The tourist route has shown its commitment to creating synergies towards a European Network of Holy Week and Easter celebrations at a meeting attended by Monsignor Bravi, representative of the Vatican and permanent observer for the World Tourism Organization
The president of Caminos de Pasión and mayor of Lucena, Juan Pérez, the mayor of Osuna, Rosario Andújar, representatives from the municipalities belonging to the Association for the Tourist Development of the Caminos de Pasión Route, and the presidents of the Associations and Councils of Brotherhoods and Fraternities from their respective towns met this Monday in Osuna to renew the collaboration agreement that establishes common lines of action for the promotion, dissemination, and enhancement of the tangible and intangible heritage of Holy Week and religious festivals. This time, they were also joined by Monsignor Bravi, representative of the Vatican and permanent observer for the World Tourism Organization, who attended the meeting to learn about the route and its religious resources.
Thus, at the event held at the University of Osuna, Pérez highlighted the “incalculable artistic, intangible, and social value of Holy Week in the ten municipalities along the route, where the celebration transcends the religious aspect to become the unifying and articulating element of the cultural, ethnographic, and anthropological character of the towns,” he stated. He also emphasized the importance of working together to grow together and “continue building new bridges.”
Along these lines, some of the upcoming objectives for implementing the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations were outlined. As Monsignor Bravi explained, this project would contribute "to pooling our resources, sharing experiences, and forging a long-term cooperative alliance that will lead us to achieve our main goal: recognition as a Cultural Route by the Council of Europe." From the perspective of all those present, this would represent a significant step toward promoting religious tourism.
Likewise, among this year's objectives, Pérez advocated for the creation of an institutional network of spaces and institutions that work in coordination to foster and promote this cultural heritage, seeking opportunities to promote joint projects in the areas of cultural cooperation, sustainable tourism, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, and the promotion of the values of our traditions and celebrations.
Regarding the renewal of the agreement with the Brotherhoods and Fraternities, Caminos de Pasión is committed to continuing to work to promote visits to places of interest for tourists - such as museums, brotherhood houses, etc. - that highlight the traditions, the historical and artistic heritage, the sacred crafts and the local religious culture of the municipalities that make up the route.
It will also include in its promotional activities the visits, events and activities of the brotherhoods and confraternities and will promote synergies for the exchange, knowledge and relationship between the local groups of the municipalities that make up the route in order to develop common programs and offers that enhance and deseasonalize the tradition linked to Holy Week and religious festivals.
Of particular note is the inclusion of the Network of Holy Week Interpretation Centers in the SICTED program, the comprehensive tourism quality system already adopted by the participating municipalities, which represents a commitment to excellence. This will provide them with a working tool and support to improve their facilities and services, adapting their spaces, services, and staff accordingly.
In addition to creating these spaces, which showcase the unique traditions and ways in which Holy Week is celebrated in each municipality throughout the year, the route has installed specific signage with information about the festival and its most emblematic locations, as well as churches where religious imagery can be found, Holy Week and Sacred Art museums, brotherhood houses, artisans, processional bands, saeta schools, and brotherhood gatherings. Another initiative has been the creation of a Lenten and Holy Week Cuisine and Pastry Route, part of the Caminos de Pasión (Paths of Passion) initiative, in which around one hundred establishments participate, serving typical dishes for these celebrations and displaying an official badge certifying their participation. And the most recent program, "With Passion from Childhood," aims to instill a passion for the festival in schoolchildren.
Caminos de Pasión offers a program for Lent and Holy Week microsite Specifically, (www.cuaresmaypasion.com) very much in line with the commitment to promotion on line This portal includes a calendar with the most important events taking place during Lent and Holy Week in the municipalities along the route and offers users the possibility of downloading useful information for their visit, such as programs, schedules, and posters.
Caminos de Pasión is made up of the towns of Alcalá la Real (Jaén), Baena, Cabra, Lucena, Priego de Córdoba and Puente Genil (Córdoba) and Carmona, Écija, Osuna and Utrera (Sevilla).