About 90,000 pilgrims crossed the Minho river bridge that divides the borders of Valença and Tuí (Galicia), reinforcing that “Eurocity” as one of the great routes of the Caminhos de Santiago.
In 2019 there were 88,310 pilgrims who passed or began their pilgrimage in Tui-Valencia, here Minho River, pointing to a gradual growth over the years.
“The number of pilgrims for Eurocity has always been growing and if, last year, 88,310 came to Santiago and requested the Compostelana Bull, in 2014 there were 35,494,000 from all corners of the world,” said the municipality, highlighting growth to double.
“The Jacobean history and symbolism that Valença and Tui bring to the pilgrimages to Santiago have greatly contributed to achieving these numbers,” says the Alto Minho local authority.
Jacobean Year
2021 is Jacobean Year, where more pilgrims are expected on the Compostela routes. According to the Valencia Chamber, impact and cultural promotional actions are being prepared for “the coming times”.
In 2019, 72,361 pilgrims traveled the Portuguese Inland Way, about 5,000 more than in 2018. The Portuguese Inland Way is the second most pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela after the French Way.
Already the Portuguese Coastal Path attracts more and more pilgrims to Valencia. In 2019 there were 15,949, compared to 13,836 of 2018 and the meager 779 of 2014.
Ambassadors of Valencia
These large streams of pilgrims, says the municipality, have enabled more and more qualified housing to be enabled, a more versatile and diversified catering and the retrofitting of part of the trade for the pilgrim niche, with a wide supply of souvenirs and local produce.
“Bets that present a great growth potential and opportunity for those who want to invest in religious tourism”, highlights the Câmara de Valença.
The local authority believes that pilgrims have been “true ambassadors of Valencia around the world, showing the most unreadable of the county, its cultural, natural, heritage and gastronomic singularities ”.
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