May Day, Sevilla Cathedral and a credencial...o no?

[crevans]

1st May is a public holiday. It's also the day on which I wanted to pick up my credencial from the cathedral office in Sevilla and start on my camino. I won't bore you with the reasons why... I've tried to contact the cathedral but to no avail so far. If I present myself at the usual place, the Capellania, at opening time (I believe, 11.00am), am I likely to be successful...on May Day? I can't start earlier or later! Any thoughts?

 

[JohnnieWalker]

The answer is: you might be successful. That office in the Cathedral is more like a "porters' Lodge" so one of the attendants who will definitely be on duty that day might have responsbility for it. Or it might be closed. I wouldn't expect a reply from the cathedral by e mail etc beforehand.

But you have a few options: Obtain a credencial before you go - for example from http://www.mundicamino.com or from your local Confraternity.

But if you arrive in Seville and you don't have one why not get your "starting" sellos on a piece of card or paper on which you can draw some squares if you want and then when you get the credencial at an albergue along the way you can insert it.

Otherwise you can we mail or write to the Amigos Office in Seville and they wil send you one or you can collect it from them. Their website has all of the details including their address:

http://www.viaplata.org/


Let us know how you get on!

John

 

[crevans]

Thanks, John.

As I expected...!

I've explored the Amigos route and suspect that their office won't be open in time. I need to get cracking promptly-ish on 1st May and the Amigos don't open until, I believe, the afternoon (assuming of course they are open that day). I've got a letter of intro which should suffice pro tem and will do as you suggest and take a 'bit of paper', I think. Thanks.

Clive.

 

[Andrewere]

Last November I got my credential for the VdlP from the tourist office that is situated about 20 metres from the Cathedral, very close to the office in the Cathedral that issues them too. there are several tourist offices in Sevilla but this is the one closest to the Cathedral.I dont know the name of the street that it's on but you cant really miss it.

Hope that helps.

Andrew, Salisbury UK

 

[crevans]

Thanks! The question is: will they be open on a public holiday? But that sounds like a much better bet to try an email in bad Spanish than the cathedral. I will write and see...

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The Seville tourist office is a bit vague. From its website:

On national and local holidays, public transport systems run and you will find some museums, monuments, information offices, shopping centres, etc. open. However, these will often have special opening times and/or conditions, given that there may be activities taking place in the area at the same time (fairs, open-air celebrations, religious events, etc.), so you should find out in advance to plan your trip correctly.

New Year: 1 January
Epiphany: 6 January
Andalusia Day: 28 February
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday: date varies year to year (March-April)
Workers’ Day: 1 May
Assumption of the Virgin Mary: 15 August
Columbus Day: 12 October
All Saints’ Day: 1 November
Spanish Constitution Day: 6 December
The Immaculate Conception: 8 December
Christmas: 25 December