Porto and Galicia decided to strengthen cooperation with a view to the Jacobean Holy Year (which only occurs in years when July 25, the day of Saint James, falls on a Sunday), articulating the promotion of the Caminos de Santiago with cultural and business initiatives. The intention was stated after a meeting between Alfonso Rueda, president of the Regional Government of Galicia, and Pedro Duarte, Mayor of Porto, held at Casa do Roseiral.
Last year, Galicia recorded around 800,000 arrivals through different pilgrimage routes, of which at least 300,000 used routes originating in Portuguese territory. These figures frame the commitment to closer coordination between the two regions, in a context in which the Portuguese routes have been gaining prominence.
A significant share of foreign pilgrims begin the journey in Porto, entering through Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport before heading to Santiago de Compostela. In this context, greater coordination along the route between the two cities was advocated, with improvements in on-the-ground waymarking and greater consistency across sections.
The mobilization is expected to begin this year and continue through 2028. Promotional initiatives and joint cultural programming are planned between the two regions, also presented as an economic opportunity, including the integration of Galician culture into events in Porto such as Festival Babell and the Book Fair.
It was also agreed that a Summit between Galicia and Northern Portugal will be held in the first half of this year, with a strong business component. The meeting is expected to involve regional entities, other cities, and Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte (CCDR-N – Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission), consolidating the common agenda associated with the preparatory cycle of the Jacobean Holy Year.
