The Route of the Calatrava Passion Declared International Tourist Interest Festival

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has granted the declaration of International Tourist Interest Festival to the Route of the Calatrava Passion, an itinerary that traverses ten municipalities in Ciudad Real. It is the first celebration in the province to achieve this highest tourist recognition.

The Route of the Calatrava Passion, which encompasses ten localities in the Campo de Calatrava, has received the declaration of International Tourist Interest Festival. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism, through the Secretary of State for Tourism, has awarded this distinction that recognises the uniqueness and heritage value of one of the most representative Holy Weeks in Castilla-La Mancha.

A Historic Milestone for the Province of Ciudad Real

The mayor of Pozuelo de Calatrava, David Triguero, who presides over the Association for the Development of the Campo de Calatrava, has described the recognition as a historic milestone. “We have achieved a historic milestone after a long and laborious effort. Pozuelo de Calatrava is part of the Route of the Calatrava Passion, now declared an International Tourist Interest Festival, and this marks a before and after for our territory,” he stated in a press release.

The Route of the Calatrava Passion thus becomes the first International Tourist Interest Festival in the province of Ciudad Real and one of the seven in all of Castilla-La Mancha that hold this distinction. The itinerary includes the municipalities of Aldea del Rey, Almagro, Bolaños de Calatrava, Calzada de Calatrava, Granátula de Calatrava, Miguelturra, Moral de Calatrava, Pozuelo de Calatrava, Torralba de Calatrava, and Valenzuela de Calatrava.

Twenty Years of Work to Achieve the Highest Recognition

David Triguero has recalled that this achievement is the result of a process that began more than twenty years ago, with collaboration between administrations, brotherhoods, and the ten municipalities. “First, we achieved the declaration of Regional Tourist Interest Festival, then National, and now International. This distinction will provide us with enormous projection and great visibility to work throughout the 365 days of the year,” he noted.

The mayor emphasised that the Route is a project that goes beyond Holy Week, becoming an element of collective identity and a powerful resource for cultural and tourist promotion. “The Route of the Calatrava Passion combines the sacred and the profane. It is an opportunity for more and more visitors to discover the Campo de Calatrava, its heritage, its culture, its gastronomy, and, of course, the unique way of representing the Passion of Christ,” he highlighted.

The Holy Week of Pozuelo de Calatrava, Key to the Route

Within the Route, Pozuelo de Calatrava contributes some of the most unique moments, such as its traditional Via Crucis and the emotional Encounter on Resurrection Sunday. “In Pozuelo, we have a very unique and particular Via Crucis that has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries,” Triguero explained.

The City Council is already working to ensure that the procession of the Santo Entierro del Viernes Santo, organised by the brotherhoods of the Holy Sepulchre and of Solitude, can achieve similar recognition in the future. “We are working to ensure that this procession can obtain the recognition it deserves for the quality and significant evolution it has undergone in recent years,” the mayor indicated.

The declaration represents an opportunity to consolidate the Campo de Calatrava as a reference tourist destination, promoting economic development and enhancing its material and immaterial heritage. The brotherhoods, confraternities, and music bands are the ones who keep this tradition alive, as Triguero has reminded: “Without the effort, dedication, and commitment of all of them over so many years, this project would never have been possible.”