Walking into the Future: University of Vigo Researchers Create Immersive App for Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago and the Vía Romea
Published on 04 Nov 2025
Walking into the Future: University of Vigo Researchers Create Immersive App for Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago and the Vía Romea
[November 2025] What if every step on the Camino de Santiago revealed the hidden stories behind ancient bridges, monasteries, or chapels — instantly, through your phone? Thanks to a new mobile application developed by researchers at the University of Vigo, this vision is becoming reality.
Created by Silvia García Méndez and Francisco de Arriba Pérez (PIs), and the developers Alejandro Pajón Sanmartín and Julen Beiro Suso from the Information Technologies Group (atlanTTic) at the University of Vigo, the app transforms traditional pilgrimage routes like the Camino de Santiago and the Vía Romea into a living, interactive journey.
Developed within the 3DBigDataSpace project, the application blends augmented reality (AR), 3D visualization, and AI-generated storytelling to guide pilgrims through landscapes rich in history and meaning. As users walk, their phones reveal immersive reconstructions, voice-guided narratives, and personalized cultural insights, turning each stretch of the road into an experience of discovery.
Developed within the 3DBigDataSpace project, the application blends augmented reality (AR), 3D visualization, and AI-generated storytelling to guide pilgrims through landscapes rich in history and meaning. As users walk, their phones reveal immersive reconstructions, voice-guided narratives, and personalized cultural insights, turning each stretch of the road into an experience of discovery.
“We wanted to design a tool that doesn’t just tell users where to go, but helps them understand what they are walking through,” explains Dr. Silvia García Méndez, principal investigator of the project.
“The app allows every pilgrim to become an explorer; to uncover layers of history, art, and spirituality in a way that feels alive and personal.”
Preview of possible routes and cultural highlights to explore. Credit: UVigo
An App Designed for Pilgrims, by Innovators
Unlike a conventional navigation app, this tool accompanies users as a digital cultural guide. It adapts to each pilgrim’s journey, offering contextual information about nearby heritage sites, local legends, and cultural events.
Key user-focused features include Augmented Reality views that overlay cultural information directly onto real-world landmarks as well as immersive 3D and 4D models of monuments, allowing users to visualize historic sites as they once were. Personalized stories and translations, powered by AI language models, offer explanations in multiple languages and smart notifications for nearby points of interest, safety alerts, and local experiences. Offline access and user-friendly design, ensure reliability even in rural or low-connectivity areas.
Key user-focused features include Augmented Reality views that overlay cultural information directly onto real-world landmarks as well as immersive 3D and 4D models of monuments, allowing users to visualize historic sites as they once were. Personalized stories and translations, powered by AI language models, offer explanations in multiple languages and smart notifications for nearby points of interest, safety alerts, and local experiences. Offline access and user-friendly design, ensure reliability even in rural or low-connectivity areas.
Examples of AR views, personalized stories and safety alerts. Credit: UVigo
For many pilgrims, the app provides a deeper sense of connection with the landscape and the legacy of those who walked the same paths centuries before. It invites users not only to reach Santiago or Rome but to experience the journey itself as a cultural and emotional narrative.
“Technology here becomes invisible, it simply enriches the moment,” notes Dr. Francisco de Arriba Pérez.
“Our hope is that every user, whether a first-time traveler or a seasoned pilgrim, can engage with Europe’s cultural heritage in a meaningful, personal way.”
AI and Community at the Heart of the Experience
Behind the scenes, the app uses advanced AI and large language models to generate and translate heritage content dynamically. It also empowers users to contribute: Pilgrims can add new points of interest, share photos or reflections, and help others discover hidden gems along the routes.
This collaborative, community-driven approach ensures the platform grows organically, reflecting the diversity of experiences and stories along Europe’s great pilgrimage networks.
This collaborative, community-driven approach ensures the platform grows organically, reflecting the diversity of experiences and stories along Europe’s great pilgrimage networks.
A Bridge Between Past and Future
By merging storytelling, technology, and human experience, the University of Vigo’s team offers a new way to engage with Europe’s cultural heritage — one that connects history with innovation, and memory with emotion.
As part of the 3DBigDataSpace project, this work illustrates how artificial intelligence and immersive media can bring people closer to their heritage, wherever they are — or wherever they walk.
The beta version of the app can already be explored through the following links:
As part of the 3DBigDataSpace project, this work illustrates how artificial intelligence and immersive media can bring people closer to their heritage, wherever they are — or wherever they walk.
The beta version of the app can already be explored through the following links:
- Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rurallure
- API Documentation: https://swagger-pilgrims.duckdns.org
- Link to introduction video of the app: https://youtu.be/ow3HxB-t-IQ