Virxe da Rocha, Religious monument in Baiona, Spain.
Virxe da Rocha is a 15-meter stone monument set on a rocky coastal outcrop in Baiona, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. A sculpture of the Virgin Mary rises from a broad base at one of the highest points of the surrounding coastline.
The idea came from the engineer Gustavo Calvo Julián, who laid the first stone on 18 September 1910; a zinc box with gold, silver and bronze coins and a copy of the record was placed beneath it. Financial difficulties slowed the work, and the monument was inaugurated on 14 September 1930. The stone carving was by Antonio Palacios, while the white marble face and hands were made by the Madrid sculptor Ángel García Díaz.
The monument is the focus of a popular romería held on the last Sunday of August, when people gather at the neighbouring Parque Recreativo Mercedes de la Escalera, which has a Via Crucis restored in 2014. The park is named after Mercedes Ruiz de la Escalera.
A paved path leads up to the monument and the viewing area, but some sections are steep, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. The wind on the rocky outcrop can be strong, especially when the weather is unsettled.
The hollow interior holds a spiral staircase that leads not to the crown but into the ship the Virgin holds in her right hand, a lookout for up to five people facing the Atlantic. The stone carving was by Antonio Palacios, while the white marble face and hands were made by the Madrid sculptor Ángel García Díaz.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,463 contributors worldwide.
