The State will invest 92 million to boost the Camino de Santiago until 2024

[Peter Fransiscus]

El Estado invertirá 92 millones para impulsar el Camino de Santiago hasta el 2024

El delegado del Gobierno hizo el anuncio durante la visita a las obras de la escalinata de la catedral e indicó que se constituirá una comisión de trabajo

www.lavozdegalicia.es

 

[Bradypus]

I am not fluent enough in Spanish to read the article directly and am relying on Google Chrome's translation. From what I read it appears to say that at the end of the renovations the gates will still remain locked and the staircase inaccessible. Sadly not a return to the days when pilgrims arriving could ascend the stairs, walk through the cathedral's main entrance and catch their first glimpse of the interior in the way which the cathedral's architects intended.

 

[Dennis D]

Thanks for sharing this news Peter.

I wonder if they will have any money left to improve the trail from Acebo down to Molinaseca? That project alone would probably cost most than 92 million.

I also wanted to publicly thank you for volunteering at the Pilgrim Office every year. It is folks like you that make the Camino worthwhile.

Buen Camino.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Thanks for sharing this news Peter.

I wonder if they will have any money left to improve the trail from Acebo down to Molinaseca? That project alone would probably cost most than 92 million.

I also wanted to publicly thank you for volunteering at the Pilgrim Office every year. It is folks like you that make the Camino worthwhile.

Buen Camino.

It's interesting how we are all different. I personally love the stretch from Acebo down to Molinaseca, but I have good knees. The village inbetween is lovely, views are gorgeous, mostly all natural trail, and I loved the layering of blue slate underfoot at times. I hope they don't make any "improvements".
I got a bit carried away here with my photos.☺

 

[Josefus]

Sadly not a return to the days when pilgrims arriving could ascend the stairs, walk through the cathedral's main entrance and catch their first glimpse of the interior in the way which the cathedral's architects intended.

Hi Bradypus,

as far as I understand, the spanish text says that the stairs and the banisters from the Obradoiro will be (by an interim stadium) ready until 31st of December this year. I understand this in a way that they will be accessible in the Holy Year. Just the works in the Crypta will last until until summer of the Holy Year.

¡Ultreia!

 

[CathyP]

El Estado invertirá 92 millones para impulsar el Camino de Santiago hasta el 2024

El delegado del Gobierno hizo el anuncio durante la visita a las obras de la escalinata de la catedral e indicó que se constituirá una comisión de trabajo

www.lavozdegalicia.es

Thank you for your volunteerism, Peter.

 

[erith long]

I am not fluent enough in Spanish to read the article directly and am relying on Google Chrome's translation. From what I read it appears to say that at the end of the renovations the gates will still remain locked and the staircase inaccessible. Sadly not a return to the days when pilgrims arriving could ascend the stairs, walk through the cathedral's main entrance and catch their first glimpse of the interior in the way which the cathedral's architects intended.

sorry, this is not what the article says at all.

 

[C clearly]

From what I read it appears to say that at the end of the renovations the gates will still remain locked and the staircase inaccessible.

We need help from someone who is fluent in Spanish and also knows the architecture, which I don't. My auto-translation says
"In the same package the restoration of the crypt is included, and an attempt will be made to recover the staircase that leads from it to the south tower. In this case, Lorenzo was cautious, and explained that the stairway to the tower will only be released if security [safety] conditions permit."

 

[Josefus]

In the same package the restoration of the crypt is included, and an attempt will be made to recover the staircase that leads from it to the south tower.

I think, the mentioned south tower is the tower towards the Praza das Praterias. And Lorenzo talked about the staircase from the crypta to this tower. If he was talking about the crypta with the tomb of Santiago then this can only mean the little stairs up to the the main floor of cathedral which leads to the south.
The main staircase towards the Praza do Obradoiro with the idiosyncratic double towers is pointing to the west. And as I wrote in my previous reply, I understood that these stairs will be accessible from 31st of December 2020 on.
But you´re right that a profound expert of the architecture of the cathedral should shed some light on this.

¡Ultreia!

 

[Andrea Mayfield]

sorry, this is not what the article says at all.

Will you please enlighten us then???
Thanks.

 

[Mycroft]

It's interesting how we are all different. I personally love the stretch from Acebo down to Molinaseca, but I have good knees. The village inbetween is lovely, views are gorgeous, mostly all natural trail, and I loved the layering of blue slate underfoot at times. I hope they don't make any "improvements".
I got a bit carried away here with my photos.☺

Wow, Chrissy, those pix are lovely!

 

[ginniek]

I've read the article fairly quickly (not bragging, but I am fluent in Spanish). Some very interesting information about the actual restoration techniques being used. This is my observation, not a translation from the article, but that it undoubtedly why it is so expensive: authentic and accurate recreation of original iron latticework and stonework is difficult and time-consuming, and there are very few craftsman who can do it (so they get paid really well).

I could not find anything about what is being planned for Camino improvements, but from my current work as a transportation planner, anything where the terrain is difficult is VERY expensive and time consuming and environmental remediation, which the EU will require, adds another layer of difficulty and expense.

 

[koilife]

Translated using DeepL.com:

The State will invest 92 million to promote the Way of Saint James until 2024.
The Government delegate made the announcement during the visit to the works of the cathedral's staircase and indicated that a work commission will be constituted.
MARGA MOSTEIRO
SANTIAGO / LA VOZ 06/02/2020 14:54 H
Millions rain from the Central Government to promote the Way of Saint James in the face of the holy year 2021 and also to prepare for the year 2027. This was the announcement made by the Government delegate, Javier Losada, during his visit to the restoration work on the staircase and the gate on the Obradoiro façade of Santiago cathedral, which is being financed by the Ministry of Public Works with a budget of 1.4 million euros. Losada said that the State will invest 92 million euros between 2020 and 2024, the period corresponding to the current legislature, to carry out projects linked, among other areas, to tourism, culture, infrastructure and issues related to safety on the Camino de Santiago, and in the city of Santiago itself. In order to coordinate all the work and proposals, the Government delegate indicated that a working commission will be formed to monitor the proper development of state investments. Asked about the incorporation of the Xunta de Galicia to this commission, Losada said that the "State has its own competences" and the commission has the purpose of watching over its investments. Faced with criticism from the Xunta about an alleged lack of involvement by the central government, the delegate attributed these statements to "a slight nervousness about the electoral stage", and denied the criticism, assuring that "we have a total involvement". He reiterated that, in addition to the 92 million euros, the State will take out two lines of aid, aimed at the municipalities, of 20 million euros in 2020 to finance the recovery and conservation of the Way; and another of 40 million, in 2021, for the same purpose. He also recalled the other 24 million contributed by the State in various works carried out in the Cathedral of Santiago, following the guidelines set by the Master Plan of the Basilica.
Restoration of the staircase
The Government delegate's visit to Santiago was intended to provide first-hand knowledge of the work that has begun on the cathedral's staircase, which also affects the crypt. He was accompanied by the mayor of Santiago, Xosé Sánchez Bugallo, and by the director of the Cathedral Foundation, Daniel Lorenzo, who explained the details of the restoration work that had begun. Lorenzo said that all the stone slabs of the staircase will be dismantled for their rehabilitation, and the grilles will also be removed, which will be restored by the same Compostela blacksmith who carried out the rehabilitation of other iron pieces in the Cathedral. In the case of the grating, Lorenzo commented that the parts that cannot be recovered due to their serious deterioration will be replaced by new ones, but following the historical manufacturing method for the handling of iron. The stone fixings will be made with lead, which is the old system and the one that allows a better conservation. The restoration of the crypt is included in the same package, and an attempt will be made to recover the staircase leading from it to the south tower. In this case, Lorenzo was cautious, and explained that the staircase to the tower will only be freed if safety conditions allow it. Although the execution period for the restoration of the staircase, grille and crypt is 16 months, work is expected to be completed by 31 December this year and both the staircase and the grille on the Obradoiro façade will be visible. The restoration of the crypt will continue until next summer, in the middle of the Holy Year.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

 

[Roland49]

I wonder if they will have any money left to improve the trail from Acebo down to Molinaseca? That project alone would probably cost most than 92 million.

ROFL
This part would be closed in almost all other countries in the EU, especially in rainy conditions.
You need some experienced people from alpine regions to improve that part. Not as much money, maybe 250-500k to convert it to a convenient walk.

But it is not intended to be convenient
Pilgrims like to suffer
Others may take the road.

Is 2027 the next holy year after 2021?

 

[Kathar1na]

Given the current economic crisis in Europe, I think the restoration will be suspended.

@Fozycrozy, perhaps you did not notice the date? You replied to a post about a news article that is nearly three years old.

Those euros have either already been spent or have been budgeted, and the restoration works have been finished or are ongoing or are scheduled.

The speculations about the trail from El Acebo to Molinaseca have been futile: it had not been included in the investment plan and it remains in 2022 in the same state as in 2020.

The large staircase of the Cathedral in Santiago on the Obradoiro side has been restored as described in the article. The scaffolding was removed on time, the Spanish royal family walked up these steps in July of this year 2022 and then through the doors to the Portico de la Gloria but other than that the Obradoiro portal remains closed for the general public and no pilgrim sets foot on the staircase. The main entrance to the Cathedral is through the Praterias portal. The Obradoiro gate (on the same level as the plaza) that leads to the crypt is open for visitors, however.

Time to close the thread?

 

[Kathar1na]

Below is a view of the Cathedral with numerous entries and various useable and perhaps potential staircases.

Bottom left: Large Obradoiro staircase (only the left half can be seen while the symmetrical right side has been cut away to show the crypt beneath it). Entry up this staircase to the main portal, with the Portico de la Gloria behind it, is restored but closed to the public.

Bottom left: Entry to the crypt. Open for visitors with a ticket. This is currently the entrance for viewing the Portico de la Gloria so there must be a small staircase leading up to it. When I visited, the entrance was through the ticketing office and we walked up and down and along to get to the Portico de la Gloria - a bit confusing.

Centre right: Main portal for entry to the Cathedral.

Holy Door: Not visible. It is in the wall at the top to the right.

Centre: Main altar with steps leading up to the statue that can be hugged and steps leading down to the part of the crypt with the silver reliquary.

I am not sure where the staircase is that is mentioned in the article as an element that leads from the crypt near Obradoiro to the south tower and that could perhaps be restored but I guess that it is in the lower part on the left. The south tower is the third tower, the one that is not called Torre de la Caracca (1) and not Torre del Reloj (5).