Galicia, Spain, Unveils Events Schedule for 2010

Next year, the region of Galicia in the northwest of Spain is planning a year-long celebration with hundreds of concerts, opera, dance and theatrical performances, photo exhibitions, food festivals, sports competitions and the first International Travel Literature Conference. In 2010, as they have done for the last 2,000 years, pilgrims and visitors alike will travel the Camino de Santiago to the Cathedral in Galicia’s capital, Santiago de Compostela.

Located in the northwest corner of Spain that borders the Atlantic, Galicia is known for its mountains and forests as well as dramatic seascapes. This quiet region will be particularly lively next year as 2010 is a Jubilee Year, when July 25, the feast day of the city’s patron saint, Saint James, falls on a Sunday. Tourism officials in Galicia have designed a year-long celebration and will lay out the red carpet for some 10 million visitors during Xacobeo 2010.

Since the 9th century, the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia’s capital, has been the destination for pilgrims following The Way of Saint James or El Camino de Santiago. They traveled on foot, horseback and more recently, on bicycles, lodging in albergues de peregrinos (accommodations offered free of charge to pilgrims) until they reached the cathedral, said to hold the remains of the apostle. Legend has it that anyone who traveled to Santiago during a jubilee year were absolved of their sins.

Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, Santiago retains its medieval air with granite mansions, impressive public buildings and many churches. Stone streets are porticoed to protect against passing showers. Considered one of the world’s great squares, the Praza do Obradoiro is dominated by the 11th century cathedral and surrounded by many of Santiago’s historic buildings, including the Antiguo Hospital Real, the Palacio de Rajoy, the College of San Geronimo and the Gelmírez Palace.

As part of the 2010 Jubilee Year celebrations, from January through December, visitors to Galicia will be treated to hundreds of music concerts and opera performances, art and photography exhibitions, classical and modern dance, theater, animation and film, sports competitions, conferences and symposia. Pope Benedict XVI has been invited to Galicia, and religious events focusing on the spiritual experience of the Camino will be staged. The celebration’s spirit of solidarity will be reflected in “For a World Free of Malaria” featuring sports exhibitions by star athletes including tennis champion Rafael Nadal and soccer goalie Iker Casillas.

The First International Travel Literature Conference and Auria Historical Novel Week will offer a symposium with international leaders and thinkers analyzing politics and society, congresses, seminars and workshops. Galicia hosts some 300 food festivals annually showcasing its seafood such as oysters, octopus, sea urchins, eel, tuna, shellfish, and festivals featuring trout, goat, chestnuts, mushrooms, pancakes, empanadas, faba beans, androlla sausage, cheese and Galicia’s prestigious wines.

The Xacobeo Festival will feature performances by Inma Shara, pianist Lang Lang, mezzo soprano Cecilia Bartoli, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, conductors Zubin Mehta and Vasily Petrenko and composer Alberto Zedda. The Via Stallae Festival will feature 100 concerts alone. Xacobeo Pop will present Sonar Festival, an international electronic music event. The MTV Festival will showcase Spanish and international music stars. The 40 Principales Festival will travel through the region and Mark Knopfler will present his “Get Lucky” album. In Xacobeo Importa, the U.S. will be represented by the folk band Vetiver and the Seattle grunge group Mudhoney. And in Xacobeo Roots, Galician music will take center stage with home-grown talent including Berrogüeto, Luar Na Lubre, Susana Seivane, Cristina Pato, Bonovo, Fuxan Os Ventos and Leilía.

A particularly festive time to visit is during the Fiestas for the Apostle, July 19 to 25, that culminates in a display of fireworks, Fuegos del Apóstol in front of the Cathedral in the Plaza del Obradoiro on July 24.