The Diputación de Valencia (Provincial Council of Valencia) has granted aid to promote the Way of the Holy Grail as a strategic cultural and tourist resource for the province, with the goal of positioning as many Valencian municipalities as possible within the European Cultural Route "The Way of the Holy Grail, Route of Knowledge, Path of Peace." The subsidy, approved by Presidential Decree No. 13616 on November 7, 2025, falls under file 109/25/STU and is part of the Annex of Nominative Subsidies in the 2025 budget, in compliance with regulations on subsidies, transparency, and good governance.
Deputy for Tourism Pedro Cuesta emphasized the importance of supporting initiatives that connect heritage, identity, European culture, and sustainable tourism development, promoting territorial cohesion and the external projection of the province. The Cultural Association El Camino del Santo Grial has accepted the grant and committed to fulfilling all conditions, including institutional publicity, transparency, execution of subsidized actions, and technical and economic justification of expenses.
The funded actions focus on promotion, communication, and dissemination activities, as well as territorial consolidation of the route, reinforcing the presence of Valencian municipalities in a cultural route that articulates history, scientific research, spirituality, and cultural tourism. The route offers several future advantages for the province, including international positioning as a European cultural destination, as Valencia Cathedral houses the Holy Chalice, venerated as the Holy Grail. This unique status makes the province a reference point worldwide.
The Way of the Holy Grail also contributes to territorial structuring and cohesion between municipalities, connecting valleys, orchards, coast, and metropolitan areas into a shared cultural narrative. It promotes a model of cultural, spiritual, and regenerative tourism that attracts visitors year-round, diversifying and deseasonalizing tourism. Additionally, the route enhances tangible and intangible heritage, from historical and religious sites to landscape and ethnographic resources, fostering conservation and transmission to future generations.
Local economic development and cultural economy benefit through opportunities in accommodation, restaurants, cultural guides, local products, crafts, and educational activities. The route strengthens European values of peace, knowledge, and cultural dialogue, aligning with European cultural policies and sustainable development goals. Consolidation of the Valencian section also strengthens the candidacy within the Council of Europe's Cultural Routes Programme, opening new cooperation opportunities.
The subsidy will be paid in a single installment after justification of correct execution and expenses. The route includes 18 municipalities in the province of Valencia, starting with Algimia de Alfara as the gateway and culminating at Valencia Cathedral. Notable stops include Sagunto, with its Roman theater and castle; El Puig de Santa Maria, a spiritual center; and Albalat dels Sorells, known for its traditional farmland. Each municipality offers unique heritage and actively participates in cultural events and pilgrimage activities, reinforcing the route's European scope.
