Today we talk about “Light up the Xacobeo“, one of the many projects launched by the Xunta de Galicia to promote the Xacobean Holy Year. This idea was born to illuminate more than a hundred buildings and monuments throughout Spain along the different routes of the Camino de Santiago in December. The purpose was to celebrate the countdown to the Opening of the Holy Door and the beginning of the Holy Year.
“Light up the Xacobeo” a project to illuminate the Holy Year
After the great success of the first edition, the Xunta de Galicia extended this project until the next 25th of July, day of the Apostle. Some of the most relevant buildings and monuments in the seven main Galician cities A Coruña, Ferrol, Lugo, Ourense, Pontevedra, Vigo and Santiago de Compostela will remain illuminated in blue during the weekends, for a total of 89 days. Among these emblematic monuments are for example the Clock Tower of the Cathedral of Santiago, the Cidade da Cultura de Galicia in Santiago, the Tower of Hercules in A Coruña, the Cathedral of Ourense or the Convent of San Francisco in Pontevedra.
Thanks to this project, we can confirm once again the great affection that many communities share for the Camino de Santiago! In fact, the first edition was a real success! In addition to Galicia, 50 buildings from 10 other autonomous communities joined the “Enciende El Xacobeo project” (Light up the Xacobeo project): Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and Leon, Extremadura, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia and Navarra. In total, more than 100 monuments were illuminated throughout Spain. It was a real demonstration of the importance that the Holy Year will have for the faithful who will reach Santiago de Compostela.
A safe Camino during the Holy Year
The Xacobeo 2021 is expected to be a major driver for the Galician economy both nationally and internationally as well as an essential factor for the revival of tourism for all those territories through which the Way of Saint James passes. In 2020 many pilgrims could not undertake their route, even if they had planned it well in advance, because of the health emergency caused by Covid-19. This Holy Year, extended until 2022, fills with hope both pilgrims eager to return to the Camino, as well as the thousands of professionals working on this ancient pilgrimage route.
During the presentation of the project “Light up the Xacobeo” the vice-president of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda, spoke of a different Xacobeo, defined by new health measures to prevent contagions, by decentralization and that aims to offer maximum security to pilgrims and professionals who work on the Way. Among these measures of social distancing, we have already talked about another proposal of the Xunta: the Digital Credential. Let’s get ready for a new way of living the Camino, due to the current circumstances, but without losing its spirit!
Get ready for many other initiatives related to the Xacobean Holy Year, and keep an eye on our blog! We will be telling you all the details of the different projects launched to celebrate the Xacobeo 2021. Did you know, for example, that several milestones were donated by the Xunta de Galicia and are scheduled to be installed around the world? Places that are emblematic for their link with the Galician community abroad, receive these gifts with great emotion as we could already see a first example in Buenos Aires at the end of December.
From Galiwonders we wish you a wonderful return to the Way and we are at your complete disposal to send you tailor-made itineraries on the Camino de Santiago. Do not hesitate to contact us for any questions or information. Enjoy the Camino and the Xacobeo!