Belén do Campo, the Xunta delegate for A Coruña, along with Fisterra's mayor Luis Insúa and councillor Susana Rodríguez, visited the El cielo en el Camino project in Fisterra. This initiative, led by photographer Fernando Rey, aims to promote Galicia as a destination for astronomical tourism linked to the Camino de Santiago, blending scientific outreach, audiovisual creation, and cultural dynamism.
Four educational centres from Fisterra participated in the activity: IES Fin do Camiño, CEIP Mar de Fóra, CEIP Nosa Señora do Carmen, and CEIP Areouta. The project capitalises on the interest generated by astronomical phenomena such as the total solar eclipse on 12 August and the Perseids meteor shower, encouraging exploration of Galicia's natural, scenic, and Jacobean heritage from a unique perspective.
The initiative includes capturing images from various locations along the Camino, with a particular focus on areas certified as Starlight, known for their exceptional night skies. During her visit, do Campo emphasised the potential of such initiatives to provide new ways to experience Galicia and diversify its tourism offerings, while also bringing science and culture closer to the public.
She highlighted the importance of fostering proposals that encourage participation, learning, and the exchange of experiences, creating spaces for people to discover the territory and its heritage from innovative angles. The project also plans to produce a documentary and various digital content based on the audiovisual material collected from different locations.
Additionally, the initiative will create an immersive virtual reality experience using 3D glasses, allowing audiences to explore the Galician skies through a photographic exhibition and a planetarium. The Fisterra stop is part of a tour that includes five Galician locations. The initiative began in Chantada on 9 October and continued in Fisterra. Following the event in Fisterra, the project will move to Oia on 31 October, Lalín on 6 November, and Sobrado on 13 November.
The programme also includes school visits aimed at introducing students to astronomy and the knowledge of natural and cultural heritage through an educational and participatory experience. The project is supported by a €24,000 grant from the O Teu Xacobeo programme, launched by Turismo de Galicia, which allocated nearly €1 million to 55 projects in 2026, promoting around 300 activities across Galicia.
Of these initiatives, 38 are aimed at individuals and legal entities, while 17 are designated for non-profit public or private organisations. The programme seeks to enhance the dissemination of the values of the Camino de Santiago through cultural, social, sporting, and heritage proposals, with a focus on inclusion, equality, accessibility, and revitalising municipalities linked to the Jacobean routes.
Since its launch in 2018, O Teu Xacobeo has contributed to the promotion of new initiatives surrounding the Jacobean phenomenon, encouraging the involvement of various social and cultural agents and supporting activities that allow the discovery of Galicia from multiple perspectives. In this context, El cielo en el Camino adds the allure of astronomy and Galician night skies to the pilgrimage experience, transforming natural heritage into a point of tourist and educational interest and enhancing Galicia's profile as a destination linked to the Camino de Santiago ahead of the Xacobeo 2027.
Furthermore, Turismo de Galicia is accepting applications for the 'Tu Xacobeo' programme until 31 October for projects to be developed in 2027, with a budget of €2 million aimed at professionals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and non-profit entities interested in promoting new activities related to the Camino.
