Authorities in Spain say they're investigating the case of a man who vandalized ancient cave paintings mountain range to get a better photo for social media The paintings are located in the Sierra Sur de Jaén mountain range The investigation into whether the man committed a crime against historical heritage began in May date back centuries with some estimated to be more than 6,000 years old The water spilled on the limestone walls can cause "irreparable damage" when a crust forms from the salts dissolving and rising to the surface when the liquid evaporates In southern Australia, a painting dating back 22,000 years was vandalized with spray paint in the Koonalda Cave that same year The act of graffiti was particularly devastating for the country's indigenous Mirning community as the painting served as a significant part of their culture vandals damaged thousand-year-old Native American rock carvings in Georgia's Chattahoochee National Forest Damage included scratching or painting over the petroglyphs A man has been accused of vandalizing a 6,000-year-old cave painting in southern Spain so it looked better for a Facebook photo Police are investigating the case after a 39-year-old poured a bottle of water over the precious paintings so they would stand out more for his photo may be in trouble for his crime against historical heritage The case was sparked after officers from the Guardia Civil Nature Protection Service (Seprona) spotted the photos “The photographs show that water has been poured onto the cave paintings wetting them in order to see them better and capture a clearer image,” the police say CNN reports that the cave paintings were made on limestone It means if the paintings come into contact with water the salts dissolve and come to the surface it leaves a crust that causes “irreparable damage” to the paintings The paintings are in the Sierra Sur de Jaén mountain range and are listed for protection under the country’s heritage register They date back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods This places them among some of the oldest known examples of human art in the region Spain’s national law enforcement agency which is responsible for protecting the country’s historical heritage wants residents to report any signs of damage or vandalism to cave paintings people in 2024 will all too happily vandalize a historical and precious artifact for a great photo to share on social media Last September, PetaPixel reported on a German who climbed a 16th-century statue in Florence The 22-year-old was detained by cops after he damaged the Fountain of Neptune commissioned in 1558 by the Florentine duke Cosim de’ Medici and placed in Piazza della Signoria A chunk of marble was knocked off from the sea god’s chariot and one of the horse’s hoofs was cracked The repair bill was estimated to be $5,370 (€5,000) Become a PetaPixel Member and access our content ad-free Cops are investigating the defacement of a 6,000-year-old cave painting in southern Spain the ancient evidence of the human drive to create was damaged when a local man poured water on it He was trying to gussy up the painting to take a photo for his Facebook page The paintings are located in the Sierra Sur de Jaén mountain in Spain’s Jaén Province They’re some of the oldest in the world and the UN has recognized their location as a World Heritage Site alongside Stonehenge and the Great Wall of China According to a report in the Spanish newspaper El País the police are investigating a 39-year-old man from the neighboring city of Los Villares in connection with the crime They kicked off the hunt in May when pictures of the water-logged cave paintings surfaced online People love to take pictures of the paintings What’s not normal is pouring water over them to make sure they glisten and gleam when photographed the man uploaded them to Facebook and tagged his location It wasn’t hard for authorities to track him down Dumbasses trying to score points on social media are just the latest threat to the ancient cave paintings. In 2022, vandals spray-painted a large Spanish flag over another nearby cave painting. The flag was so large it could be spotted from a nearby road. Something similar happened in Australia (also in 2022) when vandals defaced 3,000-year-old rock art but the inevitable march of time and climate change are the two biggest threats to this invaluable art As the planet heats up and the oceans rise we’re losing access to some of these artistic wonders It may soon be hard to look at them at all let alone protect them from idiots who want to capture them forever on social media there’s a cave filled with paintings of prehistoric marine life Reaching it requires diving into the Mediterranean and navigating an underwater cave Sea levels have risen a lot in the past decade and navigating to the cave is becoming increasingly difficult the changing tides are starting to wipe away some of the artwork Whether by clout-chasing social media addicts or man-made climate change humans are the force by which all our artistic endeavors will be destroyed ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Artlyst Rediscovered Geniuses: Juan Antonio Guirado & Igor Gorsky Red Eight Gallery Red Eight Gallery and Nina Churchill have announced Rediscovered Geniuses: Juan Antonio Guirado and Igor Gorsky This transatlantic exhibition includes the London Gallery Red Eight and the New York City Gallery Nina Churchill which reveal a curated selection of previously unexhibited paintings from the Estates of Juan Antonio Guirado and Igor Gorsky Juan Antonio Guirado was a Spanish Surrealist artist who spent time in Australia and is considered Spain’s leading master painter in the school of “Intrarealism” and Igor Gorsky was a Greek Abstract Expressionist who moved to the USA and invented a unique pouring technique they were both Mediterraneans born in the same era Despite being overlooked in parts of their careers visionary art that reflects an inner spiritual journey combining abstraction with profound emotional and philosophical underpinnings.Juan Antonio Guirado Espinosa was born in Los Villares (Jaen and his art education began at 10 in Andalusia He moved to Madrid at 18 to study portraiture at the San Fernando Academy later travelling to Italy and France to study Italian Renaissance and French Impressionism Guirado was commissioned to paint a series of murals in New York and he had his first major exhibition in Miami in 1956 Guirado immigrated to Australia in the late 50s due to the social and political climate He returned to his homeland of Spain in 1973 and became one of the most represented Spanish contemporary artists in museums and international collections that included King Hussein of Jordan and by globally renowned museums including the National Museum Reina Sofia and the National Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta including the gold medal at the El Grollo awards at the Venice Biennale in 1976 and was honoured at the Malta Art Biennial for his prolific work Igor Gorsky’s path to becoming an Abstract Expressionist painter was extraordinary Born George Vassilopoulos in Athens in 1936 and pioneering member of the think tank that created the Nasdaq securities exchange in 1971 He didn’t become an artist until the age of 52 The decision to become an artist happened in 1988 a profoundly spiritual Greek artist who recognised his artistic talent working all night and developing a technique that involved boldly splashing and pouring caramel onto the canvas until he achieved the visual effects he was striving for Red Eight Gallery CEO Julian Usher explains: “Juan Antonio Guirado and Igor Gorsky share a connection through their deep exploration of cosmic and metaphysical themes Both artists developed unique styles later in life with Guirado’s Intrarealism focusing on the spiritual link between humans and the universe and Gorsky’s abstract works expressing inner turmoil and sublime energy This exhibition presents the first opportunity to purchase works never seen before by either artist at the beginning of their journey of rediscovery.”The exhibition runs from 4 October to 14 November 2024 at Red Eight Gallery in London’s historic Royal Exchange There will be an invitation-only VIP private view on 3 October and a Frieze Week VIP private view on 10 October Installation shot of Juan Antonio Guirdao paintings at Red Eight Gallery ‘Rediscovered Geniuses’ CEO of the Guirado Estate and daughter of Juan Antonio Guirado says: “I’m excited to return my father’s art to London He frequently exhibited here in the 1970s as one of Spain’s most recognized painters of that era and it’s my honour to continue his legacy He was called the artist of the 21st century by critics in the 70s and his visionary works focused on man’s greed and spirituality- way ahead of his time and today’s trends The works I curated for this exhibition are from his ‘Vision’ series 1990-2010 we can all look to the light for a better future for mankind He once said that the best way to view his work is with the third eye and I invite you to look inward as you enter the kaleidoscopic universes of Guirado’s paintings.”Nina Churchill is honoured to represent the never-before-seen works of Igor Gorsky a long-lost master whose revolutionary techniques with enamel paints have positioned him as one of the Greats in abstract art celebrated for its explosive bursts of colour and vibrant energy will be available for the first time at Red Eight Gallery during the exclusive exhibition Rediscovered Geniuses An epiphany led Igor Gorsky to discard his career and become wholly dedicated to painting He succeeded in creating a new technique and style of pure pouring Some paintings drive toward the sublime as sacred shafts of light Others emit the hallucinatory energy of his inner mind Nina Churchill says: “This exhibition is not just about rediscovering forgotten artists; it’s about questioning why they were forgotten in the first place It’s about resurrecting their voices and reinterpreting their influence through my artistic lens.” This exceptional showcase will reveal a decades-hidden Igor Gorsky collection Gorsky’s unparalleled approach to enamel painting captures the essence of raw emotion and abstract beauty marking him as a visionary whose genius was almost lost to history Art historian and former muse of Igor Gorsky remarks: “Igor Gorsky had an exceptional ability to make the past feel vibrant and relevant his art bridges centuries with a unique voice offering a fresh dialogue between tradition and modernity His work reminds us that many talents have been lost to history yet their essence remains ever-present and ready to inspire once more.” located in the heart of London’s art district Art enthusiasts and collectors will be able to experience Gorsky and Guirado’s work in an intimate and inspiring setting Red Eight Gallery and the Guirado Estate will present a curated selection of Juan Antonio Guirado’s paintings from his VISIONS series This will be the first exhibition of Guirado in the UK since the 1980s Juan Antonio Guirado is in the collection of the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid described him as  “The 21st Century Painter.” Guirado’s ‘VISIONS’ series from the 1990s and 2000s to before he died in 2010 are regarded by critics and the artist himself as perhaps his finest works one would say that we are gazing at abstract kaleidoscopic images of colour we soon discover the miracle surrounding their intimacy are full of something divine yet are scared of looking inside ourselves When we look into Guirado’s paintings we find the magic that will transport us to a beautiful spiritual world and make us reflect on our cosmic existence Guirado’s work opens the doors to the Universe endless in its content and reflecting uncountable changes in parallel universes Each fraction of the painting reflects the human being trying to understand the mystery of life to reach a calm spirit for his oils have the fluidity of watercolours in their silky the contours of his visions have the definite highly contrasted accuracy of the early masters of the Chiaroscuro he is the fusion of the Renaissance and surrealist worlds Guirado fosters what could be called the ‘intravision’ or the vision of the self Juan Antonio Guirado says: “I would describe it as an intra-realist painting It is the type of painting that one has to see with the third eye the eye of the mind.” Within the Spanish visual arts tradition of the 20th century Guirado stands out as one of the few artists whose characteristic work stems from the concepts of Intrarealism Intrarealismo is a term coined by the ambassador writer and Spanish pacifist Salvador de Madariaga who wrote the manifesto for the movement that started in Barcelona in 1967 followed by an impressive who’s who in the arts at that time Giurado is now considered one of the Spanish masters of the movement by art critics It was in Intrarealism and Oriental philosophy (Vedānta-Sūtra) which Guirado discovered whilst living in Australia that he found the precepts with which he explored relevant themes that were fundamental elements of his work Regarded as a ‘visionary’ painter by critics and journalists throughout his career Guirado’s futuristic apocalyptic landscapes and his more spiritually uplifting paintings reflected his warning of man’s greed and destruction of the planet and contradictory quest for enlightenment from as long ago as the 1970’s way before it was the topic of everyday conversation Rediscovered Geniuses: Juan Antonio Guirado and Igor Gorsky present a rare opportunity to discover previously unseen paintings by two tortured geniuses Top Photo: Juan Antonio Guirado Courtesy Red Eight Gallery Rediscovered Geniuses: Juan Antonio Guirado and Igor Gorsky Red Eight Gallery London EC3V 3LR – 4th October to 14th November Read More Visit One of the few inland beaches in Madrid where bathing is allowed is Los Villares in Estremera and you can also bring your dog which revalidates its blue flag every year but one of the least crowded is the beach of Estremera passing through such important cities as Aranjuez but it only has one beach for the enjoyment of bathers: Los Villares in Estremera This is a bathing area rather than a beach as such because it does not exactly match the image of a coastal beach It is more rugged and you also have to reckon with the current of the river There are trees where you can lie down in the shade, but in the summer season there are usually more people and it is advisable to bring an umbrella. Dogs are allowed there is a kiosk that is usually open during the bathing season this inland beach also has dates when bathing is allowed The official bathing season starts on May 15 and lasts until September 15 This village in the southeast of the Community creating a plain surrounded by green that contrasts with the golden colors of the territory During the 50’s a dam was built that formed the reservoir and changed the landscape with irrigated crops In addition to a swim in Los Villares, Estremera has several points of interest perfect for a summer weekend getaway although in 1980 it was rebuilt and only the most important part remains intact: the arcade of Renaissance columns that hold the hallway open to the Plaza Mayor There are also surviving manor houses from different moments of splendor of the town As with the Camacho house with a Renaissance façade and wrought iron balconies that belonged to the Dukes of Infantado and other manor houses of the nineteenth century Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain A cave painting thousands of years old has been vandalised by a man hoping to get a better photo for social media Spanish authorities are currently investigating a man who allegedly damaged cave paintings by pouring water on them in order to get a better photo of them for his social media According to a statement from the Guardia Civil uploaded photos of the wet paintings to his Facebook The cave paintings, which are in various locations in the Sierra Sur de Jaen mountain range, in the Jaen province, are protected by the country’s heritage register Due to the historic nature of the paintings the man is now under investigation for a crime against historical heritage the nature protection unit of the Guardia Civil after seeing the photos published on Facebook wetting them in order to see them better and capture a clearer image.” What the tourist most likely did not know is that the cave paintings were created on limestone a layer of crust is left causing “irreparable damage” to the centuries old painting whom are responsible for protecting Spain’s heritage sites asked residents near these sites to report on any signs of damage or vandalism to the historic sites This reaction from Spanish Authorities is not unjustified as historic and heritage sites continue to be vandalised around Europe a tourist from Kazakhstan was caught carving the letters “ALI” on the plaster of Pompeii’s House of Ceii More recently, a British tourist on holiday in Italy carved the initials of his name and those on his daughters on the wall of Pompeii’s House of Vestal. In 2023, a young women was caught carving a heart into a column of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox! Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE! Covering the Almeria, Axarquia, Costa Blanca North, Costa Blanca South, Costa del Sol , Costa Calida, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home. With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close. Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE. Download our media pack in either English or Spanish. A selection of the best places, marshes, rivers and pools in Madrid to enjoy a summer dip, even if it is indoors. Chlorine-free pools also have a niche. Access is free and free on foot, and if you travel by private vehicle, the parking fee is 9 €. You can visit the pools every day from 10 am to 9 pm. In the surroundings it is also worthwhile to visit the Recreational Area La Isla and the Monastery of El Paular. 📍 Rascafría, Community of Madrid. To get there from Madrid, take the A-1, turning off towards Lozoyuela, and then take the M-604. Only 50 km from the capital is the San Juan reservoir, one of the four areas declared suitable for bathing by the Community of Madrid. Its 14 km of “beaches” are one of the favorite destinations of the Madrileños in summer, so it is necessary to get up early to find a place. Its best known beach is the Virgen de la Nueva, which maintains its blue flag for another year. The reservoir also has a recreational area, the Lancha del Yelmo, where water sportscan be practiced and is equipped with tables and a kiosk. 📍 San Martín de Valdeiglesias. It is accessed through the M-501, popularly known as the “road of the marshes”. Without leaving the San Juan reservoir, the other beach where bathing is allowed is El Muro. The other permitted Zone in the same area does not have the recognition and fame of Virgen de la Nueva, but it may be less crowded for that reason. In addition, the Community of Madrid rates the water quality as excellent in its annual sampling tests. This sandy area formed by the confluence of the Alberche and Perales rivers is one of those “beaches” in the closest sense of the term that Madrid allows. 📍 Aldea del Fresno. It is reached first by taking the A-5 and then the M-507. It can also be reached by public transportation from Príncipe Pío with buses 541, 545, 547 and 548. The Natural Pools of Cercedilla are another of the essential stops of the summer season for the people of Madrid. Although they were originally completely natural, their waters are less “wild” because they are treated with chlorine. It has services such as infirmary, bar, picnic areas if you bring your own food or toilets. It is located about 60 km from the capital and the rates are 6 € on weekdays, 7 € on holidays and 4 € for children under 14 and over 65. Their hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and they are open from June 14 through the end of August. 📍 Cercedilla. To get there, take the A-6 towards Guadarrama, from there take the road to Cercedilla and then to Las Dehesas In the municipality of Estremera, 60 km from Madrid, is the beach of Estremera or Los Villares river beach. Recognized as a suitable bathing area by the Community of Madrid, Zone also has various services and is prepared to host various water activities. And an extra point in favor of those who have four-legged friends in the family: it allows access with animals. 📍 Estremera. It is reached by the A-3, taking exit 68 towards the M-241. This pool is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. from June 14 through September 1. 📍 Buitrago de Lozoya. To get there by car: A1 until exit 74, towards Buitrago de Lozoya. By public transport: Bus 191. It is located in a place of abundant vegetation with pools and rocky areas, a few meters from the Pinilla dam. The Zone has a small parking lot that costs 5€ next to the recreation area. Once there, you can cross the red bridge that crosses the river and follow the signs to reach the dam of the reservoir or, taking the opposite direction, reach the Congosto bridge, an impressive construction whose origin is uncertain: it is thought to be Roman or medieval. 📍 Lozoya. To get there, take the M-604 and at kilometer 12 take the Embalse de la Pinilla turnoff. La Boca del Asno is located between Madrid and Segovia, in the Sierra de Guadarrama. Specifically, it is located in the forests of Valsaín where the meadows of the Eresma River form these natural pools where bathing was traditionally allowed. 📍 Guadalajara. 130 kilometers from the center of Madrid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO8qtin10Tc As summer sets in and the temperature rises, weekends in the capital are better in the suburbs. You don’t have to go far for the temperatures to drop and the water to run, the marshes and rivers of Madrid are a must every summer. after torrential rain in parts of Andalusia Severe flooding was reported in parts of Cadiz province along with some surface flooding and rockfalls in parts of Malaga province According to Spain meteorological agency AEMet (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología) Grazalema in Cádiz recorded 111.4 mm of rain in 24 hours between 17 and 18 October Images on Social Media showed flood water raging through streets of Jerez de la Frontera in Cadiz Jerez de la Frontera mayor, Mamen Sánchez said that much of the rain fell in a 45 minute period where local authorities recorded 47 mm at Guadalete 42 mm in El Portal and around 100 mm in Mesas de Asta Cadiz province fire department (Consorcio de Bomberos de la Provincia de Cádiz) said that were called to over 100 emergencies in Jerez de la Frontera and Puerto de Santa María Numerous streets of Jerez de la Frontera were completely submerged and emergency crews were called upon to rescue several people trapped in their vehicles 3 people were rescued from vehicles in flood water Local Police say as many as 200 cars have been damaged in the floods Schools have been closed and some homes are without electricity The mayor of Jerez de la Frontera and other officials visited the affected areas yesterday According to local media the heavy rain also caused a major rockfall in the Serrania de Ronda,in the western part of province of Málaga where huge boulders blocked the road between Jimera de Líbar and Benaoján Some surface flooding was also reported in parts of Malaga Málaga con lluvia = caos!! #malaga#lluvia#inundaciones#malagaseinunda# pic.twitter.com/X0EHGSRcgJ — ₱∀ßLơ ✌ (@pandilerino) October 18, 2017 El @ciudadjerez pedirá que se declare a #Jerez como zona catastrófica tras las lluvias de esta noche #Lluvia https://t.co/M0A6a7lQVU pic.twitter.com/ChcMgLrV28 — laFM. (@lafm_es) October 18, 2017 #lluvia Jerez de la Frontera pic.twitter.com/qBwgG2c2dE — Alvaro (@AlvaroGutinano) October 18, 2017 Bomberos ha tenido a rescatar a varias personas atrapadas en el interior de sus vehículos #ElPuerto #Jerez #Cádizhttps://t.co/lhQLJNhRO8 pic.twitter.com/lF0cTttP0J — Diario de Cádiz (@diariocadiz) October 18, 2017 Registradas 162 incidencias a causa de la lluvia esta madrugada #Cádiz https://t.co/lhQLJNhRO8 pic.twitter.com/VEoa46ngUo — Diario de Cádiz (@diariocadiz) October 18, 2017 Así ha sido la tromba de agua de esta madrugada en varios puntos de la provincia de Cádiz. Más detalles aquí: https://t.co/DoWIkB3jyE pic.twitter.com/JlHgCtQtx1 — CanalSurNoticias (@CSurNoticias) October 18, 2017 llueve en jerez de la frontera tormentas avenida puerta del sur pic.twitter.com/LGrO5PZKVQ — txarilla (@angelpina23) October 18, 2017 Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList taking a nice dip in these indoor pools and beaches more spaces are needed for their recreation Although there are canine areas in the center of the capital there are few areas where they can cool off Here are some alternatives within the Community of Madrid: Vive Pet Resort has created the Beach Dog Club A saltwater pool with a depth of more than one meter with steps and ramp adapted for dogs to enter and exit In this canine pool both owners and dogs can spend the day playing and bathing There is also a fresh water shower and a hair dryer for dogs there is a Doggy Bar where you can relax on comfortable sofas on the terrace always accompanied by dogs and even humans Entrance for dog 10 € and entrance for person 15 € Peludos al agua teaches dogs not to be afraid of swimming The day starts from 12 to 14:30 in the pools that cover the least amount of water where dogs are taught the technique of hydrotherapy reinforcements from 5 to 10 minutes each (depending on the need of the canine) There are three pools exclusively for dogs: owners are excluded from bathing The two shallower pools are used to introduce the dog to bathing or to treat injuries or aversion to water All three pools have a special access ramp for pets the entire plot is available for them to experiment Entrance for dog 6 € and entrance for person 12 € There are five areas suitable for bathing within the Community of Madrid The shallow water makes it an ideal place to go with children and the landscape It is another of the areas considered by the Community of Madrid as suitable for bathing Dogs are at an average temperature of 39º Celsius, to which must be added a layer of hair all over the body, so for most dogs the summer in the capital The options for cooling off are gaining popularity and finding swimming pools for dogs is no longer uncommon