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Tourism: Compostela, pilgrimage also by sea
Filed Under EN
(ANSAmed) – ROME, MAY 29 – Santiago de Compostela is a major
destination for travelers from around the world. But reaching it
on foot along the celebrated pilgrimage route, an effort shared
by past and present pilgrims, is not the only way possible.
Some in the past travelled to Galicia by sea, only walking
through the last part leading to Santiago and this year a
similar initiative is kicking off: pilgrims and travelers will
be able to sail off for free, working as a crew under the
”nautical Jacobean crossing”.
The initiative vies to remember the ‘traslatio’ by sea of
apostle James and commemorate the pilgrimage to Compostela of
Saint Francis of Assisi on the eighth centennial.
The crossing whose itinerary was presented in Rome by, among
others, Spain’s ambassador to Italy, Francisco Javier Elorza, is
organized for the first year by the agency of tourism of Galicia
in cooperation with the association of nautical clubs of the
Spanish region (Asnuga) and will take place between June and
July along two routes which will both lead to Rias Baixas in
Galicia.
The Atlantic route will leave from England on July 6 and
touch Ireland and France while the Mediterranean route will
leave from Genoa on June 15 and will follow a longer itinerary
that will reach Toulon in France, Palma de Mallorca Torrevieja,
Cartagena, Roquetas, Marbella e Cadice, in Spain; Portimao,
Sines, Cascais, Figueira da Foz, Porto, in Portugal, and finally
Portonovo and Cabo de Cruz in Galicia.
Two fleets of at least 40 boats will sail over 210 and 1,500
miles respectively. From Ria de Arpousa participants will leave
for Santiago de Compostela following the route of the sea in
Arousa and Rio Ulla.
The program is open to pilgrims and tourists. ”We thought
the initiative could attract more youths and instead noticed
that so far participants have an average age of 50-60 years”,
explained Javier Ruiz Cortazar Diaz, president of Asnauga.
This is a sign that more mature tourists are willing to make
an effort and experiment a different types of pilgrimage also
consisting of hard work on board ships. Many participants have
already signed on with many requests coming not only from Spain
but from other European countries as well, including Italy.
The idea, Cortazar Diaz said, ”is to try and
institutionalize the initiative to launch it annually”.
On the web are all indications on how to apply: participants
can use two types of boats – private sailboats which can take
the whole route or just follow for part of the way, and
schooners which will carry travelers for free during the
crossing in exchange for work onboard. Participants with their
own boat can also follow the route for free.
Food, technical support, maintenance and some of the expenses
for boats travelling from a faraway location will be partly
covered. Other activities have also been organized to coincide
with the initiative: Compostela will host the exhibits ”Auga
Doce” and the ”Path of Francis”.
Over the next few months, the modern art show ”On the Road”
will be inaugurated at Pazo de Xelmirez and in the church and
cemetery of Bonaval in Santiago. (ANSAmed).
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