Cristo del Otero, Religious monument at Otero hill, Palencia, Spain.
Cristo del Otero is a monumental statue of Jesus on a hill at the edge of Palencia. The figure has a cubist design, hollow eye sockets and outstretched arms that rise above the Castilian plain.
Work began in June 1930 following designs by sculptor Victorio Macho and was completed in February 1931. The artist chose the location himself and had a crypt built beneath the figure where he was later buried.
Locals often call the figure simply El Cristo and use it as a landmark across the flat Castilian countryside. Pilgrims traveling the Way of Saint James often spot the silhouette from a distance and see it as a spiritual marker of the region.
Access to the grounds is free and you can explore the outdoor area on foot. The underground chapel with the tomb of the artist can also be visited and displays additional works by Macho.
The hands of the figure show a geometric stiffness reminiscent of ancient Greek and Byzantine depictions. Macho gave this form a modern cubist character that is also reflected in the straight folds of the robe.
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