Adria Camino Fest: 600 from 17 nations unite in Croatia

(Photo: Adria Camino Festival)

More than 600 participants from 17 countries gathered in Croatia for the Adria Camino Festival.

Pula, May 7, 2024 – The first Adria Camino Festival, held from May 2nd to May 5th, 2024, concluded in Pula. 

The theme was “Camino – The Shared European Path.” Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James), known as the “main street of Europe,” is the first European cultural route, attracting millions of pilgrims each year along its routes throughout Europe, all leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 

Over three days, the festival program, which included the opening of a new Camino route in southern Istria and the premiere of Bill Bennett’s film “The Way, My Way,” drew over 600 participants from 17 countries.

The festival kicked off on Friday with an introductory speech by Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Culture, followed by presentations from Members of the European Parliament Francisco Millan Mon and Željana Zovko. 

(Photo: Adria Camino Festival)

They spoke about the significance of the Camino as a cultural route in promoting shared European cultural heritage and identity. 

The second part of the day featured presentations on Camino routes in various European countries, originating in the Middle Ages when pilgrims walked thousands of kilometers from their homes to the shrine of St. James in Santiago de Compostela and back home. 

(Photo: Adria Camino Festival)

The first day of the festival concluded with the European premiere of Bill Bennett’s new film, “The Way, My Way,” which both entertained and deeply moved the audience, earning the director and actors standing ovations and prolonged applause.

The second day attracted the most participants with the opening of the Camino route in Southern Istria, as part of the Croatian and European network of Camino routes. All festival participants were deeply moved by the presentation of Marina Radošić, a blind pilgrim from Istria who completed the 400 km Camino Frances route. 

(Photo: Adria Camino Festival)

The evening hours were filled with laughter and a journey through time with a costumed performance titled “Camino in the Year 1203,” where actors portraying pilgrims presented a medieval pilgrimage with a play full of comedic twists.

The festival concluded on Sunday, with a total of 27 presentations, notable among them being John Rafferty’s, a living Camino legend, who presented the proposal for the “Pilgrim Code of Conduct” in response to the need to preserve the authentic Camino experience amidst the challenges brought by its increasing popularity.

The Adria Camino Festival was realized with the support of the European Federation of Saint James Ways, the Xacobeo Foundation, the regional government of Galicia, and the Spanish Embassy in Croatia. 

(Photo: Adria Camino Festival)

Throughout this event, Camino routes across Europe were presented, facilitating networking and collaboration between various Camino associations and institutions, leading to the creation of a new platform for the promotion and development of this unique experience represented by the Camino de Santiago. 

(Photo: Adria Camino Festival)

This event was organized by the Cluster of Southern Istria, consisting of the tourist boards of Pula, Vodnjan, Marčana, Ližnjan, Fažana, and Medulin, as well as the Brotherhood of St. James – Croatia, the official Croatian representative in the oldest central Camino institution – the Brotherhood of St. James.