Camino Photo of the Day: Monte do Gozo

This grand, if unlovely, monument graced the hill overlooking the city of Santiago. On a clear day, from exactly the right spot here you can see the spires of the Cathedral for the first time. It is for this reason that the hill is called Monte do Gozo – Hill of Joy. The monument was erected to celebrate the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1982 (and Saint Francis of Assisi more than 700 years before in 1214).

Even when we visited the spot in 2013 the monument was starting to rust and decay. It was removed “for refurbishment” in 2021, but it does not appear that the government will be putting it back. Honestly, I won’t miss it. It was a monstrous carbuncle.

Date: 02 May 2013
Place: Monte do Gozo (Province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain)
Today started: O Pedrouzo (a.k.a. Arca) (Province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain)