El Peromato and La Gobierna of Zamora (Spain).
In Zamora, two weathervanes have transcended their decorative function to become true symbols of the city: El Peromato and La Gobierna. These figures have a historical origin closely linked to local architecture. El Peromato, a medieval knight figure carrying the Seña Bermeja, once stood atop the tower of the Church of San Juan de Puerta Nueva in the Plaza Mayor. La Gobierna, a personification of fame holding a trumpet and the keys to the city, was positioned on the southern tower of the Puente de Piedra (the Stone Bridge).
Both weathervanes reflect the cultural heritage of Zamora. Today, they are preserved in the Provincial Museum of Zamora, where their significance continues to live on in popular imagination. El Peromato has also given rise to the expression "ya está vuelto el Peromato", used to signify a change of opinion or decision. This deeply rooted phrase among the people of Zamora reinforces the symbolic importance of the figure in the city's daily life.
The significance of these figures is also captured in a well-known Zamoran saying, recorded in popular folklore:
"Zamora has three things that Madrid does not: El Peromato, La Gobierna, and the Paseo de San Martín."
Based on an article published in ‘Zamora News’ in 2024.
