The Way of Sant James

• The Andalusian city hosts the audiovisual exhibit “Way of St. James, a contemporary pilgrimage experience”, which takes a sentimental journey through this route.
• The Xacobeo Manager and members of the International Committee of Experts in the Way of St. James  and the Chair of the Way and Pilgrimages are taking part in the gathering.
• Turismo de Galicia will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the declaration of the Way of St. James as the First European Cultural Route with a special program.

Santiago de Compostela, 20 October 2017

Turismo de Galicia is currently participating in the 10th International Congress of Xacobeo Associations, being held in Antequera (Málaga). The Andalusian city welcomes this triennial gathering that, for 30 years, has been bringing together pilgrims and specialists on the Way of St. James. Galicia, as the end point of the pilgrimage, is present at this event through an exhibit and is contributing several speakers to the debate sessions.

Titled Way of St. James. A contemporary pilgrimage experience, the exhibit sponsored by the Galician government offers a selection of photographs and a film that goes on a sentimental journey of the various Xacobean routes. This exhibit is the work of photographer Manuel Valcárcel and musician Alexandro González, who take a look at what drives the pilgrims and at their relationship with the nature and the cultural heritage that surrounds them and with the local towns they cross on their pilgrimage toward Santiago de Compostela.

The Congress, attended by people from several countries and organized by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Friends of the Way of St. James, features the presence of the Xacobeo Manager, Rafael Sánchez, who today is taking part in the roundtable,At the foot of the Way.

Also sharing their experiences and knowledge are other specialists in the Way, along with the president of the Committee of Experts of the Way of St. James, Paolo Caucci, and Adeline Rucquoi, the co-director of the Chair of the Way of St. James and Pilgrimages, sponsored by the Galician regional government, the Universidad de Santiago and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, who in the closing presentation will discuss The European Dimension of the Way of St. James from its Origins.

Symbol of European identity

This reflection comes three days before the start of the Turismo de Galicia program that will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the declaration of the Way of St. James as the First European Cultural Route. This event will combine gatherings, seminars and congresses attended by members of the most important community institutions, a concert by Amancio Prada at the Cathedral of Santiago and an official act, full of symbolism, that will recall the profound contributions of the Way of St. James as a key space in building the European identity.

Proof of its universal appeal is the variety of countries present on the Route, with pilgrims from 177 different nationalities reported so far this year. Of the more than 280,000 pilgrims received, a record number in the history of the route, 55% were foreigners.