Spain: Oviedo inaugurates a milestone of the Primitive Way next to Galicia

09-04-25

The city of Oviedo has inaugurated a new milestone on the Primitive Way of St. James, marking the official start of this historic pilgrimage route. The milestone, located on the side of the Cathedral of San Salvador, next to the sculpture of Alfonso II El Casto -considered the first pilgrim in history-, marks the exact distance that separates the capital of the Principality of Asturias from Santiago de Compostela: 323 kilometres.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Oviedo, Alfredo Canteli, and the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, who took advantage of the event to sign a collaboration agreement between the two regional administrations. Although the agreement does not contemplate a direct economic endowment, it does represent a firm institutional commitment to jointly promote the Primitive Way.

The year 2025 has a special significance for Oviedo, as it coincides with two key anniversaries: the 950th anniversary of the opening of the Holy Ark and the tenth anniversary of the inclusion of the Primitive Way in the UNESCO World Heritage List. These celebrations are the starting point for the design of a special plan to promote this pilgrimage route, with a view to the next Holy Year of Compostela in 2027.

During his speech, Mayor Alfredo Canteli highlighted the symbolic importance of the new milestone as a ‘physical element that reminds us of where we started from and where we are heading, both in the literal and spiritual sense of the Camino’. He also stressed the heritage, cultural and touristic value of the Primitive Way and the need to strengthen the ties between Asturias and Galicia, regions historically linked by this route.

For his part, the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, thanked the welcome in Oviedo and highlighted the ‘deeply symbolic’ nature of the event, which demonstrates the common desire to strengthen the Camino as the backbone of the northwest peninsular. ‘We not only share a route, we share values, history and a common vocation to project this ancient heritage to the world,’ he said.

The cairn has been made of granite and features the two universal symbols that identify the Camino de Santiago: the yellow arrow and the scallop shell. This type of signage is present along all the pilgrim routes, guiding pilgrims on their journey to the tomb of the apostle.

The institutional act was also attended by the Councillor for Tourism of the City Council of Oviedo, Alfredo García Quintana, and the Dean of the Cathedral, Benito Gallego, as well as representatives of several Asturian municipalities through which the Primitive Way passes, such as Las Regueras, Candamo, Grado, Salas, Tineo, Pola de Allande and Grandas de Salime. Also present were members of associations of the Camino de Santiago in Asturias, who valued very positively this initiative to promote the original route of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

To round off the day, the Director General of Tourism of the Xunta de Galicia, José Manuel Merelles, gave a presentation on the projects and strategic lines of Xacobeo in the Plenary Hall of the City Council of Oviedo. In his speech, Merelles highlighted the importance of inter-territorial collaboration to consolidate the international leadership of the Camino de Santiago and stressed that the Primitive Way, for its authenticity and rich landscape, represents one of the jewels of this European cultural network.

This milestone, beyond its function as an indicator of distance, represents a symbol of institutional unity, respect for shared history and a commitment to sustainable and cultural tourism. With this inauguration, Oviedo and Galicia further strengthen their ties and reaffirm their commitment to the Jacobean legacy, joining forces to continue making the Primitive Way a unique experience for pilgrims from all over the world.

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