Zamora Calls to Action: A Historic Meeting to Save its Caminos de Santiago from 'Testimony Decline'
Zamora, [Current Date] – The province of Zamora, a vital crossroads of the Silver Way and the Sanabrés Road, has sent out an alarm signal: the influx of pilgrims to its five historic routes is plummeting. Faced with this "bleeding" that threatens to turn its rich Jacobean heritage into something merely testimonial, the Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago de Utrera (AZACS) organizes an ambitious congress to reverse the situation.
The data from the Pilgrim's Office is clear: in 2024, the Vía de la Plata and the Camino Sanabrés attracted only the 1.81% of the total pilgrims (about 4,500 a year in the province), a dramatic drop from 5.17% two decades ago. The Vía de la Plata has fallen from third to seventh place on the preference scale.
Crossroads: The Date We Should Not Miss
To stop this trend, AZACS, which celebrates its tenth anniversary, will bring together the greatest leaders of hospitality and Jacobean history at the congress «Zamora, Crossroads of Roads».
The event will take place on October 25 and 26, 2025 in it Ramos Carrión Theater and has the involvement of local and regional institutions. The objective is clear: to disseminate the values and heritage wealth of the Zamora routes and plan a future of growth with a view to Holy Year 2027.
The 'Dream Team' of Hospitality Lands in Zamora
The event is a compendium of Jacobean wisdom, bringing together figures who are true pillars of the Camino worldwide.
The program is divided into two crucial axes:
- History and Project: With presentations on the future and signaling of the Vía de la Plata (by Angel Gonzalez, Commissioner of the CyL Roads), art on the Zamora routes (José Ignacio Martín Benito) and the vision of experts such as Anton Pombo y Miguel Perez Cabezas.
- The Soul of the Camino: The Traditional Welcome: The highlight of the congress is the round table dedicated to hospitality, considered an "intangible heritage to protect." It will bring together legendary hospitaleros such as Alejandro González (Bodenaya), José María Blas (Fountroble), José Luis Anton (Tosantos), and Milio Lueje, moderated by the Tábara hospitalero, Jose Almeida. These figures are the living embodiment of the hospitality and they will share the keys to recovering the essence of hospitality.
A Future with Hope and Recognition
The day will conclude with a dialogue table between mayors and managers to coordinate improvement strategies and the delivery of recognition to crucial entities such as the Civil Guard and the CyL Tourism Directorate.
The event will culminate on Sunday with an emotional bus transfer to Brocal de las Promesas to walk the last stretch to Zamora, closing the meeting with a Pilgrim Mass in the Church of Santiago del Burgo. The goal is clear: that the Vía de la Plata and the Camino Sanabrés once again occupy the place of honor they deserve on the world pilgrim map.
