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I captured this photograph for Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia on an excursion to the sanctuary of the Virgin of the Mount, which has its own watchman. And it is none other than the monument to Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer.
In 2008 this sculpture was inaugurated to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Renaixença and because this poet has been linked to this sanctuary since 1884, when he stayed for a month and a half during which he wrote several poems, including some fragments of his most popular work, the Canigó. The following year he stayed there again for a few days.
As can be seen in the image, the bronze monument shows the poet sitting on the stones, with his back to the Canigó, with a book in his hand. It is located a few meters from the door of the sanctuary church and, from here, the views are spectacular.
This Marian sanctuary is located on the highest peak of the Serra del Mont, at the southern end of the old municipality of Bassegoda, currently added to that of Albanyà (Alt Empordà). His virgin is considered the patron saint of Empordà.
Traditionally, pilgrims have accessed the sanctuary on foot along different mountain paths, although currently it can also be reached by paved road.
The image of the virgin that has given its name to the sanctuary and, by extension, to the mountain, was originally found and was already venerated at least since 1222.
