Cerro San Miguel
The Cerro San Miguel is the fourth highest mountain of the Cerros de Escazú, Costa Rica 2,035 m (6,677 ft).[1] San Miguel makes reference to Saint Michael.
In 1933 a 26-meter-tall iron cross was installed on the top of the mountain, and is known as the Cross of Alajuelita. It is lighted by night since 1984 and has become a reference point in the Central Valley, from where it can be seen to the south. The cross is a popular pilgrimage destination and can be easily visited on a one-day hike.
Locally, this mountain is known as "La Cruz," because of the large cross that has been built at the very peak. There are three crosses in total. The first one is made from concrete; the second one is a steel cross set atop a concrete pyramid. The third, which is at the peak, is the tallest of the three and is made of steel. From the top vantage, it is possible to see almost the entire Central Valley including the city of San José.
It was at this site where the Crime of Alajuelita took place on April 6, 1986. Seven women, six of them children, were on a day trip to the cross when they were shot, supposedly by the 'Psicópata', a still unidentified serial killer, in the first of eight crimes.[2][3]
See also
References
- ↑ Cerros que rodean el Gran Área Metropolitana Archived March 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Al Día:Masacre de Alajuelita viva e impune, 20 años después Archived April 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Nación.com:Cúmulo de errores impidió desenmascarar al ‘Psicópata’ Archived November 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.