Throughout the 20th century, many people helped keep the flame of the Camino de Santiago alive, but few left as deep and lasting a mark as Elías Valiña Sampedro. A priest, scholar, pioneer, and visionary, he was the great revitaliser of the Jacobean routes. His name is closely linked to O Cebreiro, where he served as parish priest for more than three decades, and to the iconic yellow arrow that today guides millions of pilgrims to Compostela.
Elías Valiña was and will always be present on the Camino
The Life of Elías Valiña
Born in Mundín, a small village in Sarria (Lugo) in 1929, Elías Valiña was ordained a priest in 1957 and assigned to the parish of O Cebreiro, at the entrance to the Galician section of the French Way. At that time, the village was forgotten and in decline, and it became the centre of his life and the starting point for work that would transform the Camino de Santiago.
Elías had a strong academic background, holding a law degree, a doctorate in theology, and specialising in canon law. His doctoral thesis, The Camino de Santiago: a historical-legal study, defended at the Pontifical University of Salamanca in 1965, was awarded the prestigious Antonio de Nebrija Prize by the CSIC. Throughout his life, he carried out important research, such as The Artistic Inventory of Lugo and its Province and the Catalogue of Parish Archives of the Diocese of Lugo, both recognised for their academic and documentary value.
Elías Valiña Sampedro passed away in O Cebreiro on 11 December 1989, where he is buried to this day.
Elías Valiña was born in the countryside, a few kilometres from Sarria
Elías Valiña’s Work on the Camino
From O Cebreiro, Elías embarked on a personal mission: to bring new life to the ancient Jacobean pilgrimage, which was then in serious decline. His work was discreet but constant, combining the restoration of O Cebreiro itself—including the guesthouse and the Church of Santa María—with improvements to infrastructure and the creation of a welcoming network for pilgrims.
In May 1985, he took an active role in the First Jacobean Meeting held in Santiago, where he was appointed Commissioner of the Camino de Santiago. From this position, he promoted key initiatives to revive the Camino both nationally and internationally. Two years later, he organised and coordinated the International Congress on the Camino de Santiago in Jaca, which laid the groundwork for recognising the Camino as a European cultural route, with agreements on signposting, route identification, and heritage conservation.
Church of Santa María la Real in O Cebreiro, where Elías Valiña was parish priest
The Yellow Arrow
One of Elías Valiña’s most recognisable legacies was the use of the yellow arrow as a directional symbol for pilgrims. With brush in hand and the help of volunteers, he painted hundreds of arrows from Roncesvalles to Santiago. While it’s uncertain whether he was the first, he was certainly the one who popularised and solidified it as a Camino icon. In fact, there’s a famous story in which he was stopped in the Pyrenees while painting arrows. When the Guardia Civil asked what he was doing, he replied: “I’m preparing an invasion”. Today, we can call him a visionary, especially when we look at the Camino statistics from recent years.
A yellow arrow painted, just like Elías used to do
“Boletín del Camino de Santiago”
Between 1985 and 1987, Valiña personally edited and wrote the Boletín del Camino de Santiago, a handcrafted yet essential publication in the process of reviving the Camino. Its aim was to connect those working on the route, share news, experiences, and initiatives, and thus strengthen the emerging Jacobean movement. This magazine laid the foundations for the current Peregrino, published since 1987 by the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago, which brings together all the Camino de Santiago associations.
His Legacy
Elías Valiña left not only a material and organisational legacy, but also planted a vision of the Camino as a space for spiritual, cultural, and human connection. While many today may not know the full extent of his work, his presence is still felt by all who walk the route.
Tomb of Elías Valiña in O Cebreiro
Elías Valiña Award
In 1996, the Xunta de Galicia created the Elías Valiña Award to recognise individuals and organisations that have actively contributed to the preservation and promotion of the Camino. This annual award honours his memory and supports the work of those who follow in his footsteps, calling on us all to keep the Jacobean spirit alive that he helped revive.
Among the award-winning organisations are the Confraternity of Saint James in the UK, a leader in international outreach; the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago, essential in coordinating the movement; and the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle in France, a key force in revaluing the Camino in France.
Logos of the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago and its member associations
Tribute to Elías Valiña
On 11 December 2024, marking the 35th anniversary of his death, the Pilgrim’s Welcome Office organised a tribute in Santiago de Compostela. A sculpture in his honour was unveiled in the garden of the building, created by artist Óscar Aldonza, and the documentary Elías Valiña. The Inventor of the Yellow Arrows, directed by Aser Álvarez, was screened. The event also included a musical performance and was broadcast via the podcast channel La flecha amarilla. This tribute was a heartfelt thank-you to a man who dedicated his life to caring for the Camino and its pilgrims, creating a welcoming network and planting the symbols that still guide thousands to Compostela.
Elías Valiña Sampedro Day: 2 February 2025
In February 2025, the first celebration of Elías Valiña Sampedro Day took place, marking the 96th anniversary of his birth. This date was established as an annual day of tribute in Sarria, starting point of the last 100 km of the French Way. During this first edition, family members and locals placed a commemorative plaque at his birthplace in Mundín as a gesture of remembrance and gratitude. The initiative was born to keep his memory alive and to recognise his historical impact on the revival of the Camino.
Monument to Elías Valiña in O Cebreiro
Always on the Camino
Elías Valiña was far more than a mountain priest: he was a guide, activist, scholar, restorer, and bearer of hope. His vision lives on in every yellow arrow, every pilgrim hostel, every step taken on the Camino. As the monument in O Cebreiro reads: Sempre no Camiño. And you too can be part of the Camino and discover his story in situ… Will you join us?
Leave A Comment