The Geira and Arrieiros Route recorded its best result ever this year, with 692 pilgrims completing the journey — slightly surpassing last year’s total. According to the Associação Transfronteiriça do Caminho da Geira e Arrieiros (Transboundary Association that promotes the route), based on data from the Pilgrims’ Office of the Cathedral of Santiago, departures from Braga increased by 7.3%, and the number of Compostelas issued rose by 4.9%. The route is thus consolidating itself as one of the most sought-after options for those seeking an authentic and immersive pilgrimage experience.
In contrast, the Portuguese Central Route registered a 9.2% drop in departures from Braga, although the total number of pilgrims along that route grew by 3.7%. Overall, the city maintains a key role within the Jacobean network, with the Geira and Arrieiros Route contributing increasingly to its prominence, a trend that has been steadily reinforced in recent years.
Created in 2017 and officially recognised by the Church in 2019, the 239-kilometre route links Braga Cathedral to Santiago Cathedral, passing through Amares, Terras de Bouro and Melgaço, and entering Galicia through the Portela do Homem. The path includes two unique heritage features: the ancient Roman road Geira, regarded as the best-preserved of its kind in the former Western Roman Empire, and the Gerês-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve.
Since its presentation, the Geira and Arrieiros Route has been travelled by more than 7,500 pilgrims from around 50 countries, including Portugal, Spain, Japan, Mexico and Canada. It is one of the few routes that lead directly to Santiago Cathedral, reinforcing Braga’s role as a departure point for a Jacobean route of distinctive character.
