More than 100 Croatian pilgrims participated in the celebration of the feast of St. James in Santiago de Compostela – the most famous European pilgrimage center. During the two-day program, the Confraternity of St. James from Croatia marked 10 years of its activity and presented more than eight centuries of Croatian pilgrimage tradition to Santiago, the first European cultural route. The events were held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Spain and the participation of the ambassador H.J. E. Nives Malenica.

During July 23 and 24, a group of 100 Croatian pilgrims who walked the last 225 km of the Camino Frances route arrived in Santiago de Compostela. The program began on July 24 with a mass in the Croatian language in the Jesuit Church of St. Augustin, which was followed by a presentation of the Croatian Camino heritage and the Camino Croatia project – the restoration of the medieval pilgrimage route that connects Croatia with Santiago. This route, recently included in the official European Camino route map, has already attracted more than 90,000 pilgrims from all over the world, positioning itself as a prominent example of sustainable cultural tourism in Croatia.

A special moment of the evening was the interview with Biljana and Ivica Miložić, Croatian pilgrims who a few years ago walked more than 3,300 kilometers – from Croatia to Galicia. On that occasion, the 10th anniversary of the Confraternity of St. James. Jakov, an association that promotes Croatian pilgrimage and cultural heritage in the European context.

Among the guests were high representatives of the Government of Galicia, the delegation of the Archicofradie Universal de Apostol Santiago led by President Francisco Duran, members of the International Committee for the Camino de Santiago, as well as numerous pilgrims.

The central event was on July 25, the feast of St. Jakov, when Croatian pilgrims – in the ceremonial robes of the Confraternity and national costumes from different parts of Croatia – participated in the solemn mass in the Cathedral of St. James , together with the ambassador of the Republic of Croatia and numerous domestic and international guests.

The Camino – once exclusively a religious journey – today is increasingly a personal challenge, a cultural adventure and a form of conscious travel. His story, now increasingly powerful, also includes Croatia.

Confraternity of St. James is the official Croatian representative in the Brotherhood of St. Jakov and the European federation Camino Europa Compostela and is in charge of the Camino Croatia project.