New/old Pilgrim Welcome Center in Madrid

[Rebekah Scott]

Spain will soon have its own Camino de Santiago International Information and Welcome Center, like those that receive pilgrims in Portugal and France. The center will be in the historic Convent of the Comendadoras de Santiago in central Madrid.
• A consortium of Spanish and international associations of the Camino de Santiago reached an agreement with the Comendadoras de Santiago, the female Order of the Knights of Santiago founded in the 12th century, to create an Information and Reception Center for foreign pilgrims who land at the Madrid airport to travel the traditional Camino de Santiago.
• Spain does not currently provide a comprehensive welcome for the pilgrims from more than 190 countries who arrive in Madrid each year to make the journey to Santiago. France and Portugal are more advanced, with their welcome centers at San Jean a Pied de Port and Porto, respectively.
• The new International Center is projected to start up at the end of the Holy Year 2021-2022, with about 100 international volunteers offering a traditional Jacobean welcome. Refreshed and armed with the latest information on the trail, pilgrims can begin their journey imbued with the spirit of the Camino de Santiago straight from the Capital.
It is fitting that a year as symbolic as 2022 – a post-pandemic extended Holy Year - the convent of the Comendadoras de Santiago, located on its eponymous Madrid plaza, will host the Information and Reception Center for Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Santiago – French Way.

It is sponsored by the Comendadoras, the Camino Frances Association, Fraternidad Internacional del Camino (FICS), Asociacion de Municipios del Camino, The Korean Camino Association, Amigos of Astorga, and Peaceable Projects Inc.
For full details, see the attached.

 

[Former member 49149]

Spain will soon have its own Camino de Santiago International Information and Welcome Center, like those that receive pilgrims in Portugal and France. The center will be in the historic Convent of the Comendadoras de Santiago in central Madrid.
• A consortium of Spanish and international associations of the Camino de Santiago reached an agreement with the Comendadoras de Santiago, the female Order of the Knights of Santiago founded in the 12th century, to create an Information and Reception Center for foreign pilgrims who land at the Madrid airport to travel the traditional Camino de Santiago.
• Spain does not currently provide a comprehensive welcome for the pilgrims from more than 190 countries who arrive in Madrid each year to make the journey to Santiago. France and Portugal are more advanced, with their welcome centers at San Jean a Pied de Port and Porto, respectively.
• The new International Center is projected to start up at the end of the Holy Year 2021-2022, with about 100 international volunteers offering a traditional Jacobean welcome. Refreshed and armed with the latest information on the trail, pilgrims can begin their journey imbued with the spirit of the Camino de Santiago straight from the Capital.
It is fitting that a year as symbolic as 2022 – a post-pandemic extended Holy Year - the convent of the Comendadoras de Santiago, located on its eponymous Madrid plaza, will host the Information and Reception Center for Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Santiago – French Way.

It is sponsored by the Comendadoras, the Camino Frances Association, Fraternidad Internacional del Camino (FICS), Asociacion de Municipios del Camino, The Korean Camino Association, Amigos of Astorga, and Peaceable Projects Inc.
For full details, see the attached.

That is good news indeed, Rebekah, so thank you for sharing it. On the forum, this is the kind of useful information that people can benefit greatly from.

 

[HeidiL]

Rebekah, I hope you will let us know when they want volunteers. I lived in Madrid for three years and will take any excuse to return...

 

[glenn6912]

Anybody got an update on whether the center came to fruition? I can't find any independent reference to this center.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Glenn, this Center has to clear FIVE different levels of bureaucracy. Nothing moves quickly in Spain, and new initiatives in Historic-listed monastic buildings may be the slowest of slow things to try. It is wending its way over many desks as we speak.
Or so we are told.

 

[David Tallan]

I'm sure it will be done by the time I arrive in Madrid in June. ;-)

 

[glenn6912]

Glenn, this Center has to clear FIVE different levels of bureaucracy. Nothing moves quickly in Spain, and new initiatives in Historic-listed monastic buildings may be the slowest of slow things to try. It is wending its way over many desks as we speak.
Or so we are told.

Thanks, Rebekah. No need to go looking for it on my day in Madrid enroute to St. Jean, then

 

[henrythedog]

Thanks, Rebekah. No need to go looking for it on my day in Madrid enroute to St. Jean, then

You could always just go and take a look. It’s a few blocks north of the Gran Via. Closest metro probably San Bernardo. It’s been basically closed for years. Any prospect of a reopening would be great..