The Council of Ministers today approved an investment of 19,850,000 euros for destinations on the Caminos de Santiago de Castilla y León. This investment is part of component 14 of the Tourism Sector Modernization and Competitiveness Plan financed with Next Generation-EU funds included in the 2021 Budgets of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism and aimed at modernizing and improving the competitiveness of the tourism sector.
“The Camino de Santiago is one of our most international tourist experiences. In the celebration of the Xacobeo Year, the Government has designed a specific strategy to promote the different routes of the Camino as it passes through Spain. Castilla y León is one of the Autonomous Communities that has benefited the most from this plan, whose investments have been made today by the Council of Ministers ”, the minister valued Reyes Maroto.
“Thanks to these actions, we will fine-tune and preserve for the future the historical heritage located in the Castilian and Leonese sections of the Camino, which will strengthen the potential of Castilla y León to attract visitors, at a time when cultural tourism is a travel motivation on the rise, with a growth of 15.9% between 2016 and 2019 ”, added the head of the department.
The Government will transfer these 19.8 million euros to the Board and local beneficiary entities, via two Royal Decrees of direct granting of subsidies that the Council of Ministers approved today.
Heritage rehabilitation
Of the global amount, the regional Executive will receive 5.8 million euros that must be allocated to the maintenance or rehabilitation of assets of cultural interest of public ownership with tourist use located in the following sections of the Camino de Santiago or in its surroundings:
-Castrojeriz (Burgos): Paving the Camino de Santiago in the urban section of Castrojeriz. 800,000 euros
-Carrión de los Condes (Palencia): Restoration of the Cubo and Oriental Canvas of the Wall. 150,000 euros
-Sahagún (León): Restoration of the El Canto Bridge. 1,000,000 euros
-Astorga (León): Restoration of the first section of the northeast canvas of the wall located between La Brecha and Puerta de Rey. 2,000,000 euros
-Villafranca del Bierzo (León): Paving of Calle del Agua (Ribadeo and Santa Catalina). 1,000,000 euros
-La Granja de Moreruela (Zamora): Intervention in the Bedroom Pavilion for Novices and Monks of the Monastery of Santa María de Moreruela. 900,000 euros
Additionally, the following local entities will receive funding to promote transformative actions that improve the sustainability, digitization and competitiveness of their destinations and that, in at least 25%, will be related to the Camino de Santiago:
-Diputación de Palencia 2,000,000 euros
-Benavente Town Hall (Zamora) 3,000,000 euros
The type of actions that may be financed should be aimed at improving sustainable mobility (exits and entrances in cities, itineraries through their most attractive areas, treatment of areas of the Way subject to high traffic, crossroads and highways); the signage and accessibility of the Camino segment (always following its style book); the rehabilitation or enhancement of its cultural assets, the beautification of the historic centers, and sustainable rehabilitation, among others.
Rehabilitation and maintenance of Heritage Cities
As World Heritage Cities, the municipalities of Ávila, Salamanca and Segovia will obtain 9 million euros (3 million each) to finance sustainable rehabilitation and maintenance projects.
The actions that will be financed with this budget in Salamanca include: the integrated walkway that allows access between the upper park and the La Palma Vaguada with viewpoints; performances on the upper platform at the entrance to the museum from C / Joaquín Zahonero; covering structures for the protection of new archaeological remains; consolidation and treatment of the Medieval Fence, the Portillo de San Vicente, the historic walls and the hydraulic irrigation network of the old convent and the integration of urban gardens and complementary facilities.
In the case of Ávila, the actions will take place around Tostado, Jimena Blázquez and Marcelino Santiago streets; Tomás Luís de Victoria and Travesía Dolores de Palacio; Brieva Street and Crossing; Mosén Rubí Square and Bracamonte Street; Plaza Concepción Arenal and Reyes Católicos. In addition, the installation of urban furniture in the Historic Center is contemplated; installation of ornamental lighting in the Church of San Andrés and installation of LED ornamental lighting in the Auditorium and Plaza de San Francisco and the street lighting around San Francisco.
The actions to be financed with this program in Segovia focus on the surroundings of the Aqueduct: conservation of the Plaza de Avendaño, rehabilitation of the Adarve, accessibility of the Postigo del Consuelo viewpoint; in the forum of the Roman city; in the Romanesque church of San Nicolás; and in the gardens of the Poets and the historic area.
