The Pointing Pilgrims of Monte de Gozo

[rappahannock_rev]

I've been to the Monte de Gozo twice. I've gotten my sello from the chapel, bought my snack from the vendors, and gawked at the pyramidal Visit-of-John Paul II-Monument (surely the ugliest monument I've ever seen, anywhere!)

But I've never laid eyes on the famous pointing pilgrims!

Where are they? My next Camino may be my last, and I don't want to miss them.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I've been to the Monte de Gozo twice. I've gotten my sello from the chapel, bought my snack from the vendors, and gawked at the pyramidal Visit-of-John Paul II-Monument (surely the ugliest monument I've ever seen, anywhere!)

But I've never laid eyes on the famous pointing pilgrims!

Where are they? My next Camino may be my last, and I don't want to miss them.

When you are on the Monte de Gozo the Pilgrims are a little further to your left.
Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[Devon Mike]

As Peter said, the pilgrim statues are off the Camino. When you get to the little Chapel at Monte de Gozo, turn off left in front of it and carry on away from the Camino down through the field to another road where there is a parking area. From there follow the path upwards and you will find the statues.

The first view of Santiago Cathedral about 5kms/3 miles away.

Buen Camino,

Mike

 

[jdpiguet]

Hi Rappahannock_rev,

I have the same problem: twice in Santiago and never seen the monument...
BUT: Google maps have been my friend, see below!



The pointing pilgrims are south of the hideous monument, after crossing the road (Rũa da Estrelas).
So it's NOT on the usual walking path...

Buen Camino, Jacques-D.

 

[peregrina2000]

As Peter said, the pilgrim statues are off the Camino. When you get to the little Chapel at Monte de Gozo, turn off left in front of it and carry on away from the Camino down through the field to another road where there is a parking area. From there follow the path upwards and you will find the statues.

The first view of Santiago Cathedral about 5kms/3 miles away.

Buen Camino,

Mike

View attachment 23397

That's a lovely picture. In all my entrances into Santiago, I've never seen it either! Maybe I'll walk up this summer when I'm lounging around in Santiago, since I won't be coming in on the Frances.

 

[Al the optimist]

Thanks. I wondered where it was but never bothered to find out. I put missing it down to tiredness every time as I find the walk up endless.

 

[jrm]

When we stumbled upon the pointing pilgrims, we were the only ones there. It was a fantastic view.... a good twenty minutes of relaxing and celebrating as we first saw the cathedral.

St Francis by Jonathan Melot, on Flickr

Pilgrim Monument by Jonathan Melot, on Flickr

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Hi Rappahannock_rev,

I have the same problem: twice in Santiago and never seen the monument...
BUT: Google maps have been my friend, see below!

View attachment 23398 View attachment 23399

The pointing pilgrims are south of the hideous monument, after crossing the road (Rũa da Estrelas).
So it's NOT on the usual walking path...

Buen Camino, Jacques-D.

Splendid! Just what I needed. Thanks.

 

[willydp]

Thanks for the information
Most welcome in my preparation for my first Camino CF in 2017

 

[purplesage]

Splendid! Just what I needed. Thanks.

There's also the SHADOW pilgrim at the Cathedral. No one knows how this happens... but it does. You can see him in the night if you stand near the shops outside the enterance to the Cathedral. There's a pillar... a normal looking one but this pillar throws a shadow of a pilgrim on the wall. When I saw it for the first time, it really blew my socks away. Buen Camino

 

[CaminoDebrita]

When we stumbled upon the pointing pilgrims, we were the only ones there. It was a fantastic view.... a good twenty minutes of relaxing and celebrating as we first saw the cathedral.

St Francis by Jonathan Melot, on Flickr

Pilgrim Monument by Jonathan Melot, on Flickr

These photos are stunning. I love the patina of the green...All very beautiful.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

There's also the SHADOW pilgrim at the Cathedral. No one knows how this happens... but it does. You can see him in the night if you stand near the shops outside the enterance to the Cathedral. There's a pillar... a normal looking one but this pillar throws a shadow of a pilgrim on the wall. When I saw it for the first time, it really blew my socks away. Buen Camino

I was shocked and amazed when Martina--the peregrina from Germany--texted me a photo of the shadow! I will go and see it this coming visit. It's really amazing!

 

[purplesage]

I was shocked and amazed when Martina--the peregrina from Germany--texted me a photo of the shadow! I will go and see it this coming visit. It's really amazing!

Deb.. you WILL be surprised !!! Walk along the shops away from the cathedral and stop near ... lets say... the fourth shop after the corner cafe and you'll see it. Must get in touch with Martina. I've been in touch with Gudrun... the one with the amazing singing voice... from Berlin. And Phillip... and Emma and Anna... Buen Camino, lovely peregrina

 

[Robo]

On which side of the cathedral is this? South side?

 

[Sheena]

There's also the SHADOW pilgrim at the Cathedral. No one knows how this happens... but it does. You can see him in the night if you stand near the shops outside the enterance to the Cathedral. There's a pillar... a normal looking one but this pillar throws a shadow of a pilgrim on the wall. When I saw it for the first time, it really blew my socks away. Buen Camino

Hi! Do you (or anyone else) have a photo of this marvel? Thanks. Sheena

 

[purplesage]

Hi! Do you (or anyone else) have a photo of this marvel? Thanks. Sheena

@Sheena... Caminodebrita might have it. She mentioned one of our Camino sisters sending her one. I usually do not take a camera with me. I prefer absorbing all the beauty I see and giving thanks instead of taking photos. Buen Camino

 

[Sheena]

I was shocked and amazed when Martina--the peregrina from Germany--texted me a photo of the shadow! I will go and see it this coming visit. It's really amazing!

Hi! Do you (or anyone else) have a photo of this marvel? Thanks. Sheena

 

[AlwynWellington]

The pointing pilgrims are south of the hideous monument, after crossing the road (Rũa da Estrelas).
So it's NOT on the usual walking path...

When we stumbled upon the pointing pilgrims, we were the only ones there. It was a fantastic view.... a good twenty minutes of relaxing and celebrating as we first saw the cathedral.

When I first arrived at S Marks Chapel, there was a persistent drizzle, a bishop was talking to a well dressed group so no room inside, and the installation just above us was semi obscured by mist.

So thanks to this thread I now have a purpose at this point: to stand with these pilgrims for a space.


A radical thought rises up: should we set up a petition to have the locations of the statuary reversed.

 

[Devon Mike]

A radical thought rises up: should we set up a petition to have the locations of the statuary reversed.

An interesting thought, but the location of the Pointing Pilgrims is the only place at Monte de Gozo where you can actually see Santiago Cathedral, so that's why they are there.

After walking for hundreds of kilometres, the extra few minutes to get to their location off the Camino is nothing, but the first sighting of the Cathedral is awesome.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Yesterday.

 

[AlwynWellington]

the location of the Pointing Pilgrims is the only place at Monte de Gozo where you can actually see Santiago Cathedral

Thanks Mike.

I spent some time with Google Maps and Street View. Regrettably the photography was no where near as good as your image in post #3 above and the Cathedral was just a blur.

 

[sillydoll]

There are two ways to reach them, either from the Pope John Paul monument or from inside the complex. Buses take tourist-pilgrims to see it from the monument. If you are inside the complex, stand outside the cafeteria and look up to the hillside on the left. You have to pass through a gate to reach the hill where they are.
This is the path from the monument. When you are standing at the statues, you can see the monument to your right in the distance.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I always thought they were two touragrinos hailing a taxi . . .

 

[Former member 69452]

When we stumbled upon the pointing pilgrims, we were the only ones there. It was a fantastic view.... a good twenty minutes of relaxing and celebrating as we first saw the cathedral.

St Francis by Jonathan Melot, on Flickr

Pilgrim Monument by Jonathan Melot, on Flickr

MAGNFICENT SHOTS!!!

I am writing an article about Monte del Gozo and would love to feature the second image above. Would it be okay me to use on EuroTravelogue.com? Of course, I will attribute the image to you. Please let me know for this is one of the BEST, if not the BEST, image of the Pilgrim Monument that I have seen. I'll be there in Sept but need to publish prior. Thank you for your consideration. Jeff

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I always thought they were two touragrinos hailing a taxi . . .

Jeff, you are always sooo funny. I love your style of dry humor!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I, too, missed seeing the pointing pilgrims on my first Camino. Thankfully someone pointed me (pun intended) in the right direction next time I ended in Santiago.

 

[Iriebabel]

I spent some time in the little park walking all over...it was bitter sweet standing on that hill because I knew my camino was coming to an end. I loved getting that first little view of the cathedral

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I love those statues. They are favorites of mine!

 

[rappahannock_rev]

For the record, I finally found the Pointing Pilgrims on my 3rd Camino Frances, in 2017.

This thread was helpful.... FrJ

 

[Former member 69452]

I spent some time in the little park walking all over...it was bitter sweet standing on that hill because I knew my camino was coming to an end. I loved getting that first little view of the cathedral

These are stunning photos, especially the first one.

I am hoping you can help me. I am writing an article about my upcoming Camino in September and I don't have any beautiful pics of Monte del Gozo. I would love to feature the second and fifth images in my article. Would it be okay me to use on EuroTravelogue.com with the appropriate attribution of course?

Please let me know when you have a minute. Thank you for your consideration. Jeff Titelius

 

[Iriebabel]

These are stunning photos, especially the first one.

I am hoping you can help me. I am writing an article about my upcoming Camino in September and I don't have any beautiful pics of Monte del Gozo. I would love to feature the second and fifth images in my article. Would it be okay me to use on EuroTravelogue.com with the appropriate attribution of course?

Please let me know when you have a minute. Thank you for your consideration. Jeff Titelius

Yes you have my permission to use them. Wish you success with your article.

 

[Former member 69452]

Yes you have my permission to use them. Wish you success with your article.

Thank you SOOOO much! How would you like your name to appear?

 

[Iriebabel]

Thank you SOOOO much! How would you like your name to appear?

You are welcomed. You can use my screen name “Iriebabel”..that will be great! I took the pictures on my first camino April/may. I took a look at your travel blog and I am impressed...was very nice!
I finally finished my summary just recently if you would like to read it under the thread https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...yborg-turtle-with-post-camino-thoughts.57400/. I am trying to get my blog up and working and eventually my camino story will be posted there. Please let me know when your article is finished and posted. ...thank you for including me

 

[Former member 69452]

You are welcomed. You can use my screen name “Iriebabel”..that will be great! I took the pictures on my first camino April/may. I took a look at your travel blog and I am impressed...was very nice!
I finally finished my summary just recently if you would like to read it under the thread https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...yborg-turtle-with-post-camino-thoughts.57400/. I am trying to get my blog up and working and eventually my camino story will be posted there. Please let me know when your article is finished and posted. ...thank you for including me

Perfect my new friend. I will be sure to credit with your screen name. Thank you for your kind compliments on my site as well. I really appreciate it! Looking forward to reading your 21-page novella as well. WOW! Now that's a post. I am sure it's brilliant. Thanks again for everything!

 

[Iriebabel]

Perfect my new friend. I will be sure to credit with your screen name. Thank you for your kind compliments on my site as well. I really appreciate it! Looking forward to reading your 21-page novella as well. WOW! Now that's a post. I am sure it's brilliant. Thanks again for everything!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

[Former member 69452]

Hi

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I have finally published my post. It's a long one but scroll down to DAY 9 and you'll see your beautiful pics featured. Thank you again for helping me out. Now to read your novella. Take care! Jeff

 

[Former member 69452]

Hi

I have finally published my post. It's a long one but scroll down to DAY 9 and you'll see your beautiful pics featured. Thank you again for helping me out. Now to read your novella. Take care! Jeff

https://www.eurotravelogue.com/2018/09/Camino-de-Santiago-Pilgrimage.html

 

[Iriebabel]

Hi

I have finally published my post. It's a long one but scroll down to DAY 9 and you'll see your beautiful pics featured. Thank you again for helping me out. Now to read your novella. Take care! Jeff

I will take a look and look forward to it. Thank you for the update.

Update: Jeff, I read it..loved it...commented on it.. Now I must subscribe . Thank you for including my pictures and I look forward to not only reading past posts on your blog but also future posts.. I almost hate to say this but on a side note my name is spelled incorrectly. Iriebabel...
Thank you
Karen

 

[Former member 69452]

I will take a look and look forward to it. Thank you for the update.

Update: Jeff, I read it..loved it...commented on it.. Now I must subscribe . Thank you for including my pictures and I look forward to not only reading past posts on your blog but also future posts.. I almost hate to say this but on a side note my name is spelled incorrectly. Iriebabel...
Thank you
Karen

I am honored my friend! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your comment and kind words!! What a great friend I have in you Karen!! I am so sorry about the misspelling. I've updated the post and now it's perfect. Thank you for letting me know! Always welcome edits especially attribution! Thx again!

 

[Iriebabel]

I am honored my friend! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your comment and kind words!! What a great friend I have in you Karen!! I am so sorry about the misspelling. I've updated the post and now it's perfect. Thank you for letting me know! Always welcome edits especially attribution! Thx again!

No worries. I enjoyed reading it and just subscribed

 

[Former member 69452]

No worries. I enjoyed reading it and just subscribed

Thank you again Karen!

 

[Dael]

It is recorded that medieval pilgrims travelled in groups for safety. The first member of any group to see the cathedral was given the title ‘Rex’ (King). That is why these statues were placed here.

 

[Former member 69452]

It is recorded that medieval pilgrims travelled in groups for safety. The first member of any group to see the cathedral was given the title ‘Rex’ (King). That is why these statues were placed here.

Thanks so much!! Great information!!