Through the work of the sculptor Rai, he recognizes the thousands of people who passed through the city on the way to Santiago de Compostela
To the Galician city of Tui, one of the main entrance gates do Portuguese Way to Santiago de Compostela, inaugurated a new sculpture dedicated to the thousands of pilgrims who, year after year, travel this historic Jacobean route.
A work, made in stone by a Tudense sculptor Raimundo Martínez, artistically known as Rai, was presented an official number carried out in Rua Olimpicos Tudenses, local number loaded with symbolism. It was precisely there that worked, for centuries, the old port of the boat that linked Tui e Valença do Minho, before the inauguration of the International Bridge in 1886.
The sculpture represents a pilgrim at the beginning of his journey and aims to become a permanent tribute to all those who follow him. Portuguese Road to go to Santiago de Compostela.
The ceremony included the presence of the president of the Chamber of Tui, Enrique Cabaleiro, the artist Rai himself, members of the municipal corporation and various local authorities.
During the event, Enrique Cabaleiro highlighted the strong historical link between the city and the Jacobean phenomenon.
"This sculpture expresses the commitment of the municipality of Tui and two of its cities with the Caminho of Santiago, understood as an essential part of our cultural, material and immaterial heritage," said the autarca.
The president of the sublingual chamber says that this piece of granite represents a symbol of permanence and constitutes a tribute to the thousands of pilgrims that enriched the daily life of the city.
Second Cabaleiro, the constant presence of two walkers contributes not only to keeping the Jacobean tradition alive, but also to energizing the social and economic activity of Tui.
A work with local assassination
The author gives sculpture, RaiHe was born in the parish of Malvas, in Tui, and dedicated a large part of his life to working with stone. For a long time he worked in various rocks within the Galiza area and, once settled, continued creating sculptures in granite such as Porriño Pink, Santiago Green and Galicia Black.
The artist has produced hundreds of works of different dimensions and has been remade by many people in his creations, and has participated in numerous exhibitions over the course of two years. In addition to sculpture, he also cultivates poetry, expressing his texts with a deep connection that he maintains with stone and with art.
You reinforce your Jacobean identity
The installation of this new sculpture reinforces the paper You are like two great points of reference on the Portuguese Road, a route that continues to grow in popularity among pilgrims from all over the world.
For many walkers from Portugal, Tui represents the first stage in Galician territory and a place full of history, spirituality and hospitality.
With this homage, the city aims to reconstitute not only the secular legacy of Camino de Santiago, but also thank all those who, step by step, keep alive one of the most important cultural traditions of Europe.
The new sculpture also emerges as a symbol of boas-vindas, memory and gratitude, reminding that each pilgrim leaves his mark on the path and, at the same time, takes with him a part of the soul of the two places he passes through.
