Madrid hosts for the first time a reception center for pilgrims on the Pilgrims’ Route to Santiago de Compostela. It is located in the historic center of the capital and has a capacity for 26 people. The project, located in the Real Monasterio de las Comendadoras -a historic enclave founded in the 17th century- has materialized thanks to the collaboration between the Asociación del Camino de Santiago de Astorga and the International Network of Jacobean Associations, with funding from the Next Generation EU funds.
The Albergue de las Comendadoras service will be complemented by the International Pilgrim Center, which will offer assistance, historical references and spiritual guidance to those who are interested.
The Madrid City Council explained last April 10 through a communiqué that the new center “is mainly oriented to international pilgrims entering Spain through the capital. In this way, the city becomes a key starting point for those who travel from another country in order to make the spiritual journey.
According to Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the hostel will not only solve logistical problems for travelers, but will also promote a less traveled route through landscapes such as the Sierra de Guadarrama.
The Monastery of the Comendadoras
The monastery, home to the Comendadoras de Santiago since 1650, recovers its Jacobean link with this initiative. Inside there are spaces for social rehabilitation workshops (managed by Cáritas) and a beautiful church with a Greek cross floor plan. To gain access, pilgrims must present a credential proving their intention to walk the Camino de Santiago.