The Way of Sant James

• Xacobeo Manager Rafael Sánchez took part in the Intergroup ‘Development of European Tourism, Cultural Heritage, Ways of Saint James and other European Cultural Routes’

Santiago de Compostela, 2 December 2017

Having concluded the extensive programme of commemorative activities with which Turismo de Galicia celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Way of St James as a European Cultural Route this autumn, this week it was time to take stock.  This was done by Xacobeo Manager Rafael Sánchez, who took part in the meeting of the European Parliament Intergroup ‘Development of European Tourism, Cultural Heritage, Ways of Saint James and other European Cultural Routes’.

Rafael Sánchez’s presentation to this group of Eurodeputies discussed the current status of the Way of St James, particularly its increasing international dimension: pilgrims of more than 180 different nationalities have reached the Galician capital so far this year. In addition, the Xacobeo manager described what went into the creation of Ways of Saint James in Europe, a newly issued map which includes 80,000 kilometres of officially signed pilgrimage routes in 28 countries on our continent, and 23 maritime routes. As he noted, more than 50 groups from throughout Europe associated with the Way of St James contributed to producing this new map.

Sánchez also reviewed the operation and aims of the European Federation of the Way of St James, which is made up of nine territorial entities and has plans to expand that number: Galicia and Asturias (representing Spain), Vila Pouca de Aguiar (Portugal), Le Puy-en-Velay (France), Namur (Belgium), Kuyavia–Pomerania (Poland), Assisi (Italy), Rotenburg (Germany) and a large group of municipalities on the Way of St James in Lithuania.

Activities in Jaca and Almería

This weekend, the Autonomous Community of Galicia was also present at the opening of the 30th Anniversary International Jacobean Conference in Jaca (Huesca).

Meanwhile, Turismo de Galicia’s promotional activities around the Jacobean phenomenon continued with the travelling exhibition Hospitality on the Way of St James. The show, which features photographs by Manuel G. Vicente and highlights this aspect of the pilgrimage, opened yesterday and will be on view until 21 December at the Maestro Padilla Auditorium in Almería.