A direct attack on the safety of the pilgrim at the Fuente de Ocho Caños
The vandalism attack took place at a strategic entry point for walkers: the rear façade of the La Fuente Early Childhood Education School, located in the well-known Fuente de Ocho Caños area. An essential information sign was located at this location to guide pilgrims who travel or decide to spend the night in the town.
The perpetrators of the damage not only damaged the main panel, but also completely stole the metal road sign plate that indicated the correct direction to safely access the urban center.
The Association has deeply regretted this theft. The loss of these analog elements forces walkers to depend exclusively on mobile devices, increasing the risk of disorientation and road accidents when trying to find alternative routes in accesses with vehicle traffic.
Vandalism Vía Augusta Utrera: the importance of taking care of the historic route
The Via Augusta, which recovers the route of the longest Roman road in Hispania, is today one of the variants of the Camino de Santiago from Cádiz with the greatest projection. This route connects the capital of Cadiz with Seville along about 170 kilometers usually divided into seven stages.
The theft of the signal has occurred just at the end of stage 5, which connects Las Cabezas de San Juan with Utrera. With a distance of 32 kilometers, it is the longest and most physically demanding stage of the entire route. After such a hard day, finding signs destroyed or non-existent is a serious problem for exhausted pilgrims who need to quickly locate local shelters and services.
Demand for immediate replacement to the Consistory
Given the seriousness of the situation, the Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago de Utrera has already processed a formal request addressed to the Utrera City Council to demand the immediate replacement of the stolen sign and the repair of the information sign.
From the Jacobean collective they remember that keeping the Vía Augusta stages in perfect condition not only protects the integrity of the visitors, but also safeguards the tourist image and the rich cultural heritage of the province of Seville.
