Spain-Portugal cross-border tourism initiatives

Spain and Portugal are implementing various cross-border tourism initiatives to promote the natural and historical heritage of their shared border regions.

In late September, the ‘Rutas de la Raya Ibérica’ held its fourth session in Ciudad Rodrigo, involving over one hundred hikers from both nations. This initiative, supported by the Diputación de Salamanca and the Municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, focused on the Duero Internacional environment and local gastronomy. Participants concluded the trek with a tasting of ‘huevos con farinato,’ a traditional dish provided by the Cofradía de Amigos del Farinato.

By mid-October, cooperation expanded through additional projects. The ‘Iberlobo on Bike’ project, funded by Interreg Europe, scheduled a 52-kilometer cycling tour connecting Vimioso, Portugal, to Trabazos, Spain. Simultaneously, the ‘Rotas da Raia Ibérica’ project concluded its annual cycle with the ‘Rota dos Túneis’ hike, which saw more than 200 participants walking the Camino de Hierro between La Fregeneda and Vega Terrón.

In late October, the III ‘Cruzando La Raya. Sabores de la Frontera’ (Crossing the Border. Flavors of the Frontier) sessions were announced to run from October 30 to December 8. Promoted by the Junta de Castilla y León, this initiative unites the Castilla y León region with the North and Central regions of Portugal. The program aims to boost economic activity outside of peak seasons through a cultural and gastronomic agenda, featuring traditional menus, ethnographic exhibitions, motorcycle routes, and a concert by the Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra.