Clúster

With the goal of creating an European Cultural Itinerary that includes the various galician Cistercian monasteries -there are 15 in Galicia-, the Association of Cistercian Monasteries in Galicia (ACIGAL) has just taken a step forward in the task of commissioning value of these buildings that add up to 200 throughout Europe. In the association already 8 of the 15 Galician monasteries: Melon, A Franqueira, Aciveiro, Meira, Monfero, Montederramo, Xunqueira de Espadañedo and Oia, which would be completed with the monasteries of Sobrado dos Monxes, Toxosoutos, Penamaior, Ferreira de Panton , Oseira, San Clodio and Armenteira.

The even attempt initiative become a dynamic tourism element in areas where most of these monasteries, rural enclaves are placed with high net worth but punished by the abandonment of the population and the absence of local economic initiatives. Its aim, therefore, is to bring together representatives of the 15 Galician to unify actions aimed at the promotion, protection and enhancement of the Cistercian heritage, especially through the European Cultural Route monasteries, and with the support of the European Charter Cistercian Abbeys. With this route, which could be ready to finles year, it aims to revive local economies and involve the local population in the project, as companions or visitor guides. The route, which trascurriría by 15 Galician monasteries can be done either by using free mobile applications for use “in itinere” or organized packages that include overnight stays and other tourist attractions.

European cultural routes

The Director of Tourism of Galicia, Nava Castro, who took part in the presentation of the initiative ACIGAL, extolled the heritage and artistic value of the Galician monasteries as facilitators of ls local economies and avogó by a public-private partnership for the promotion of these collaboration initiatives that are part of the commitment to innovative and multiexperienciales tourism products. In this regard it is recalled that Turismo de Galicia and drives four European cultural routes: El Camino de Santiago, the first to obtain this accreditation, the Ways of the Vine, the Viking Trail and Termal Cities, all differential tourism products that feature an important cultural and historical and contribute to the differentiation of Galician tourism recognition.