FITCE 2010, WHY SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA?

The 49th FITCE Congress will take place in Santiago de Compostela to coincide with the "Xacobeo" Holy Year, which occurs when the 25 July falls on a Sunday. A coincidence which will not happen again until 2021.

This will mean that in 2010 Santiago de Compostela will play host to more than 10 million pilgrims from all over the world who will follow the Way of St. James to revere the remains of James the Apostle which lie in the Cathedral there.

THE LOCATION FOR THE CONGRESS: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA,

WORLD HERITAGE CITY

The city of Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia. Galicia is one of Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities or Regions. The Xunta de Galicia (the executive power) is located here, as is the Galician Parliament (the legislative power). Santiago de Compostela has almost 100,000 inhabitants and is considered one of Christianity’s three spiritual centres along with Rome and Jerusalem.

Its economy is based on very diversified sectors, the University, the administrative headquarters of the Galician Regional Government, cultural tourism and industry, especially the timber industry. Its fame in recent years along with the revitalised pilgrim’s way (the Way of St. James) have made it a prime destination thanks to the annual presence of millions of visitors.

Santiago de Compostela has been a World Heritage City since 1985. This is an honour granted by UNESCO, having considered its urban and monumental beauty to be the perfect complement to its spiritual significance as an apostolic sanctuary and destination of the most important religious and cultural movement of the Middle Ages: the Pilgrim’s Way of St. James.

INFRASTRUCTURES

The Capital of Galicia, geographically Santiago de Compostela is located in the centre of the Autonomous Community, easily accessible by road, train and plane. The international airport at Lavacolla is Galicia’s major airport and runs international and intercontinental flights.

Easy access, the excellent hotel facilities and modern infrastructures especially aimed at congresses and symposiums complete the Galician capital’s profile as a professional tourism destination. All of these circumstances have made Compostela a preferred destination for congress-goers from all over the world.