If you are planning a vacation to northern Spain, especially to Galicia and the famous city of Santiago de Compostela, please keep in mind that next year is a Holy or Jubilee Year in Spain.

Normally the region gets approximately 4 million visitors to the region and the city of Santiago each year.

However for 2010 officials expect upwards of 10 million visitors to visit the region.

Almost 250,000 people are expected to walk the Camino de Santiago in 2010, a doubling of the current number of people walking it now.

G

250000 souls.... sounds horrendous.
That could be the reason why they are planning to launch the Camino de Invierno next year.
http://www.caminodeinvierno.com/
However there could be some technical problems in that there are some areas which do not have places to sleep!

Looking at the map of the Camino de Invierno does not entice me to make that walk in winter. On the other hand, I have been tempted to plan a winter walk, at least in part, along the Camino de Plata. Has anyone on the forum walked that one?
kathyk

Hello Kathyk

I dont know anybody personally that has walked the Via de la Plata in the winter. I am sure you can as people have certainly walked the more famous francis route of the Camino de Santiago in the winter.

However you should expect plenty of days of rain and many of the hostels to be closed.

I might suggest you consider walking it in the early spring, maybe from south to north starting in early April. The spring flowers will be out and the route should be extremely pretty.

G

Kathyk
I post very occasionally on this forum for Pilgrimages. Maybe you will find answers to your questions there too.
http://www.pilgrimage-to-santiago.com/board/
The whole point of the winter route is to avoid the snows in the mountains which can block the paths.

Giulia G
Out of a mater of interest where did you get the news about all of these tourists from? We often receive news updates from Turgalicia and read some of the local newspapers on line. But as yet we have seen nothing of this big influx.

Hello Casa Santo Estevo

Both the tourist board and the church along with some other sources are all suggesting the number of visitors will be about 10 million

The church is ramping up to hold 6 masses per day next year - I think it is normally 1-2 per day

G

Some more information about 2010 in Spain

"It now looks increasingly likely that Pope Benedict XVI will visit Santiago de Compostela for the next Holy Year in 2010 (there will not be another until 2021.) Accordingly the number of visitors to Santiago during that year could rise to 10 million with 1⁄4 million expected to arrive on foot."

http://www.caminoguides.com/latest.html

"The video above shows a press conference in Santiago were the Catholic Church in Santiago presented their plan for next years Holy Year celebrations. Fore those not fluent in Galician, here are some points:
• There will be 6 pilgrims masses per day.
• There will be a max of 1200 people allowed into the cathedral at any time. There will be guards outside controlling the entrances.
• They are still trying to get the pope to visits Santiago next year. Nothing has been confirmed yet.
• Plaza Quintana (behind the cathedral) will be used less for “events” like concerts next year, to make room for pilgrims lining up to go through the Holy door.
At the end of the video clip there are some pictures form a City Council meeting in Santiago were they also discussed some new items that they are working on for pilgrims next year. One of them is a luggage storage facility in “Xoan 23″, close to the entrance to Plaza de Obradoiro."

http://www.pilgrimage-to-santi...rims-masses-per-day/

G

{edited to insert quotes for quoted material}

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Shannon,

Hello:
Pilgrim visits will reach their peak on July 25, St James' Day. I walked the Portuguese Camino in 2004, the last Holy Year in Sept/Oct (trip report on file) and found that that route was NOT crowded at that time. However, when I reached Santiago it was "the Day of the Pilgrim" and the city was very crowded.(1st weekend in October?; coincides with feast of the Virgen de Pilar)

Soldiers were on hand to to manage crowds (The Infanta and family were there)at the Cathedral that weekend but there were more than 2500 inside.

We have walked sections of the Via de la Plata and found sections in Extremadura very nice. There are fewer facilities and distances between them are somewhat longerthan other routes. Also we walked the Camino Frances. I suspect that the Camino Frances will receive the majority of pilgrims and walkers. Many will start at Sarria to achieve their Compostela. It is about 102kms away from Santiago.

For all who will attempt all the Caminos:
Ultreya and Buen Camino!
Dennis

Giulia
I read through and listen with interest to both links.
Whilst it would seem that the Caminos, especially the French route, will be busier than normal I still find the boast given, in link one, that Galicia is to expect 10 million visitors next year. A bit OTT-

At the moment a lot of establishments are suffering and the latest news is visitors are down this year over last.
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/d...3618115136358436.htm
We receive bulletins published by Turgalicia and as yet they have to announce this vast increase in tourist. Still it would be nice if we get a bit of the action too.
Turgalicia’s news updates can be found here.
http://www.turgalicia.es/turno...i=E&ctre=turnoticias


Sorry but both of the links are to articles in Spanish.

Thanks to all of you for the info and links on Via de la Plata. I personally would plan the walk other than 2010. My likely lack of patience with the crowds would loose me any of the indulgences gained by making the pilgrimige and if I am going to make that walk, I want the spirtual benefits too.
kathyk

Hello kathyk


I would not rule doing the Via da la Plata. This route is not that busy and I suspect the majority the people walking the Camino de Santiago in 2010 will walk the famous francis route.

It takes about 40 some days to walk the Via da la Plata so I would suggest leaving mid April and walking through May. You will arrive in Santiago long before the real crowds show up

The other option is to walk the Via Francigena in Italy. Depending on how much time you have you walk it is the spring. I trust you will not have to worry about crowds on this route. Fellow Slow Travel member RedRedWine is walking it right now from Fidenza to Rome.

My partner and I walked the entire Italian section of the Via Francigena last Sept and Oct but we might want to return to walk the Tuscany section in the spring of 2010. Based on all the reports we read, it should be wonderful

G

40 days!!! It is sad to think that if you have an 8-5 job, and only 2-3 weeks vacation that one has to wait until retirement to have enough time to save the immortal soul. Can I get a partial indulgence for making half the pilgrimage? Where did I store my Baltimore catechism?
kathyk

I have to admit I admire any one who walks the Camino. Especially more than the minimum 100 kms. it cannot be easy.

Hello kathyk

If you have 2-3 weeks then seriously walking the Via Francigena.

3 weeks: You can start in Lucca and walk to Rome

2 weeks: You can start in Siena and walk to Rome

Three Canadians just finished walking from Lucca to Rome in May taking 19 days. In their words their experience on the Via Francigena exceeded anything they had on the Camino de Santiago

G

Hi Giulia,
I appreciate the suggested alternative routes, which were completely unknown to me up to now.
I learn a lot on these forums. Not that I would forever discount the pilgrimages in Italia - and I probably should expand. But from other visits to Extremadura, ( not on foot) I find it captivating to the max, in all its aspects,so a pilgrimage along Via de la Plata would be real special for me.

Also since I speak Spanish, I have resisted being that unable to speak tourist in another country. Which I realize restricts my experiences to discover other cultures but for me, it balances out in the depth of experience I get in one country, Spain.

A very personal choice of the road not taken, eh? Maybe a whole other topic?
kathyk

Hi Kathy:
We met individuals and families who devoted their vacations to walking portions of the Camino over a number of years, starting out where they left off the year before.

The route from Porto to Santiago is ideal for a 2 week walk and not crowded.

If one is interested in earning a Compostela the "rules" are 100kms walking; 200kms on bicycle or horse. They must be the last 100/200kms before Santiago. Sometimes the people authenticating the credential look at people having 2 stamps/day for the time in Galicia. This was not so in our case.

Finally, "everyone walks their own Camino", even if there is a crowd. For us the "spiritual" aspect was on the trail not in the refugios. There is plenty of time to be alone with one's thoughts and also enjoy the comardaderie of the group in the evening.
Dennis

Has anyone read this?

The Year We Seized the Day

It looks like it is only available in Australia.

Hello kathyk

Since you understand Spanish I would suggest you check out the following website if you are interested in walking the Via da la Plata:

http://www.godesalco.com/camino/plata

You can also define where you want to start and where you want to finish and it will calculate the number of daily stages and distances.

http://www.godesalco.com/plan

I think based on the reports I have seen from others walking in the Spring (April, especially May) even next year will be an excellent time to go.


G

"Everyone walks their own camino" sums up the attitude needed for this and any pilgrimage.

Book: "The year we seized the day" any library can borrow this for you, just tell them the title, they do the hunting you read and return.

The Via de la Plata website is excellent, covers every conceivable aspect.

With all this info and advice, I'm left with no excuse to procrastinate any longer - must start a real plan, but it will be after retirement, 1-2 years?
kathyk

Kathy, my library doesn't even have "The Year we Seized the Day" in it's system - San Diego doesn't have it.

I would like to read it eventually, so I'll keep an eye out.

Hi Shannon,
Did you ask either of them to ILL (Interlibrary Loan) it? Just make sure you ask for it when you are actually ready or have time to read it. Should be no problem, we have gotten books from Canada and France before for people.
kathyk