Statue unveiled at Cape St. Vincent Bishop of the Algarve on January 22nd as part of the municipality of Vila do Bispo’s wider St. Vincent Day celebrations. The three-metre-high statue stands at the final stop for modern pilgrims walking the Via Algarviana from the east or the Rota Vicentina from the north. The statue was delivered to Vila do Bispo after being built in Finland, whilst its granite base was produced in Monchique.
It’s worth finding the time to take a trip to Cape St. Vincent sometime soon, where Algarve resident Riki Grahne has achieved what everyone said was impossible! Riki is the designer - and, indeed, the driving force - behind a new statue of Saint Vincent at Portugal’s most south-westerly point. It was officially inaugurated by the
Explaining his enthusiasm for the project, Riki said: “My interest in the Cape of St. Vincent arose a few years ago. By then I had moved to Lagos and had visited the peninsula several times. However, I was never given a credible answer to the question of when and why the cape, the Holy Promontory, had been renamed Cape of St. Vincent. “After witnessing a procession at Vila do Bispo one January 22nd, I decided to start collecting information about the forgotten deacon, St. Vincent of Saragossa, who was being celebrated. His fascinating history has resulted in me producing two books related to the martyr, and now I have also designed
a statue that symbolises him." Riki put all profits from his book sales towards the project, as well as his own money. But why this personal financial investment and all the effort - and why a statue? “I believe it enhances local knowledge of the saint and the peninsula, which in turn could also revive the once flourishing pilgrimage activities along the ancient pilgrim route. Most of the hundreds of thousands of tourists who now visit the cape have no idea of its historical significance. “With my contemporary statue, placed here in a central location in a highly visible place, I think I can arouse considerable interest in this magical promontory. Perhaps some of the tourists will be coming back as pilgrims?” To support the project, you can buy The Saint, Vincent and The Cape or A Modern Day Pilgrimage to The Cape of St. Vincent (both €20). Please contact Riki. +351 968 811 717 rikigrahne@gmail.com
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