Manresa

Manresa, a city with a rich industrial and medieval past in the heart of Catalonia, is a spiritual stop of deep resonance on the Catalan Way (Camí de Sant Jaume). Its importance transcends the Jacobean route, as it is a pillar of the Ignatian Way. It was here that Saint Ignatius of Loyola lived a profound spiritual transformation and wrote his fundamental Spiritual Exercises in the Holy Cave (Santa Cueva) in the 16th century. For pilgrims, visiting this cave, now converted into an impressive sanctuary, is an intense experience. The city also offers a notable heritage, with the imposing Gothic Basilica of the Seu, which dominates the Cardener River, and an interesting medieval old town with its Old Bridge (Pont Vell). Manresa is an important center for services, with a good range of accommodations. It's an stage that allows pilgrims from both the Jacobean and Ignatian routes to share a space of reflection and faith, uniting two of the great spiritual traditions of the West.