Madrid opens albergue for pilgrims at the Comendadoras Monastery
The city of Madrid now has its first permanent albergue dedicated to pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Located in the historic Real Monasterio de las Comendadoras de Santiago, in the Conde Duque neighbourhood, the new facility offers 26 beds and also includes the newly established International Pilgrim Centre.
This project is the result of a partnership between the Astorga Camino de Santiago Association, the International Network of Jacobean Associations and the Comendadoras de Santiago community, with funding from the European Union’s Next Generation programme, under the Experiencias Turismo España initiative.
The albergue is intended to support pilgrims starting their journey in Madrid, particularly those arriving from abroad and entering Spain through the capital. The City Council emphasises that this facility aims to promote the lesser-known Camino de Madrid, which crosses the Sierra de Guadarrama before joining the French Route in Sahagún.
To stay at the albergue, pilgrims must present a valid credential, proving their intention to complete the Camino. The accommodation is simple and communal, in line with the traditional spirit of Jacobean hospitality.
The International Pilgrim Centre, located within the same complex, offers logistical support, historical information on various pilgrimage routes, and even spiritual guidance — reinforcing its role as a comprehensive welcome hub. According to its promoters, the goal is to position Madrid as a true gateway to Santiago.
The Real Monasterio de las Comendadoras, founded in the 17th century and home to the order since 1650, thus renews its historical connection to the Camino in a gesture that unites heritage, faith and sustainable tourism. Throughout its history, the monastery welcomed many women from noble families, some of whom accompanied their husbands on pilgrimage or sought a devotional life tied to the Camino de Santiago. Its reactivation as a space for hospitality restores the role it once played — and now resumes — as a spiritual and practical point of support on the road to Santiago.
