Terras de Bouro awarded for preserving section of the Camino

The Municipality of Terras de Bouro was awarded the Abadesa Mariana Prize, granted by the Galician association Codeseda Viva, for its work in preserving the section of the ancient Roman road (Via Nova) integrated into the Geira and Arrieiros Route. The award was presented on April 18 at Sala Abanca, in the Galician town of A Estrada, to the councillor for Tourism António Manuel da Cunha.

The presentation took place during the 7th session organised by Codeseda Viva, dedicated to the promotion of heritage and hospitality linked to pilgrimage routes, and included a debate with several figures linked to the Jacobean world. Among the participants were Xesús Palmou, Luís Ferro, Javier Gómez, Eulalia Fonseca and Luís Ferreira, in a session that reflected on the route.

The organisation highlighted the management and conservation of the Via Nova section between milestones XIV and XXXIV, noting the condition of the route, the renewed signage and the ongoing care of this historic route. The recognition focuses on the municipality’s work on this segment, maintaining the route and ensuring conditions for pilgrims who travel it.

During the debate, the importance of preserving the authenticity of the Camino in a context of growing demand was underlined, with warnings about the risk of massification. The relationship between local communities and pilgrims was also highlighted as a defining feature of the route, associated with an experience marked by proximity and continuity.

The session also included other distinctions awarded in the same context, namely to Xulia Puente for work in maintaining the Camino, and to the Cultural Association Virxe da Grela for the recovery of the Procissão da Grela (Grela Procession). These initiatives were presented as examples of preserving the route and the traditions linked to pilgrimage routes.