Volunteers celebrate Freedom Day by preserving strech of the Camino

On the April 25, public holiday, around 20 volunteers from the Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago from Viana do Castelo (AACS-Viana) walked and re-marked the stretch between Vila Praia de Âncora and Seixas, along the Portuguese Coastal Route, in a symbolic action that combined the celebration of Freedom with the preservation of one of the Iberian Peninsula’s most iconic pilgrimage routes.

During the morning, participants repainted the traditional yellow arrows guiding pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela and the blue arrows indicating the way towards Fátima. In addition to maintaining the waymarks, they also collected litter along the path, helping to promote environmental preservation.

The initiative was supported by the National Republican Guard (GNR), represented by Colonel Maciel da Silva, territorial commander of Viana do Castelo, and officers who accompanied the walk, enhancing the safety of participants and the visibility of the “Bom Caminho 2025” operation. The Municipality of Caminha also joined the initiative by providing transport for the volunteers’ return journey, a gesture warmly acknowledged by the organisers.

The action highlighted not only the importance of clear waymarking to support pilgrims, ensuring safety and good orientation along the route, but also reinforced the values of freedom, hospitality and solidarity that characterise this association and the Caminos de Santiago.

The morning was described by the organisation as a rewarding and memorable experience, praising the effort and dedication of all those involved in the preservation and enhancement of Jacobean heritage. Founded in 2004, AACS-Viana is responsible for various activities supporting pilgrims, including the management of the Caminha Pilgrim Hostel.