
María Mercedes Lantigua, known as "María La Loca" ("Crazy María"), became one of the most mysterious figures in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Between 1985 and 1986, she repeatedly climbed the antenna atop the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration, reaching a height of about 67–70 meters (220–230 feet) while repeatedly evading military guards. She said she climbed to pray, bless the city, and fulfill spiritual promises she believed she had made with Pope John Paul II and Our Lady of Mercy. María also claimed that the monument belonged to her, that her "star" was at its highest point, and that she was guided by the Holy Spirit. Beyond her daring climbs, she was often seen sweeping and mopping the monument before burning incense and walking through the site in what she described as a spiritual ritual. She was arrested several times and spent a month in a psychiatric hospital before being released. Despite the extreme danger of her climbs, she survived every ascent, leaving behind one of the most unforgettable and unusual stories in the history of Santiago.





























