The English Way comes to life in Buenos Aires: cultural impulse from the Betanzos Center
He English Way, one of the Jacobean routes with the greatest historical value within the set of roads to Santiago de Compostela, was the central axis of a cultural event held at the headquarters of the Betanzos Center of Buenos Aires, aimed at reinforcing its knowledge, dissemination and international projection among the Galician community and the general public.
The activity brought together a large group of attendees interested in the cultural and spiritual heritage of Galicia, and was led by the senator from A Coruña Manuel Mirás Franqueira, honorary president of the Association of Councils of the English Way. During his speech, he made an extensive tour of the origins of this route, explaining that in the Middle Ages it was used by pilgrims coming mainly from the British Isles, who arrived by sea to the Galician ports of Ferrol and A Coruña to continue on foot on their way to Santiago.
Mirás highlighted that the Camino Inglés was for centuries a route of cultural and religious connection between Galicia and northern Europe, and that its recovery in modern times responds to a collective effort to return it to the prominence it deserves on the Jacobean map. In this sense, he recalled the work carried out by local institutions and associations linked to the Camino to achieve its official recognition, improve its signage and provide it with adequate infrastructure for pilgrims.
The event also included the participation, via videoconference, of representatives of the Association of Friends of the Camino of Buenos Aires and Uruguay, which allowed us to reinforce the international nature of the meeting and demonstrate the interest of the Galician diaspora in keeping the link with their land alive through cultural and spiritual initiatives. These interventions revealed the growing number of pilgrims from America who choose the English Way as an alternative to other more crowded routes.
During the exhibition, the role played by the Irish and Anglo-Saxon communities in the historical consolidation of this path was also highlighted, as well as the importance of continuing to spread its uniqueness in countries such as England, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Italy and Denmark. As indicated, the English Way represents not only an itinerary of faith, but also an itinerary of cultural exchange, encounters between peoples and recovery of European historical memory.
One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the Stellar Network of Excellence, an initiative that brings together establishments and services located along the route of the English Way that meet a series of quality requirements in areas such as accommodation, restaurants, health care and information for pilgrims. This project seeks to guarantee a safe and satisfactory experience for those who travel the route, while promoting the economic and social development of the municipalities through which it runs.
Likewise, the educational and informative work that has been carried out around the English Way was valued through talks in schools, publications, guides, brochures and audiovisual material. These actions aim to bring Jacobean history closer to new generations and promote knowledge of this route as an identity element of Galicia, linked to both its maritime past and its spiritual tradition.
The meeting also served as a space for reflection on the present and future of the Camino Inglés, highlighting the need to continue supporting a sustainable pilgrimage model, respectful of the natural environment and local communities. In this sense, it was insisted that international promotion must be accompanied by heritage conservation policies, landscape protection and support for the small rural centers that are part of the route.
This event in Buenos Aires is part of a set of initiatives aimed at strengthening the presence of the Camino Inglés outside Galicia and consolidating it as a route with its own identity within the Jacobean phenomenon. The involvement of the Galician community abroad is key to keeping the tradition alive and projecting it to new audiences, reinforcing the cultural ties between Galicia and America.
With this type of encounters, the Camino Inglés continues to expand its international projection as a historical, cultural and spiritual itinerary that connects past and present, sea and land, Galicia and the world, inviting us to rediscover one of the oldest and most unique routes to Santiago de Compostela.
