Celebrate Camino Ding-lés: Spanish Pilgrimage Route Walk on Broad Street
Reading will host a Galician cultural fair on Broad Street on Saturday, April 25. The event recreates the walking experience of the Camino Inglés and its extension to Fisterra-Muxía for a UK audience.
What to expect at the fair
Visitors can speak with representatives of the Camino Inglés and the Camino Fisterra-Muxía. There will be live Galician music, regional food samples, and audiovisual screenings about Galicia and its routes.
Exhibition spaces will showcase the different Camino routes. Attendees can learn how to plan a walk in Spain or follow the St James’ Way from Reading.
Historic and modern links
Reading’s connection to northwest Spain dates back to the medieval period. Reading Abbey was a notable pilgrimage site from the 12th century.
Pilgrims historically visited relics such as the Hand of St James. From Reading they would travel south to the English coast and onward to Santiago de Compostela.
St James’ Way in the UK
The modern St James’ Way recreates that historic route. Last year a milestone called a “mouteira” was unveiled in Reading as a gift from Galicia.
That marker identifies the official start of the St James’ Way in the town. With Reading added to the network last year, the Finchale Camino Inglés extension now reaches as far as Hull.
Details on the Fisterra-Muxía route
The Camino Fisterra-Muxía continues from Santiago to the Costa da Morte. The route covers about 115 km to the Spanish coast.
Its origins may reach back to the 1150s and the path became more established during the late 1300s. Today more than 20,000 people complete the route each year.
Typically over half of those walkers are Spanish nationals. The path follows the same coastal pilgrimage tradition walked by medieval pilgrims.
Organisers and support
The fair is presented by the Provincial Council of A Coruña and Turismo de Galicia. The Spanish Embassy in London and Reading’s Economic and Destination Agency provided support.
Local municipalities along the Camino Inglés and Camino Fisterra-Muxía also collaborate. The Confraternity of Saint James is involved in the programme.
Local promotion and tourism
REDA is backing development of the St James’ Way as a significant tourism project. Alex Brannen of REDA said the event is a timely response to rising interest in outdoor and walking tourism.
He described the fair as a practical way to inspire people to visit Galicia or to try the St James’ Way in the UK. Filmogaz.com encourages readers to attend and discover walking options.
Celebrate Camino Ding-lés events and the Spanish Pilgrimage Route offer a rare chance to experience Galicia in the heart of Reading. The Walk on Broad Street fair is open to anyone planning a walking holiday or seeking cultural inspiration.
