The presentation was led by Antioquia's Director of Tourism, Dr. Oscar Andrés Sánchez Álvarez, who headed the delegation and introduced the department's Religious Destinations Route to the Spanish audience. His remarks highlighted Antioquia's spiritual, cultural and heritage wealth, as well as its capacity to welcome travelers seeking faith-related experiences.
He was joined by local authorities and representatives from several municipalities, who gave each destination on the route its own voice. Speakers at the press conference included the Mayor of La Ceja, María Ilbed Santa Santa; the Mayor of San Pedro de los Milagros, José Danilo Álvarez Rodríguez; and Father Héctor Gonzalo Arango Mazo, of the parish in that same town.
Also present were the Mayor of Girardota, Kevin René Bernal Morales; the Mayor of Angostura, Víctor Ignacio Medina Gómez; and the Mayor of Granada, Daniel Andrés Hoyos Yepes. The delegation was completed by the Secretary of Development of Marinilla, Marlenny del Socorro Buitrago Giraldo.
The diversity of this delegation reflects the breadth of Antioquia's religious tourism offering. San Pedro de los Milagros is known for its devotion to the Lord of Miracles, while Girardota draws thousands of faithful who venerate the Fallen Lord. Angostura, meanwhile, is closely linked to the memory of Blessed Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos, popularly known as Father Marianito.
These destinations are joined by La Ceja, Granada and Marinilla, municipalities with a rich religious heritage and traditions deeply rooted in their communities. Together, they form a route that combines churches, celebrations, mountain landscapes and the warm hospitality the region is known for.
The mission was coordinated by Adrián Nelso Lomello, Regional Director for the Americas of the World Religious Tourism Network (RMTR). His work made it possible to organize a program of visits and meetings designed to provide firsthand insight into destination management models that serve as international benchmarks.
Throughout the tour, the Colombian delegation was able to take a closer look at the best practices applied by these major pilgrimage centers. These include how visitors are welcomed, coordination between religious institutions and civil authorities, heritage conservation, and the development of tourism services that respect the spiritual character of each site.
These lessons are especially valuable for Antioquia, which seeks to consolidate religious tourism as a development tool for its municipalities. This type of tourism does more than attract pilgrims. It also boosts the local economy, creates jobs and helps preserve traditions that are part of each community's identity.
The presentation in Spain also made it possible to establish contacts with travel agencies and specialized media that could become key allies in attracting international visitors. Given its Catholic tradition and its historical and cultural ties with Colombia, the Spanish market represents a particularly attractive opportunity for the department's destinations of faith.
With this mission, Antioquia has taken a firm step toward its goal of exchanging experiences, strengthening ties and raising the international profile of its religious destinations. The challenge now will be to apply these lessons to the day-to-day management of each municipality and to turn the contacts made into new opportunities for tourism.
The experience in Lisbon, Fátima, Santiago de Compostela and Madrid leaves a mark that goes beyond the technical. For the Antioquia delegation, the journey has confirmed that their region has much to offer those who travel the world guided by faith.
