Croatian Camino routes are presented on 13th International Camino Congress in Spain, where more than 50 Camino associations from all over the world gathered to discuss the Way of St. James - the ancient European network of pilgrimage routes that lead to the shrine in Santiago de Compostela. Camino Hrvatska currently consists of five renewed routes, and the presentation of as many as six new routes has been announced by the end of the year.
During the conference in Spain, Croatia Brotherhood of St. Jacob presented the Croatian Camino routes and the rich Croatian Camino heritage. Croatian pilgrims walk the Way of St. Jakov since 1203. Three years ago, a project to restore these medieval pilgrimage routes was launched, and since then, more than 3300 pilgrims have walked the Camino route in Croatia on five restored sections Camino Krk, Camino Imota, Camino Podravina, Camino Banovina i Camino Sibenik.
By the end of 2023, the Brotherhood of St. James intends to present six more stages, incl Brac, Korcula, Gorski kotar, southern Istria, as well as the Camino route that connects Dubrovnik and Medjugorje.
One of the main topics of the congress was the traditional hospitality offered to pilgrims. Among the conclusions of the congress is the initiation of the procedure for the protection of traditional pilgrim hospitality as a UNESCO intangible heritage. It was pointed out that pilgrims on the Croatian Camino routes have the opportunity to stay in more than a dozen "donativo" or gift accommodation in accordance with the traditional spirit of pilgrim hospitality.
- Croatian Camino routes offer a unique and fascinating experience, based on more than 820 years of Croatian Camino heritage, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to share it with the international Camino community at this congress, she said Laurel Cover, project manager in the Brotherhood of St. Jacob.
This week, the premiere of Camino Banovina and the third Camino Imota weekend
After opening in November, Camino Banovina will experience its real premiere from the 26th to the 30th when it is scheduled "Camino Banovina Week". The third in a row, and the first this year Camino Imota weekend will be held from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 May 2023.
Tradition Walk it dates back to the 9th century, and today the Camino network stretches throughout Europe. Croatia, on the other hand, has a very rich history related to the Camino, from local brotherhoods that were active as early as 1203, pilgrim cloaks that were made in these regions, to special privileges granted to pilgrims who in the Middle Ages walked from Croatia to Santiago de Compostela and back. Also, Croats have been known as pilgrims in Europe since ancient times - even Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy mentions the character of a Croatian pilgrim, and Croats were among the first Camino to the pilgrims.
Photos and source: Brotherhood of St. James
