On October 6, 2026, Ildefonso de la Campa, the director of Administration and Relations with Associations of Friends of the Camino del Xacobeo Plan, along with Alfonso Villares, the territorial delegate of the Xunta in Lugo, participated in the presentation of ‘O son das campás no Camiño’ in Mondoñedo. This initiative, supported by the O Camiño Norte Association and Turismo de Galicia, aims to promote community collaboration and participation among local stakeholders while reviving a tradition tied to the history and identity of Mondoñedo.
The project seeks to transform the local sound heritage into a new attraction for those traversing the Northern Way. It aims to restore the historical significance of bells as protective elements for communities, creating a cultural and musical meeting space for locals, visitors, and pilgrims that intertwines heritage, music, tradition, and spirituality.
Project Structure
‘O son das campás no Camiño’ is structured around three main activities:
- Paula e o Peregrino: This activity will take place three days a week—initially on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays—before the daily Pilgrim Mass at the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica in Mondoñedo, which starts at 8:00 PM and lasts about 15 minutes. It aims to highlight the material and immaterial heritage of the city while boosting its cultural offerings and contributing to the economic and tourist dynamism of the region. In addition to the bell ringer, five pilgrims will have the opportunity to participate in the manual ringing of the bells. The bell known as ‘A Paula,’ weighing over 1,300 kilograms, is one of Mondoñedo's sound symbols and uniquely retains its traditional manual ringing without being electrified.
- A conversa das campás: This activity will occur twice a month, where the bells of different churches in Mondoñedo will be manually rung in rotation, each responding to the bells of the Cathedral.
- O Son das Campás no Camiño: Once a year, a concert featuring the bells from the churches of Mondoñedo will be held, with the main focus on the bell tower of the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica.
This initiative aims to expand the cultural offerings associated with the Camino de Santiago and provide pilgrims with new ways to experience the heritage of the towns along the route.
Support and Funding
The O Camiño Norte Association, which includes local businesses in Mondoñedo, was established to promote the Northern Way and highlight the historical, cultural, and heritage significance of Mondoñedo as a key city on the pilgrimage route to Santiago. The Xunta de Galicia has contributed to the project's funding as part of the 2026 grants for associations of friends of the Camino de Santiago and other non-profit entities aimed at promoting the Camino and its pilgrimage, investing a total of 300,000 euros.
