Spanish pilgrim Enrique Balsera’s trek and Covadonga pilgrimage highlighted

Enrique Balsera, known as “the most famous pilgrim in Spain,” continues his decade‑long foot journey across holy sites in Spain and beyond, accompanied by his donkey Espíritu Santo Amén. After a severe car accident left him paraplegic, Balsera vowed to devote his life to pilgrimage if he ever walked again. His recent stop in Facinas drew local curiosity as he passes through towns without money or a mobile phone.

Meanwhile, dozens of pilgrims joined the traditional pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Covadonga, marking the 90th anniversary of historic martyrdoms. Participants walked from Oviedo to the mountain basilica, recalling the sacrifices of Carmelite nuns and Saint Pedro Poveda, and shared prayers and songs along the route.

Both narratives reflect a resurgence of religious walking traditions in northern Spain, drawing attention to personal devotion, communal rituals, and the cultural significance of historic pilgrimage routes.