Opinion

Fray Martín Sarmiento [1695-1772]

“A most beautiful flower, the colour of fire, which looks like a lily, but isn’t.” 06/10/1755


Ramón Villares Paz

President of the Consello da Cultura Galega [Council of Galician Culture]

“The Flor de Santiago is a symbol of the meeting of Europe and America.” 24/05/20101-2

“This is a great occasion not only to highlight the value of Santiago, but of Galicia, through this true gem of nature, The Flor de Santiago or Jacobean Lily.” 24/05/20103


Alberto Núñez Feijóo

President of the Xunta de Galicia [Regional Government of Galicia]

“We probably need to think and rethink the true historical value of the recovery of The Flor de Santiago.” 24/05/20104

“I think it is a great discovery, the fruit of long years of study, of the determination the authors of this study; a discovery, as well, that has to be credited to an architect from Compostela, Ruth Varela.” 24/05/20105


Victor Manuel Vázquez Portomeñe

Gold Medal of Merit of Galicia for his reinvention of the Xacobeo

“I’m so sorry I’m not the person who discovered The Flor de Santiago, which was recently presented. It would have been a most magnificent symbol, perfect for the Xacobeo.” 06/06/20106


Antonio Castro García

President of the Council of Administration of the Grupo Correo Gallego

“The recovery of the Jacobean Lily is nothing short of “a true miracle” for Santiago and for Galicia.” 24/05/20107


Salvador García-Bodaño

Writer and Member of the Real Academia Galega [the Royal Academy of the Galician Language]

“The Jacobean Lily is a most important and deeply symbolic element of the city of Santiago.” 16/11/20098

“The discovery of the Jacobean Lily is something that should not go unnoticed by all those who love culture and love this country.” 24/05/20109


Miguel Anxo Fernán Vello

Writer and Publisher

“If a flower can be considered the archetypical image of the soul, then this flower of ours is the archetypical image of Santiago.” 17/11/200910

“This flower came from America to Europe, to Spain, and bears the name of Santiago. For that reason, it also is a Galician flower, a well travelled flower, symbol of dialogue between America and Europe, via Santiago de Compostela, one of the cultural capitals of Europe and the western world.” 24/05/201011


Helena Villar Janeiro

President of the Rosalía de Castro Foundation

“I can’t look at it with the same eyes knowing that it comes from the gardens of the palace of Montezuma II. That it came to our shores at the end of the XVI century, in bulbs that traversed the ocean in a wooden ark. That it blossomed in Seville in the gardens of those close to the Order of Santiago and that it is the flower that is the symbol of the city closest to my heart.” 20/11/200912


Lupe Gómez

Poet and journalist

“This flower, humble, wise, transient, seems so alive, yet dead at the same time. Delicate as a drop of rain falling gently on to stone, it represents the passion of a fleeting instant, the power of a seemingly powerless living being. This flower is the embodiment of delicacy condensed; the lively, joyous sadness of red. Poetry and beauty go to bed – and get up – together.” 06/06/201013

 

  • 1. Words said at the opening of the exhibition “The Jacobean Lily”, at the exhibition hall of the El Correo Gallego newspaper building, 24/05/2010.
  • 2. El Correo Gallego, Galicia Hoxe e Correo TV, 25/05/2010.
  • 3. Ibídem I.
  • 4. Ibídem I. Correo TV, 25/05/2010.
  • 5. Ibídem I.
  • 6. Xornal de Galicia, 06/06/2010.
  • 7. Ibídem I. El Correo Gallego, Galicia Hoxe, 25/05/2010.
  • 8. Part of a statement made at the conference offered to present The Jacobean Lily, broadcast live by Radio Nacional de España, Radio 5 and Radio exterior, 16/11/2009.
  • 9. Ibídem I.
  • 10. Galicia Hoxe, 17/11/2009.
  • 11. Ibídem I.
  • 12. El Correo Gallego, 20/11/2009.
  • 13. Galicia Hoxe, Supplement Lecer, 06/06/2010.