The Way of the Holy Grail Receives FOTUR 2025 Tourism Award as European Cultural Benchmark

The Way of the Holy Grail in Europe was distinguished with the FOTUR 2025 Tourism Award during a gala at the Palau Alameda in Valencia, consolidating its position as a cultural project of European scope that unites heritage, identity, tradition and territorial development. The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Leisure and Tourism (FOTUR) and brought together institutional representatives, sector entities, and tourism and culture professionals in an evening focused on enhancing tourism as an economic, social and cultural engine of the Valencian region. Dr. Ana Mafé García, president of the cultural itinerary and international reference in the scientific study of the Holy Chalice of the Cathedral of Valencia, attended alongside Mr. Jesús Gimeno Peris, Secretary of the entity, and Mrs. Liubov Daniel Albariño, International Director of the project, emphasizing the institutional, academic and strategic nature of an itinerary that strengthens the cultural projection of the Valencian Community in Europe.

During the gala presented by Maje Martínez, institutional interventions and artistic performances recognized initiatives contributing to tourism, culture, gastronomy and creative industries. Welcoming words from María de los Llanos Massó Linares, president of Les Corts Valencianes, and Marian Cano, Minister of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism of the Generalitat Valenciana, highlighted the importance of a tourism model linked to cultural identity, innovation and social cohesion. The presentation of awards recognized emblematic projects including The Way of the Holy Grail in Europe as a symbol of culture, tradition and territorial structuring, in dialogue with other references of design, gastronomy, music, festivals and tourism promotion. The event concluded with intervention from Víctor Pérez, president of FOTUR, who highlighted the gala's consolidation as an essential meeting point for the sector, followed by networking emphasizing local products and collaboration between entities.

The celebration was supported by collaborating firms including Coca-Cola, Bodegas Gandía, Dicoval, Heineken and Varma, with participation from Valencian company Pitiminís responsible for award design and a 360º audiovisual experience adding an innovative component. This recognition reinforces The Way of the Holy Grail's role as a strategic cultural project aligned with sustainability, European identity and heritage enhancement, consolidating its link with the Valencian Community as key territory in constructing a shared cultural narrative internationally. The Way of the Holy Grail is a European cultural itinerary of historical, patrimonial and spiritual nature highlighting the documented and symbolic route of the Holy Chalice guarded in the Cathedral of Valencia, traditionally identified with the Holy Grail of Christian tradition.

This long-term cultural and touristic project promoted by the Valencian Community connects territories, cities and landscapes of the Mediterranean basin and Europe through a common story based on history, culture, spirituality, art and knowledge. The itinerary integrates historical routes linking the Middle East, Italy, France and Spain, with special prominence of Aragon and Valencia as key territories in the arrival and custody of the Holy Chalice. Conceived as a tool for territorial structuring and sustainable development aligned with European values of cultural cooperation, intercultural dialogue, peace and social cohesion, the project contributes through cultural, educational, academic and tourist actions to deseasonalisation of tourism, dynamization of rural environments and enhancement of tangible and intangible heritage. The itinerary has support from an International Scientific Commission for the Study of the Holy Grail providing academic rigor to the historical and symbolic narrative, working toward certification as a European Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, positioning Valencia and the Valencian Community as international benchmarks in cultural, spiritual and knowledge tourism.