Last Wednesday, October 7th, the Baio Sociocultural Center hosted a meeting organized by the GDR Costa da Morte. The main objective was to analyze the territory's needs, strengths, and future opportunities concerning the intraterritorial cooperation project “Vía Mariana Luso Galaica”. This initiative aims to recover and enhance the natural, cultural, and spiritual heritage linked to this route, contributing to the revitalization of the areas it traverses.
The meeting brought together institutional representatives, social entities, businesses, and individuals connected to the Vía Mariana. During the event, project advancements were presented, and contributions regarding the territory's needs and challenges were gathered. New digital tools under development were also introduced, including a website and a georeferenced resource viewer, designed to facilitate knowledge and dissemination of the route.
The participatory dynamic allowed attendees to address key aspects such as infrastructure, signage, heritage and natural resources, services, accommodation, territorial cooperation, and digital promotion. In the Costa da Morte region, the prevalence of natural paths and the richness of Marian, ethnographic, and landscape heritage are notable, with highlighted points including the Santuario da Virxe da Barca in Muxía, as well as temples, cruceiros, and pazos.
Improvement needs were also identified, such as trail cleaning and maintenance, the conditioning of areas affected by waterlogging, and enhanced signage. The importance of strengthening the promotion of the Vía Mariana among the local population and businesses was emphasized to foster involvement and the creation of route-related services.
The Vía Mariana Luso Galaica project, driven by several Rural Development Groups in collaboration with the Asociación da Vía Mariana Luso Galaica, aims to establish the route as a reference path connecting Marian sanctuaries in Portugal and Galicia, strengthen a network of stakeholders, and promote local socioeconomic development.
This meeting in Baio is part of a participation and cooperation process to ensure the Vía Mariana's evolution meets each territory's needs and involves all relevant stakeholders.
