next to the albergue

 

[Anemone del Camino]

could you please tell where you came upon this information.

Many sources, including this one for example: https://www.lesbelleslettres.com/livre/1858-mille-fois-a-compostelle

The shell was proof you had reached Santiago, like the compostella. At one point a black market of shells started, people were selling them way before Santiago. The Pope had to intervene!

 

[MichaelSG]

I never did find out what the pope did with all the shells washing up on the shore all over coastal Europe. Was that a Templar chore to collect them?

 

[AdaR]

I wońt say it, I won't say it, I won't say it .... Shells should be worn upon completion of the Camino. Ooops, I said it.

I'm confused. In 2015, I cycled the Camino Frances and saw many pilgrims with a shell on their packs. And we picked up shells in Pamplona to get into the spirit.
Is the Portuguese Camino not the same?
Or is this just one person's opinion about the "right" way to do a Camino?

 

[jsalt]

I'm confused. In 2015, I cycled the Camino Frances and saw many pilgrims with a shell on their packs. And we picked up shells in Pamplona to get into the spirit.
Is the Portuguese Camino not the same?
Or is this just one person's opinion about the "right" way to do a Camino?

Nowadays the modern pilgrim likes to get into the spirit of the camino, and one great way to do that is by wearing the shell on the back of the pack. I always wear one while walking on any camino, especially the little known routes, as it defines me as a pilgrim, not as one of the ubiquitous backpackers, who are seen all over Europe.
Jill

 

[Bradypus]

I am pretty medieval in my approach. I decided that I would only carry a shell after I had reached Santiago. These days I do not always carry one in Spain but I did choose to have one on my rucksack when walking the Via Francigena and the Olavsleden: an invitation to other camino survivors to get together and bore the backsides off each other with our reminiscences

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I'm confused. In 2015, I cycled the Camino Frances and saw many pilgrims with a shell on their packs. And we picked up shells in Pamplona to get into the spirit.
Is the Portuguese Camino not the same?
Or is this just one person's opinion about the "right" way to do a Camino?

It is exactly the same. Shells were intitially the equivalentof the Compostella, given out in Santiago as proof of completion. At one point "illegal selling" of these, as far back from Santiago than Leon (cheating in the Camino is apparwntly nothing new ) got got so bad that the Church tightened down on the scoundrels selling these, issuing only a handful of licenses to vendors in Santiago. In fact it wasn't even just the Church in Santiago that made that decision, but the Pope.

Like everything that comes with consumerism and tourism, now shells that only look like shells in shape but not in colour or texture (nothing like a non industrialised still hand cleaned by a few) are being bought as souvenirs.

Mille fois à Compostelle, a semi-academic historical book on the Camino explainsthis well (semi-academic as in academic reaearch but written for the masses, not a novel) as well as some of the explanations by shells in the Cathedral's museum.

There are those books, novels, that say they identify you as a pilgrim. Believe me, nothing does that, in Spain, as your nylon poly something and Merino wool garb, nack pack and limp, following 3 people and followed by 4, while you are walking a stretch of road noone is their right mind would be on unless walking to Santiago. It's not like in the good old days when pilgrims were few and far between, walking unmarked routes, and quite likely in need of food, water, shelter as there wasn't a bar with cafe con lech and chocolate croissants wvery 5-10 km.

Same with leaving a stone at the Cruz de ferro. Not historically accurate, just another myth promoted by guidebooks. Add to that the illegal ritual of burning clothes on the cliff of Fisterra. But great to do if you want to set the Cabo and be arrested like a couple was last year.

 

[Kanga]

I appreciate people wearing scallop shells. It saves me from humiliating embarrassment - too often have I grinned at strangers in airports, those wearing backpacks and boots, and said "Bon Camino", to be met with puzzled looks.

 

[susilyn]

I appreciate people wearing scallop shells. It saves me from humiliating embarrassment - too often have I grinned at strangers in airports, those wearing backpacks and boots, and said "Bon Camino", to be met with puzzled looks.

Exactly true! I recognized two Pilgrims during mass at the Sé Cathedral in Lisbon because of their shells! I approached them and learned that they were heading to Fátima - same as me! Now I would not have approached them otherwise.
I disaggree with ANEMONE ...you can not distinguish- I want fellow Pilgrims to recognize me likewise.
I am grateful for the individuals who assisted me finding shell to carry with me on my Camino from start to finish.

The Camino will provide.