The fifth meeting of managers of Council of Europe Cultural Routes in Spain was held in Huelva, Spain, from 23 to 25 March.

Organised by the Ministry of Culture of Spain, in cooperation with the province of Huelva (Andalucia), the meeting brought together a very representative group of cultural routes stakeholders in Spain, with a particular attention to academic institutions and research centres, owing to the focus of this year’s meeting.

The discussions focused on the role of knowledge and research networks in the development of the routes. This is a very important dimension of the programme as cultural routes need to be anchored in, and benefit from, solid multidisciplinary knowledge and research, important factors of their credibility and sustainability.

At the programme level, this is reflected in the role and activities of the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies and the discussions about a possible Scientific Committee for the programme, as presented by Rui Gomes, Executive secretary of the programme of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

The meeting in Huelva was held in the very symbolic Paraje de la Rábida, departure point of the first Columbus Atlantic expedition.