Monument a la Cabra Salvatge

Monument a la Cabra Salvatge is a small but meaningful roadside sculpture on the way up to Mont Caro, the highest peak of the Els Ports massif near Tortosa. It depicts the Iberian wild goat (Capra pyrenaica), known in Catalan as the "cabra salvatge" — a fitting emblem for these rugged mountains.

What does the monument show?

The piece is a metal sculpture of a wild goat weighing roughly 180 kilograms, mounted on a large boulder beside the road. It was created by Rafel Cohí, a sculptor from Tortosa, who modeled the figure on an actual animal from the local population — a twelve-year-old male, which explains the lifelike detail in the horns and stance.

Why a goat monument here?

Els Ports is one of Spain's most important refuges for the Iberian wild goat. The species once roamed widely across Catalonia's mountains, but decades of intensive hunting drove numbers down sharply elsewhere in the region. Small, resilient populations survived in the more remote reaches of this massif, and the monument on the Mont Caro road stands as a tribute to the animal and a reminder of the conservation effort behind its survival.

Where exactly is it located?

The monument sits on the mountain road leading to the summit of Mont Caro (1,441 meters), the highest point of Els Ports de Tortosa-Beseit. It stands just a few meters from the Font del Caragol lookout, roughly 10 kilometers up a narrow, winding mountain road. From here, views open across much of the massif and down toward the valleys near Tortosa.

How do you get there?

The route starts in Tortosa. Heading toward Roquetes and then Els Reguers, drivers turn left at a signposted junction, cross the Xerta irrigation canal, and continue up a winding mountain road. The road is narrow with many bends, so the drive demands attention, but it passes through some of the most scenic terrain in Els Ports, a stretch popular with hikers and cyclists alike.

Is it worth stopping for?

The site is a natural halfway stop for anyone heading up Mont Caro, whether on foot or by car. Beyond the sculpture itself, the nearby viewpoint offers sweeping panoramas over the Ebro valley and surrounding ridgelines, making it a good spot to rest before tackling the steeper stretch of road that follows.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the wild goat monument near Tortosa? The sculpture was made by Rafel Cohí, an artist from Tortosa, who based the figure on a twelve-year-old male Iberian wild goat living in the surrounding mountains.

How much does the monument weigh? The goat sculpture weighs about 180 kilograms and is fixed to a natural boulder beside the road.

Why is the wild goat significant to this area? Els Ports is one of Spain's key reserves for the Iberian wild goat, a species that survived here despite heavy hunting pressure that decimated populations elsewhere in Catalonia in past decades.

How far is the monument from Tortosa? It lies about 10 kilometers along the ascent to Mont Caro, on the road through Roquetes and Els Reguers, close to the Font del Caragol viewpoint.