Rome Newsroom, Jul 1, 2020 / 07:00 am
Pilgrims can walk the Camino de Santiago once again as the pilgrimage's destination, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, reopened its doors Wednesday.
The cathedral, pilgrim welcome center, and public hostels along the Spanish pilgrimage route reopened on July 1 following a more than three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Masses resumed at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela for up to 75 people at a time to facilitate social distancing requirements. The tomb of St. James the Apostle is now open for veneration from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, however the traditional embrace of the statue of St. James has been prohibited.
The July 1 reopening coincided with the European Union's decision to allow tourists to visit its 27 member states from 14 countries, including Canada, Australia, and South Korea, but excluding the United States.