Galicia Cross - Madrid, Spain
N 40° 24.883 W 003° 42.208
30T E 440316 N 4474025
This cross bearing statues of the crucified Christ, Virgin Mary, baby Jesus, and Saint James is located in the Plaza Jacinto Benavente in downtown Madrid, Spain. It marks the starting point of the Way of Saint James from Madrid.
Waymark Code: WMGN8H
Location: Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
Date Posted: 03/23/2013
Views: 19
This cross marks the 0 kilometer mark of the Camiño de Santiago from Madrid
(visit link) and was a gift from Galicia whose capital is the Santiago de Compostela. The cross bears a statue of Saint James on his Pilgrimage. He is wearing the traditional symbol of the Way of St. James, the scallop shell, on this hat.
The stone cross is surrounded by an iron fence. At the top of the cross is a statue of the crucified Christ. Just below the statue of the crucified Christ is a figure of the Virgin Mary and further down a figure of the baby Jesus. Then further below is a statue of the Apostle, Saint James. According to an inscription on the cross, it was a gift from Galicia, an autonomous community in northwest Spain, to the city of Madrid for historical gratitude and centennial in 1998 [English translation]. The actual inscription is in Spanish and reads:
Gratitud Historica
y
Centenaria
Galicia en Madrid
Xunta de Galacia
Centro Gallego de Madrid
25-7-1998 Dia de Galicia