Cast-iron gate (Camino francés, 9)

Cast-iron gate (Camino francés, 9)

San Juan de Ortega, monastery.
FX-3 ML 28 1:2,8
Scan of a 10x15 print

San Juan de Ortega was, together with Santo Domingo de la Calzada, one of the local saints of the Camino who built bridges, churches, refuges, and last but not least he made up roads for the pilgrims. He lived as hermit, but shortly after his death a monastery was built at the place of his sepulchre. Nowadays, the monastery is in a lamentable state, but pilgrims get an exquisite garlic soup there. By the way, it's rather hard to get there because one has to cross the Oca mountains, and it's advisable to avoid the afternoon heat!