Their mother inherited a priceless archive The battle to control it tore the family apart Leoncio Alonso González de Gregorio y Álvarez de Toledo stormed into his late mother's palace on the Andalusian coast of Spain I'm at home after many decades away," Leoncio proclaims in the video it spans nearly a millennium of Spanish imperial history Within its pages lie the secrets of the kings who had spent the last two decades of her life cataloging the archive Perhaps the most important privately held archive in Europe though historians who have studied it consider it priceless who'd been imprisoned under the regime of dictator Francisco Franco believed the archive should pass to the people Luisa Isabel left only 743,000 euros to Leoncio and his siblings The bulk of the estate — including the archives — would be controlled by Liliane Dahlmann Luisa Isabel's lover and longtime secretary whom the Duchess had married on her deathbed What ensued was a bitter legal battle that would shatter the family and throw the fate of the archive into doubt Leoncio's homecoming video was a declaration of war Flouting a court ruling that barred him and his siblings from living in the palace he had decided to move back into his ancestral home — even though it was legally occupied by Liliane and rarely bump into one another." To drive home his disputed claim Leoncio made a point of interrupting weekly palace tours "Welcome to my house!" he would greet groups of startled tourists these past few years have been exceedingly difficult — the stuff of nightmares." The family appeared to start off happily enough only 18 years old and already pregnant with Leoncio Luisa Isabel married José Leoncio González de Gregorio Photographs from the time show the new Duchess smiling in a black ankle-length dress her long hair framing her tiny face and her lips brightened with lipstick Luisa Isabel and José Leoncio couldn't have made a more ill-suited couple Her ancestors had commanded Spanish armadas Her parents had fled the country during the Spanish Civil War was a die-hard conservative who supported Franco's dictatorship disliked high society nearly as much as the radical ideals that would soon claim his wife the couple had three children in quick succession: Leoncio in 1956 But the Duchess never seemed to take to the role of mother family lore has it that she handed him to the nurses and declared she had fulfilled her role as a woman The moment also marked the end of her marriage she had separated from José Leoncio and began to spend long stretches in Paris where she mingled with Simone de Beauvoir and other leading intellectuals where they were left in the care of Luisa Isabel's grandmother "She rarely came to visit," Gabriel recalls Gone were her elegant dresses and long hair Luisa Isabel now sported men's trousers and short-cropped hair There were rumors she was sleeping with women "Someone in the household said she was our mother," Gabriel recalls she looked like the boy who worked at the local grocery." Leoncio was distraught The change in Luisa Isabel ran deeper than fashion the Duchess led a protest march of fishermen in Sanlúcar Her noble pedigree gave her a measure of protection to speak out against Franco "This privileged aristocrat had a rebellious spirit," as one newspaper put it Her reputation was further cemented in 1967 when she stood up for a group of protesters whose homes had been rendered radioactive after an American nuclear bomber crashed over the small fishing village of Palomares she told soldiers dispatched by the regime and they are here with me." She then led the group to a bar at the village's main square for a round of cold beers the Duchess kept up the fight from her miserable She wrote letters and articles denouncing the conditions in Spanish prisons A novel she authored about suffering farm workers called "The Strike," which she had managed to smuggle into France prompted the government to threaten her with a 10-year sentence for slander the Duchess escaped to France disguised as a man "I remember putting the hat and the mustache on her," recalls Julia Franco José Leoncio seized on her political dissidence to secure custody of the children "The role of being a mother slipped away from her," Pilar recalls he and his siblings were at their father's mercy banning the staff from passing her calls or letters on to us," he says "The Red Duchess Returns" blared a headline in El Pais paving the way for Spain's first open elections in four decades and the safe return of Spanish dissidents Luisa Isabel moved into the palace at Sanlúcar where she held court each evening surrounded by famous actors she came across like a Spanish version of Sid Vicious spiky hair and worn-out clothing," recalls Miguel "El Capi" Arenas who lived with the Duchess in the early 1980s Luisa Isabel devoted herself to organizing the archives she would sequester herself in the attic among stacks of dusty documents chain-smoking cigarettes — two packs a day — and barely eating She spent years cataloging the papers in jaundiced folders tying them up with string and developing a knack for deciphering their Gothic cursive handwriting Establishing herself as an amateur historian including "It Wasn't Us," her reappraisal of Columbus published on the 500th anniversary of his arrival in America Historians came to admire her patience and diligence "She did a magnificent job with very few resources," says Juan Luis Albentosa chief archivist of the Franciscan Library in Murcia The Duchess had first encountered the papers in the late 1950s in a storage tunnel at her family home in Madrid and transported them to the palace in Sanlúcar in the back of a lorry While it wasn't unusual for noble families to maintain private archives this one encompassed the unwritten history of Spain itself The archive contained not only the records of various aristocratic families but also receipts signed by the painter Diego Velázquez and municipal records from Palos de la Frontera the village from which Columbus set sail in 1492 The Duchess both embraced and defied her status as an aristocrat She believed the Archive of Medina-Sidonia belonged to the public — but only after she was no longer alive to claim it "How could she spend all those years working on the family archives and not be?" Andres Martinez casts her contradictory nature in more poetic terms "You can't jump out of your own shadow," he says As Luisa Isabel devoted her days to the archive and her nights to her soirees they were reminders of their father — and of the world of entitlement she had devoted her life to rejecting she wrote to the director general of the Spanish National Heritage Board to request that the palace and its contents to "prevent losing what belongs to everyone." and my children don't seem interested in preserving our artistic heritage The most important and valuable asset of Medina-Sidonia's ancestral heritage was now under the protection of the state "the moment that marked our disunion" occurred in 1982 — the day Leoncio married his first wife a Catalonian aristocrat named María Montserrat Viñamata y Martorell It was at the wedding that Liliane Dahlmann Tall and blonde and 20 years Luisa Isabel's junior Liliane had moved from Germany to Barcelona as a girl "I'll make her mine," the Duchess told her friend Capi Arenas during the reception recalls that the Duchess and Liliane "couldn't take their eyes off each other." where she served as Luisa Isabel's secretary Gone were the wild parties and the bohemian friends crashing at the palace for months on end; Luisa Isabel became quieter and more dedicated to the archives "They were always together," her friend Andres Martinez recalls ever." Luisa Isabel's children were also suspicious The children also began to fight among themselves Leoncio had a role in deciding which family titles went to whom Gabriel claims they had an understanding that he would be named Duke of Montalto and Aragon "I'm inclined to stop the progressive scattering of our family titles," Leoncio wrote in a letter to his brother Since the family could no longer claim economic or political power "moral and historical integrity is all we have left." King Juan Carlos I had named her Duchess of Fernandina Leoncio maintained that the title should have gone to his son He launched a battle in the Spanish courts stripping his sister of her noble name and privileges Leoncio also squabbled with his mother over the estate of her grandmother who had left the children an inheritance "worth millions of euros," according to Gabriel Leoncio protested this "robbery," complaining that he had received no financial help after his marriage and the birth of his son denounced Leoncio as "weaker" than she had "ever imagined." Gabriel had considered himself and Leoncio thick as thieves; they had lived together during their university days in Madrid and always looked after each other he felt that Leoncio was only looking out for himself "My older brother tried to keep everything for himself and push us out," she says they successfully sued their mother over the misspent money the Duchess sold off various tracts of land and other assets and took steps to ensure that none of the children would have any power over the archives she transferred ownership of the palace and the archives to a new organization she founded she amended the foundation's statutes to ensure that 2008 — mourners filled the Salon of Columns a vast room in the palace crafted by American artisans provided to the family by the 16th-century conquistador Hernán Cortés Gabriel arrived at around 10 o'clock at night he and his mother hadn't spoken in 20 years The greetings between them were civil but not warm There were whispers about how the Duchess had carried out one final snub of her children she had married Liliane in a civil ceremony but it granted Liliane legal control of the palace — and the archives Gabriel had arrived at the palace with a somewhat macabre mission in mind and he planned to capture an image of his mother's corpse just as he'd done when his father had died a month earlier He wasn't sure where this impulse came from he wanted proof his parents were really gone for good Gabriel entered the room where the Duchess lay in a casket He took the camera from his pocket and held it over her body "He had the right to take a photo of her," says his cousin Íñigo Ramírez de Haro an author and playwright who accompanied Gabriel that night Leoncio suddenly appeared and began chasing his brother around the room "He asked me to delete the photo," Gabriel recalls two middle-aged men sparring like adolescents in their mother's grand house It was also a sign of the quarrels to come the siblings worked in concert to challenge their mother's will they cited a provision of Spanish law mandating that a person's descendants have a right to two-thirds of an estate "I'm not surprised by any of this," Gabriel told a reporter at the time "My mother made it clear that she was going to fuck us." By transferring the vast majority of her wealth — the palace and its contents including the archives — to the foundation the Duchess had exceeded the portion of her estate she was legally allowed to bequeath to non-heirs The foundation was ordered to pay 27 million euros to the children as compensation There was only one problem: The foundation had nowhere near that much money he believed he should be responsible for the palace "Leoncio Alonso wasn't happy with this solution because it meant giving up his family's property and he didn't want to be remembered as the first Duke of Medina Sidonia to allow this," Eduardo Ferreiro The higher court ruled that he and his siblings would become part owners of the palace and its treasures — though without any power over its administration The siblings were effectively owners of everything Leoncio decided to defy the court's ruling and take matters into his own hands effectively becoming housemates with his mother's widow "Cohabitation is uncomfortable," he told a reporter A newspaper reported that Montserrat Viñamata had become romantically involved with Liliane whom she had known since their university days in Barcelona Viñamata denied the rumor: "Whoever has insinuated this has done me a lot of damage," she told a local newspaper He accused Liliane of taking money from his mother's estate arguing that Leoncio was smearing her name in an effort to remove her as president of the foundation so he could take over in her place Both of them declined requests to speak with me a judge found Liliane guilty of misappropriating funds She was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to repay 280,000 euros Her appeal is due to be heard by Spain's supreme court I sit down with Gabriel at a busy café terrace in Madrid Dressed in navy blue shorts and a white polo shirt he's the kind of well-read man who sprinkles his conversations with quotes from the French economist Thomas Piketty It's as if his obsession with her betrayal has so boiled within him that it now emanates from his very physicality Gabriel seems caught in a perpetual struggle to find his place in the world though he always returns to the topic of how his family has been torn apart "I've been at cafés with him," says a close family member "and suddenly he'll just start talking to someone he barely knows about his quarrels with his mother." "never wanted to have any relationship with us she saw us as a threat to the free disposal of her wealth." He claims he wants to mediate between his siblings and Liliane "I see the foundation as running like a business," he says not who runs it." But even those closest to him have trouble discerning his true intentions "Gabriel's views on all this change — depending on how he wakes up in the morning," says his good friend and lawyer sees the family drama as integral to both brothers' emotional makeup Gabriel "seems to be searching for headlines rather than solutions," she says while Leoncio is "just interested in defending his claims" as the first-born son inherited her mother's flair for culture: One paper called her "possibly the most elegant woman in Spanish high society." If her brothers remain bent on getting justice "All that sensationalism doesn't matter," she says "That might be fine for making a soap opera if they want but solving the archives issue doesn't have to depend on that." Pilar is the first to admit that she has good reason to seek a settlement She has inherited her father's residence in central Spain and she has taken to referring to it as her vampire because it sucks up all her money "I would be lying if I said I didn't want to resolve this situation because I need to," she says their father's estate is proving every bit as thorny as their mother's A half-sister whom their father never recognized has come forward to demand a share of his estate using the same provision of Spanish inheritance law that they themselves deployed against the foundation a court ordered Pilar and her brothers to pay the half-sister a sum of more than $1 million Gabriel now fears they might be forced to auction off the rights to the archive to private bidders — a desperate measure to cover their spiraling debts the children would finally be separated from the archive I travel to Sanlúcar de Barrameda to see the Archive of Medina Sidonia for myself Walking through a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets in the city center Some of the facades are crumbling like stale bread; others are as pristine as a Hollywood smile The whitewashed palace looms above the city just as the family's thousand-year legacy has loomed over the children for their entire lives Past the sprawling Ambassador's Room where the Duke had filmed his triumphant return The Investigator's Room smells sweet and woody and bright sunlight casts shadows across the high shelves lined with books Liliane had accepted my request to visit the archive but said she wouldn't comment on any legal matters citing past experiences when she felt her words had been twisted can guarantee its maintenance and preservation as required in a technological world," she wrote adding that "knowledge of the past is indispensable for moving forward in all aspects of human life." Liliane sits at the table beside me in silence while I study the archive she abruptly leaves without uttering a word which indexes the documents in the archive the descriptions scribbled in the margins in the Duchess's spidery handwriting I ask for a diary of the Almadraba — the famous local fishing season held every May for the past 3,000 years comprising a nearly indecipherable tabulation of the number of fish caught Sitting with the nearly 500-year-old document in the dim light of the library I'm reminded that only a tiny part of the collection has been digitized The history it contains is almost entirely physical could cause the documents to disappear forever The most viable resolution is for either the state or a major cultural institution to step in and buy the estate from the siblings turning it into a state-owned asset and ensuring the proper management and preservation of the archives But that would cost a lot of money — and thanks to the Duchess the government already has a role in the foundation's administration with the children clinging to the legacy their mother never wanted them to have Leoncio and Liliane continue to live in separate wings of the palace each imprisoned by the limbo to which Spanish law Gabriel remains consumed by his vendetta against their mother and Pilar remains locked in battle with the rest of the family with her relentless dedication to the archive and her disregard for her own children left them with an acrimonious and bitter future They had succeeded at gaining part ownership of her estate But what they'd won seems more like a share in her disdain Matthew Bremner is a writer based in Spain 2024 — An earlier version of this story failed to note that Íñigo Ramírez de Haro is Gabriel González de Gregorio Álvarez de Toledo's cousin The story also misidentified Gabriel as divorced; he and his wife never formally ended their marriage Sanlúcar de BarramedaSunday January 26 2025 The TimesIn 1517 the fifth Duke of Medina Sidonia allowed a colony of English sherry merchants to build a church next to their shipyards More than five centuries later the church of St George in the southern port town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda is the oldest surviving British institution in Spain It is now appealing for help from Britain to conserve it The church once served as a refuge for English Catholic priests returning secretly to post-Reformation Tudor England A sculpture of England’s patron saint lancing a dragon and a familiar red-on-white cross surmounts its magnificent altarpiece in front of which lies the tombstone of an English noble Metrics details A Publisher Correction to this article was published on 05 December 2024 This article has been updated This paper presents a recent study on a Roman period marble sculpture depicting Empress Livia and the portraits of Germanicus and Drusus Minor found at the praesidium of Asido (Medina Sidonia The sculptures retain extensive evidence of their original polychromy The properties and spatial distribution of these pigment remains were investigated by portable non-invasive and micro-destructive techniques The study revealed the presence of Egyptian blue and ochre on Livia’s mantle and charcoal black on Livia’s eyes and hair remains that were not clearly visible to the naked eye used to identify colours on ancient marble sculpture which transforms our understanding of these unique pieces Elemental composition analysis by pXRF has confirmed the evidence of pigments furthermore supported by the Raman results making it possible to develop and reconstruct the colour palette that originally brought these sculptures to life in vibrant polychrome The research offers a new methodology for identifying pigments on marble sculpture and opens new ways for investigating other types of material culture aided by the development of the analytical equipment mentioned Portraits from Asido (Medina Sidonia). 1 Livia; 2 Germanicus; 3 Drusus Minor. Museum of Cádiz Statue of Livia from Asido (Medina Sidonia) The stable conditions in the museum warehouse have helped to preserve some of the polychromy on certain areas of the statue of Livia Her portrait also shows some remains of polychromy particularly on the mantle covering Livia’s right shoulder and arm, while on the edges of the upper part of the mantle there are remains of golden colour Some traces of black are still preserved on the right side of Livia’s head on some of the lower locks and covering the nodus as well as some reddish marks that can be seen with the naked eye on the first strand of the left side Drusus Minor and Germanicus show some reddish marks on the eyebrows The Roman sculptures of Asido offer an excellent opportunity to determine the polychromy technique Although the study of in Roman sculpture polychromy is no longer a novelty the analysis of the iconographic programme of the Julio-Claudian imperial family marble statues with its colour combinations and manufacturing technique from a physicochemical analytical point of view Considering the lack of appropriate documentation on colours and the small number of findings with traces of pigment remains the results achieved in this study represent the first analytical data on this type of sculptures This view is a starting point for achieving greater knowledge on the manufacturing technology and colour schemes in Roman polychrome sculptures The purpose of this work is to identify the polichromy of Livia’s sculpture and the portraits of Germanicus and Drusus Minor by applying a multidisciplinary approach involving portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and portable NIR spectroscopy and micro-destructive techniques (field emission scanning electron microscope the areas that are visible to the viewer have been worked with great correctness and clarity the surfaces highly polished and contributing to the luminosity of the statue before covering it with a final layer of paint in Germanicus’ portrait there was still paint preserved in the iris of both eyes The Livia sculpture and the portraits of Germanicus and Drusus Minor were examined to locate and document traces of the original paint The undertaken tasks were divided into two main steps: the first included a visual examination and on-site digital microscopy and portable Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (p-XRF) without pre-treatments; the second step involved micro sampling and non-destructive FE-SEM–EDS analysis Portable Digital Microscopy was performed with a ShuttlePix P-4000Rv Portable Digital Microscope from Nikon Metrology (20 × optical zoom lens A LED illuminator is integrated with this microscope All measured points were mapped by means of p-XRF and the obtained concentrations were treated as semi-quantitative data At least five measurements were collected per analysed spot to get reliable and representative results of each paint trace In-situ elemental analyses were carried out by means of a handheld analyser X-MET 7500 (Oxford Instruments and an automatic 5-position filter changer providing a beam spot size of approximately 100 mm2 The spectra were taken in a very short time (60 s integration time) Semi-quantitative data was obtained directly by the hand-held XRF which uses fundamental parameters approach to provide the concentration of the measured elements An ASD Terraspec Halo full range spectrometer measuring the visible and short-wave infrared regions (360–2500 nm) was used to record the reflectance spectra The instrument uses a CCD and two Peltier cooled InGaAs sensors mounted over a Goertz post dispersive monochromator and three gratings 7 micro-samples were taken from different parts of Livia’s mantle by pressing a scalpel on the blue and golden colours Samples were placed on the sample-holder and then flattened with the pulsed laser beam of the ZEISS AURIGA field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) The micro-morphology and distribution of elemental components in the samples were analysed by means of a ZEISS AURIGA (FE-SEM) equipped with Sigma Element integrated energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system (ESM-EDS) After a visual examination, traces of polychromy were found on Livia’s hair (black stains) and mantle (blue, redish yellow), on Drusus’ cheek (red), and on Germanicus eyes and eyebrows (Fig. 3). All the coloured spots were analysed on-site, and micro samples from Livia’s mantle were taken for further laboratory analysis. Location of different painted zones where non-invasive analyses were performed: 1 To ensure that the black stains located after visual examination on Livia’s hair (Fig. 4) were part of the statue’s polychromy, we performed in situ p-XRF and full range spectroscopy. Microphotograph of the black traces on Livia’s hair Handheld EDX analysis (Table 1) shows ~ 4 at % of phosphorus what could be related to the use of bone black This is further confirmed by the SWIR spectrum that shows a broad absorption band ~ 1920 nm which according to card hydroxylapatite_ws425.3404 from the USGS is the only spectral feature of hydroxylapatite (mineral component of bone) This suggests the use of bone black to pigment Livia’s hair Microphotograph of Livia’s mantle with blue pigment Sample 4 of blue pigment from Livia’s shoulder was taken for further analyses using SEM–EDS. The SEM–EDS (Fig. 6) revealed a structure composed of a Ca/P matrix with embedded grains of Si-Ca-Cu. Ca/P matrix and Si-Ca-Cu embedded grains with indication of EDS area analysis SEM-BSE image of Livia’s shoulder 4 sample with indication of the EDS area 1–2: Microphotograph of Livia’s mantle red/golden pigment 3: Livia’s shoulder 1 red/golden pigment with indication of EDS analysis Red and yellow ochre pigments are generally used for flesh tones in Roman times in order to enhance facial features (eyelids shadings with darker tones might have been used Some of the most commonly used pigments in ancient times for painting flesh tones (reds and yellows) were hematite (Fe2O3) These natural pigments can be easily identified by its UV-to-SWIR spectral features performs separate mineral identifications in the VNIR and SWIR automatically by identifying the best peak match between the library and the recorded spectrum in an iterative way by subtracting the spectrum of the identified reference mineral to the recorded signal and by adjusting intensities In Germanicus’ pupil -452 and Drusus’ cheek -451 reddish/brown tones goethite [α-FeO(OH)] and calcite was automatically identified by the spectrometer’s software Full range spectra of the measured red stains on Germanicus’s pupil—452 and Drusus’s cheek—451 (350–2500 nm) although the marble has not yet been analyzed when the double adoption of Tiberius by Augustus and of Germanicus by Tiberius took place corresponding with the death of Germanicus at the beginning of Tiberius’ reign dedicated to the early cult of Domus Augusta a representation of the Divus Augustus and of Tiberius providing a greater degree of realism to the imperial images polychromy was added to the statue/portrait of Livia and to the portraits of Germanicus and Drusus Minor in order to enhance external appearances others only recognizable with the use of a digital microscope The blue pigment on the mantle is made of EB It was applied over a bone (Ca/P) ground /priming layer for the polychromy The redish yellow or golden pigment on Livia’s mantle consists of ochre (some sort of iron oxide) over a calcium carbonate layer This carbonate layer might be either a priming layer or a colour layer (calcium carbonate white) Traces of Cu on the analyzed samples points to the use of EB to shade and therefore enhance the depth of the mantle The black stains on Livia’s hair were made of bone black with a high phosphorous content the use of a Ca/P ground layer for the polychromy of the mantle could also evidence the use of carbon black over the priming unlikely due to the absence of a ground layer on the portraits The red traces on Drusu’ and Germanicus’ cheeks A calcium carbonate layer has been recorded on Livia’s himation which could possibly correspond to a repainting or repair to this area This would also explain the differences found between the ‘golden’ and the blue pigments in the priming layer of the mantle All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-024-01447-3 in Las cloacas de Caesaraugusta y elementos de urbanismo y topografía de la ciudad antigua Esculturas Romanas de Asido (Medina Sidonia Retratos de príncipes julio-claudios en la Baetica Boletín de la Real Academia de la Historia CLVI-2 Drusus Minor y Germanicus en Medina Sidonia Mélanges d’Archéologie et d’Histoire offerts à André Piganiol Identificación de la estatua en el Museo de Cádiz Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Cádiz Estudio arqueométrico del soporte marmóreo de una escultura de Livia hallada en la ciudad romana de Asido (Medina Sidonia El descubrimiento de un templo romano en Croacia Katalog der römischen Porträts der Capitolinischen Museen und anderen kommunalen Sammlungen der Stadt Rom Brown University Center for old world archeology and art Portraits of Livia in context: an analysis of distribution through the application of geographic information systems Consideraciones sobre la producción y recepción de retratos imperiales en Hispania El concepto de lo provincial en el mundo antiguo Portraits of Livia: Imaging the Imperial Woman in Augustan Rome Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1999 Emerging Colors: Roman Sculptural Polychromy Revived Polychromy in Sculpture from Antiquity to the Present El color de la imagen imperial en Torreparedones: Estudio de la policromía en las estatuas sedentes del foro in Actas de la VIII Reunión de Escultura Romana en Hispania When Colour Tells a Story: The Polychromy of Hellenistic Sculpture and Terracottas München: The Polychromy of antique and mediaeval sculpture; 2010 Mirti P, et al. Spectrochemical and structural studies on a Roman sample of Egyptian Blue. Spectrochim Acta Part A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 1995;51:437–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/0584-8539(94)E0108-M Mazzocchin G, et al. A short note on Egyptian Blue. J Cult Herit. 2004;5:129–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2003.06.004 Kendrick E, Kirk CJ, Dann SE. Structure and colour properties in the Egyptian Blue Family, M1−xM′xCuSi4O10, as a function of M, M′ where M, M′=Ca, Sr and Ba. Dyes Pigm. 2007;73:13–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2005.10.006 Verri G. The spatially resolved characterisation of Egyptian blue, Han blue and Han purple by photo-induced luminescence digital imaging. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2009;394:1011–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-2693-0 Polychromy in Roman Egypt: a study of a limestone sculpture of the Egyptian god Horus Johnson-McDaniel D, Salguero TT. Exfoliation of Egyptian blue and han blue, two alkali earth copper silicate-based pigments. J Visualized Exp. 2014. https://doi.org/10.3791/51686 Radpour R, Gates GA, Kakoulli I, et al. Identification and mapping of ancient pigments in a Roman Egyptian funerary portrait by application of reflectance and luminescence imaging spectroscopy. Herit Sci. 2022;10:8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00639-5 Download references This research was funded by the ‘Italica Adrianea Project: the Nova Urbs Análisis arqueológico del paradigma urbano y su evolución y contrastación del modelo' - PID2020-114528GB-I00 - funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades del Gobierno de España / Agencia Española de Investigación / 10.13039/501100011033 We would like to express our gratitude to Juan Alonso de la Sierra Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla Universidad de Sevilla-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas interpretation of data; and have drafted the work and substantively revised it JBF: design of the work; and have drafted the work and substantively revised it.MLLA: interpretation of data and have drafted the work and substantively revised it interpretation of data and have substantively revised it All authors have approved the submitted version that involves the author's contribution to the study; and have agreed both to be personally accountable for the author's own contributions and to ensure that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work even ones in which the author was not personally involved and the resolution documented in the literature All authors read and approved the final manuscript The authors declare that they have no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations The original version of this article was revised: Acknowledgements and Funding statement have been updated unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00734-1 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice When Spain's paramilitary policemen came across the Duchess of Medina Sidonia amidst a crowd of protesting agricultural workers, they greeted her with surprise and the respect her high rank demanded. "Doña Luisa Isabel! What are you doing here?" But when they realised she was part of the protest, the policemen pushed her around as roughly as they did her humbler comrades. This privileged aristocrat had a rebellious spirit, perhaps to do with her mother's death when she was 10. She lived with her grandmother until leaving home at 18 to marry. Five years and three children later, her marriage ended. In the 1960s she was jailed for fiercely confronting Franco's dictatorship, and became known as the Red Duchess – a "title" she never accepted – for her radicalism. She was born in Estoril, Portugal, her parents having gone into exile at the outbreak of the Spanish civil war. She was presented as a débutante in Estoril, together with Doña Pilar de Borbón, sister of Juan Carlos. Flourishing her republicanism, Luisa Isabel teased the future king of Spain as "Citizen Borbón". She also raised eyebrows in titled society by her vehement atheism. Largely self-educated, she complained that her convent education equipped her only to be an accomplished society lady, and wife. But from childhood she was fascinated by historical studies, heraldry and ancient documents. When her father, the 20th duke, died in 1955, she inherited the title of Duchess of Medina Sidonia (Spain's first hereditary dukedom, granted in 1445, but whose origins date back to 1297), as well as Duchess of Fernandina, Princess of Montalbán, Marquess of Villafranca del Bierzo and Marquess of los Velez. Investigations into her family's documents prompted her to write several controversial books and essays, many self-published, that argued among other heresies that African or Phoenician merchants, or possibly knights templar, reached America long before Columbus did in 1492. She published her thesis in 1992 in the books Africa versus América and No fuimos nosotros ("It wasn't us") She also claimed to have documentary proof that the grandmother of her illegitimate ancestor Alonso Perez de Guzman, a 13th-century Spanish hero who fought against the Moors, was black. She wrote a biography of a later Perez de Guzman, commander in chief in 1588 of the Spanish Armada, based on her ancestor's letters with King Philip II. In 1967, Luisa Isabel led a protest of labourers who claimed compensation for the contamination of their small plots in Palomares near Almería on the Costa del Sol. An American plane had accidentally dropped four thermo-nuclear bombs on the region a year earlier. She was jailed for a year, and wrote about her experience in My Prison (1972). She wrote novels, including La Huelga ("Strike", 1967), about police brutality against striking vineyard workers, that was banned but clandestinely circulated, followed by La Cacería ("The Chase") that described the unlimited power exercised by landlords over their peasants in Andalusia. In 1971 she wrote La Base about an American military base in Andalusia, and Palomares about the nuclear accident, and went into exile in the French Basque town of Hasparren rather than submit to another jail term. Her book, based on testimonies of 80 people affected by radiation, was not published until 2002. She complained that her work was constantly censored. The duchess returned in 1976, after Franco's death, and was hailed as a symbol of Spain's emerging democracy. But she was detained again, accused of "violence against agents of authority" – which supporters found incomprehensible since she was fragile and only five feet tall – and given a suspended sentence of six months. Henceforth she rarely left the 16th-century splendour of her palace in Sanlúcar, although she lived modestly, and spent her days in the library, studying and cataloguing an estimated six million documents in her private archive. Controversial to the end, she is reported to have married her long-time secretary and president of the Medina Sidonia foundation, Liliana María Dahlmann, in articulo mortis, hours before her death. Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo y Maura, writer and historian: born Estoril, Portugal 21 August 1936; succeeded 1955 as Duchess of Medina Sidonia; married 1955 José Leoncio González de Gregorio y Martí (two sons, one daughter; marriage dissolved 1960); died Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain 7 March 2008. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies he would lead a huge invasion force against her seeking to depose Elizabeth and bring Protestant England back into the Catholic fold The discovery of the letters between the Duke of Medina Sidonia Commander of the Armada and his second in command a man called Juan Martinez de Recalde illustrates the fierce naval battles between England and Spain Watch the full documentary on BBC Select ShareSaveRome's most stunning optical illusions revealedFrom the Malta Knights keyhole to a set of vanishing columns, discover the Eternal City's visual secrets. 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Spanish Olympian Jose Antonio Garcia Mena has welcomed a new horse in his barn Jumeaux is a 2014 born Dutch warmblood by De Niro out of Evique (by Vivaldi x Contango) The stallion was presented at the pre-selection for the 2017 KWPN Stallion Licensing but he was not selected for the next phase He sold as a young dressage prospect to Spaniard Jordi Domingo The horse made its show debut in Spain in the 4-year old classes in 2018 under Alvaro Gomez At the Spanish Young Horse championships they were 32nd in the preliminary test that year but won bronze at the Catalunya regional championships Jumeaux stayed hom from competitions for almost three years to be produced to small tour level making his come back in May 2021 and winning the 7-year old "Masters" class in June 2021 In 2022 the pair continued to compete at small tour level and were fourth at the 2022 Spanish Small Tour Championships in Barcelona Jordi and Jumeaux in 2022Lilyforado.com reported that Jumeaux has now been matched to Olympian Jose Antonio Garcia Mena The new pair made its show debut last week at the national show in Los Albardones in Medina Sidonia They scored 73.186% in the Prix St Georges The owner of the horse is Miguel Noguera Henriquez'  Barcelona based company Panogoma S.L which also owns Mena's young horse Furst Benno (by Furst Belissaro x Worldly) Photos © Lily Forado Related LinkJose Antonio Garcia Mena and Divina Royal Win 2022 Spanish Grand Prix Championships Stalls for Rent at Durondeau Dressage in Peer, Belgium Exceptionally Well Located Equestrian Facility in Wellington, Florida Well-built Equestrian Estate With Multiple Business Opportunities in Sweden Stable Units for Rent at Lotje Schoots' Equestrian Center in Houten (NED) For Rent: Several Apartments and Stable Wing at High-End Equestrian Facility Stable Wing Available at Reiterhof Wensing on Dutch/German border Real Estate: Well-Appointed Country House with Extensive Equestrian Facility in the U.K. Rémi Blot The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Alonso González de Gregorio, the 22nd duke, is embroiled in a feud over the inheritance of a palace and a priceless archive containing documents about the Armada. He is pitted against Liliane Dahlmann, his mother’s long-term partner whom she married hours before her death and to whom she left her estate, in effect disinheriting her children. Alonso González de Gregorio, meeting King Felipe in 2020, has won a battle in his legal war over his mother’s €60 million legacyCHEMA CLARES/GTRES VIA REX FEATURESThe tussle over the will of Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo y Maura, who was known as the “Red Duchess” because of her left-wing politics, has dragged on since her death in 2008. The two warring factions Kerry McCuaig receives funding from the Government of Canada the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation the Early Childhood Educators Human Resource Council University of Toronto provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation CA University of Toronto provides funding as a member of The Conversation CA-FR View all partners Canada’s policy-makers could take lessons from other countries who have streamlined early learning and child care within their schools preventing provinces and territories from using federal child-care dollars to transform schools into one-stop centres for young children It’s a timely issue as parents countdown to the first day of classes, while scheduling down-to-the-minute drop-offs and pickups between child care and school, and scrutinizing child-care wait lists, hoping to net one of the coveted low-cost spaces This all adds up to unnecessary stress for families that could easily be avoided In Medina Sidonia the small Spanish town where I am spending the summer festivities are gearing up for school’s return parade through the streets into the main square to pick up their back-to-school kits In the lead are achingly adorable toddlers about to enter their first year of escuela infantil School in Spain officially starts at age six but it’s normal for much younger children to participate Federal legislation, passed in 2006, established preschool as a publicly-funded extension of education, delivered without fees for families. Over 97 per cent of children between the ages of three and five attend, with efforts underway to incorporate two-year-olds The school day for all ages begins at 8:30 in the morning ends at 4:30 and includes that delightful Spanish tradition Children may stay and eat with their peers or join the family meal at home For parents who need additional hours to accommodate their work even though 97 percent of preschoolers already participated Free preschool guarantees an early learning experience for all children while accommodating the needs of working families with additional hours Ottawa’s $30-billion effort to create a Canada-wide early learning and child-care system is centred on affordable parent fees and creating 275,000 new spaces Forging a coherent social program out of a disjointed mix of commercial, charitable, religious and nonprofit providers operating under 13 different provincial and territorial agreements is no small task made more complex by rules that exclude schools from receiving federal child-care dollars Newfoundland was about to join until told federal child-care dollars could not be used in schools. Its plan to offer full-day junior kindergarten to all four-year-olds was replaced by a contract with a child care provider to deliver 30 classes Nearby Nova Scotia scaled back its plans to have three-year-olds join its pre-primary program In Ontario, where full-day kindergarten for four- and five-year-olds and on-site child care have been the norm for almost a decade, child care operated by schools does not qualify for federal funding to reduce parent fees It’s a decision that hits more than the budgets of affected families Unlike child care, school-delivered programs must accommodate children with special needs, and schools are among the few employers to offer early childhood educators decent wages and working conditions Québec’s 20 plus years’ experience developing low-cost care has taught some lessons: a central learning is schools serve all kids Long wait lists for care still confront Québec parents. Even if all the targets in the child-care agreements are realized by the end of their five-year terms only 59 per cent of kids under six will have access Experience tells us the children left out will likely be those who could benefit most, youngsters from low-income, racialized and new Canadian families Child care delivered by schools has many advantages eliminating the need for costly land and facility acquisition Operating and oversight mechanisms are already in place Consolidating learning and care for children of all ages in one neighbourhood location reduces its carbon footprint Parents are spared the hassle of multiple trips between school and child care. Additionally, research finds publicly funded early childhood programs delivered by schools score high in quality Yet federal policy prevents scaling up these settings It’s a bad rule that needs changing before we see more daycare centres springing up in strip malls and storefronts rather than excited youngsters stepping over school thresholds onto their best futures The TimesHis ancestor went down in history as the commander of the Spanish Armada routed by England But the current duke of Medina Sidonia fears he may also suffer a historic defeat is embroiled in a feud over the inheritance of a palace and a priceless archive containing documents about the Armada His concern is that he will be known to posterity as the duke who lost the family heritage He is pitted against the widow of his mother who was known as the “Red Duchess” due to her left-wing politics leaving a €50 million legacy to Liliane Dahlmann More than four centuries after the battle, however, the dying wish of one of them is finally to be honoured. Antonio de Ulloa y Sandoval, one of the Armada’s personnel, managed to write his last will and testament before his beheading by English forces. That his will arrived in Spain was just short of a miracle but due to an error his relations and hometown were never found and it was not fulfilled. But a researcher has now solved the puzzle, locating his town and paving the way for at least one of his last wishes to be granted: that three that quintessentially southern-Spanish union Phoenicians: everywhere is the memory of countless invaders you will come upon a smart avenue rammed with people talking in that sociable Andalusian way An English friend who has lived here for years says he still marvels at the sound of grandmothers deep in conversation outside his door at 3am What new and bewitching thing can have occurred since their last long conversation that afternoon Alcazar of JerezTom ParkerOn a spring evening in the medieval church of San Miguel a wedding is taking place Glancing through the open doors into the gloomy interior I can make out pew after pew filled with beautiful women in sequined gowns The unbelievable glamour of well-to-do Spanish women in early middle age A girl plays outside San Dionisio Church in JerezTom ParkerOutside on a bench the father of the bride sits smoking in a grey formal suit None of them is remotely bothered about missing the service so long as the front doors remain open to broadcast the occasional incantation of the priest whose attitude to Catholicism is born of a deep familiarity and ease Twenty miles east of Jerez in the high town of Arcos, two little girls in bloomers play with spinning tops while their younger sister, her hair curled and immaculately parted, attempts to catch a beetle in a cup. It is important to communicate how perfectly antique this scene is, how unlike anything you might see elsewhere in modern Europe There is an extreme innocence to the children in southern Spain usually dressed to the nines and indulged with buns after their long siestas they waddle the cobbles until at least 1am while their parents have supper and jabber with neighbours moving up and down Calle Dean Espinosa in a smoothly milling stream Art and antiques at David Fraser-Luckie's home in JerezTom Parker'What time do you shut?' I ask the harried waitress at Taberna Jóvenes Flamencos 'Until there are no more people!' she hoots intensely salted and served with glasses of ice-cold white sherry the jewelled costume of a once-feted toreador hangs like the flag of a conquering knight Weeds spring from the roofs of the houses along the incline up to a square dotted with lime trees outside the 15th-century Basilica de Santa Maria where on feast days a statue of the Virgin luxuriates on a bower of white hyacinths During an evening of flamenco in the square the town sits watching a young woman dance a kind of malagueña she finally falls into a swoon as though completely exhausted from all the suffering and squalor of a love so lost she belonged to nobody and nowhere ni mi casa es ya mi casa,' wrote the great Andalusian poet Lorca nor is my house any longer my house.') Moments later and everyone cheers and troops down the hill to the bars for more food To eat in southern Spain is really to snack between snacks One place might sell small plates of delicious grilled aubergine and goat's cheese drizzled with honey another might specialise in taquitos de pescado en adobo melting fried morsels of white fish that tell you the sea Even the olives here taste subtly of anchovies Tomato salad at Las Cuadras tapas bar in JerezTom ParkerLas CuadrasTom ParkerCross the fertile plains of the coastal barbate river in August and you will pass molten fields of sunflowers and wheat Combine harvesters cling to little hills tilted towards the sun Massive cabbage whites bash against my car as I idle along empty roads bordered by in-leaning crape myrtle and overlooked by storks in disordered nests on the top of telegraph poles Vultures circle fields of black horned cattle So steep that to get to the top requires passing through an old Moorish gate in the middle of town and then what feels like falling to your knees and crawling vertically into the ancient quarter tiny Medina was the centre of a Phoenician colony first and then a major centre under Roman occupation A grand Visigoth fortress became a Christian castle in whose windswept remains tiny stonechats are now blown about like blossom among enormous blood poppies It can feel hotter here at 5pm than it does at midday despite the constant breeze There is nobody on the surrounding streets nobody in Santa María la Coronada Church at the tip-top of the town the statue of a tortured Saint Sebastian is covered in dust A bench for a 15th-century inquisitor sits a few feet from a stone gargoyle the sound of just wind and crested larks and the view across the plains unchanged for more than a thousand years save for the occasional white forest of wind turbines In the only bar up this high a family plays cards and decimates a plate of cherries and sheep's-milk cheese Medina is deeply traditional: work from 7am until 2pm in summer then a siesta ending at 5.30pm and perhaps a visit to the sweltering beach The locals will dutifully change into winter clothes on 1 October even if it is still 28˚C it's damn hot,' they'll complain shifting uncomfortably in their woollen jackets waiting for the cooler weather that might not come for weeks Valdevaqueros beach on the Costa de la LuzTom ParkerThe beaches are bright with an implacable light They have the paradisiacal salt-whiteness of a Ladybird-book illustration And what of these famous, untainted beaches of Spain the Costa de la Luz is so capricious it will never find favour with those seeking the drugging reliability of the Costa del Sol The Atlantic winds sweep in with an immense power wrapping your cheeks around the back of your head winds you can actually lean into on the beach at Roches and El Palmar but which can whip up suddenly to sandblast bathers forcing families to run shrieking in towels to the safety of the juniper forests hugging the coastline Everywhere slim legs and bracelet- jangling arms Grandmothers pose proudly for photographs with granddaughters dressed in outrageously short Daisy Dukes hooped earrings glinting in the dark curls they toss about with the lovely careless manners founded on extreme confidence wheeling their weekend suitcases through the streets of Conil - the closest thing on this coastline to a concrete resort - yelling with excitement At night the dancing and drinking in the towns this far south goes on late but there is relatively little brazen drunkenness A taxi driver in the town of Zahara marvelled to me about a blind-drunk English wedding guest he'd transported to her guesthouse 'At the age of 45,' he shook his head Vejer might echo with distant civilisations going back 5,000 years to the invasion of the Cretans (bulls are raced through the streets here once a year) the view is of richly irrigated fields of tomatoes busying to and from a nest in the wall of El Devino Salvador Church which still brandishes an ancient Star of David recalling a time when the area around Plaza Angel was a Jewish quarter Sunset in Vejer comes on with an immense yellow ochre thinning to lilac for an impossibly long time Chinese hibiscus reflects off the shiny green 19th-century ceramic frogs dotted about its fountain and amontillado-swilling couples order saffron-baked lamb at restaurant tables an elderly woman in black crepe smokes and listens to the radio selling poker cards and lottery tickets for a pittance a cat sniffs the remains of a dried lizard in a side street eventually distracted by the call of a nightingale Hotel V in VejerTom ParkerThe bedroom at Hotel VTom ParkerWHERE TO STAY ON THE COSTA DE LA LUZCasa Viña de Alcántara JerezJust 15 minutes' drive from the city centre Casa Viña de Alcántara stands in fields of wheat A peerlessly renovated lodge owned by a wine-growing family it has just a handful of perfectly chic rooms and a shaded pool It's close enough to the airport to be your only destination for an absurdly romantic weekend interrupted by the occasional taxi ride into town for tapas and sherry La Vista de Medina is still that almost impossible thing: a place to stay with a lovely pool in this steepest of hot The view from the terraced restaurant is legendary and the owners wrap you in blankets if the winds pick up the protruding boxed windows encased in metal bars that recall young couples' murmured late-night conversations without chaperones Saffron-baked lambTom ParkerHotel V smart hideaway in an ancient building at the very top of town with a hot tub on the roof terrace so high kestrels and buzzards hover only feet away This hotel is precisely where you want to be: moments from both quiet bars and churches and a busy central square Order the breakfast of mango and tiny local sheep's cheeses A short drive fromthe city into the lush farmland below Casa La Siesta is a country house that looks like a Roman villa Its large rooms give onto a leafy courtyard that leads down to a garden pool and friendly stallions wander past eating the sunflowers Lunch and supper cooked by a health-conscious chef are a nice change from the mostly fried southern-Spanish tapas Thomson flies from Gatwick to Jerez This feature was published in Condé Nast Traveller June 2014 Read more about where to go on holiday in November ‘cooking school in matadero’ by sol89 image © fernando alda drawing from the warm, orange roofscapes of the hilly historic town of medina sidonia, sevilla-based sol89 designed a cooking school within the architectural bones of an ancient slaughterhouse the vernacular architectonic makeup of cadiz consists of high white walls and ceramic roof tiles but the slaughterhouse afforded a dichotomy of spaces that at once proved striking and challenging in their specificity the central courtyard was once used as a holding plot for the cattle while the heaviness of the surrounding masonry was interjected with aged phoenician columns the project aimed at reclaiming the open plot with a tiled roof that creates new geometries for the building while still reflecting the local architectural language the new roof unifies a program that includes didactic kitchen and classroom spaces along with a public dining hall and bar the courtyard houses an edible garden and the historical perimeter of the structure is now a series of ancillary spaces connected by circulation contact between the existing building and new intervention is primarily manifested in a sliver of diffused light having been engineered to reduce the load on the original masonry the folded roof additionally allows natural light and ventilation to filter the numerous kitchens and small patios which are extensively glazed for public viewership restaurant goers can peer through original brickwork through generous windows at the student chefs the architects sought to create a ‘gradient of public space’ in keeping with the service-oriented art of cooking the movement of the public is dictated by the roof’s allowance of light itself a rhythmic pattern of shaded and sunlit spaces that enhance the natural porousness of the existing building this is an architecture of restraint– the majority of rejuvenating gesture keeps within traditional construction techniques the floor is a meeting of contemporary materials and ancient formwork most notably in the floor which replaced crumbling stones with concrete slabs and elegantly grained wood the school’s walls retain the rustic white lime mortar in keep with the tiled roof cap forever keeping the vestiges of the old slaughterhouse the ‘cooking school in matadero’ was recently awarded the winner of the 11th tile of spain awards in architecture and interior design at CEVISAMA 2013 – the international exhibition for architectural ceramics the slaughterhouse-turned-cooking-school uses the architectonic language of the surrounding historical town existing phoenician columns and exposed timber beams were used as opportunities to create diffused light conditions student kitchens are punctuated with atria and natural light the tiled roof and lime-white walls at night the dilapidated interior courtyard of the slaughterhouse before renovation  the high-walled slaughterhouse before the intervention juanjo lópez de la cruz and maría gonzález spaindesign date: 2008completion date: 2009-2011quantity surveyor: jerónimo arrebolacollaborators: george smudgeinstallation engineer: insur jgstructural engineer: alejandro cabanas slbuilt area: 751 m²client: fundación forja xxigeneral contractor: novoarididian & rhodas AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style The ibis eremitas (as they are called in Spanish) have returned to Cadiz in the south of Spain On Wednesday 36 of them arrived in Medina Sidonia after completing a journey of 2,800 kilometres from Bavaria Despite being only the second year for this project It is part of the continuous effort of the Junta de Andalucía and the conservationists at Jerez zoological park to keep this species going under the auspices of the 'Bald ibis Project' which has already managed to retain a permanent population of around 300 individual birds in the province and 37 breeding pairs Regional minister for sustainability and the environment Catalina García was there to welcome at Medina Sidonia airfield the Waldrapp team of ibis 'foster mums' pilot of the motorised paraglider and the person who came up with this idea "The return of the bald ibis to Cadiz is testimony to the success of the collaboration within 'Proyecto Eremita' since 2004 and to the dedication of the Junta de Andalucía via the relevant departments and the staff in AMAYA [the regional government's environment agency] and Jerez's zoological park to the conservation of its biodiversity With nearly 300 specimens in the wild and continuous efforts to protect and monitor Andalucía is now set as a benchmark in the conservation of this endangered species" These 36 bald ibis (also known as Waldrapp) which were born in Rosegg zoo in Carinthia (Austria) left their flight-training camp in Taching am See This is the second human-led migration of this species to Vejer on this occasion covering 2,800 kilometres over several legs These 36 specimens will be sent to the San Ambrosio aviary in Barbate The monitoring and protection of breeding colonies is a constant task and we must be aware of the threats that these birds face habitat loss or illegal hunting." In this regard she stressed the importance of continuing to collaborate with international projects such as LIFE-NBI which seeks to connect the European population of bald ibis with the sitting population in other parts of Cadiz province through guided migratory routes This joint effort is expected to consolidate a regular migration of ibis between Europe and Andalucía by 2028 which will further contribute to the stabilisation of the species García praised the work of all the parties involved for their dedication to the conservation of the bald ibis we can reverse critical situations for our most endangered species." the experts are assessing the possibility of carrying out experiments in the medium term to reintroduce the species into other parts of Andalucía but only after analysing the viability of this via thorough research The arrival event was also attended by all leading members of the Junta responsible for the environment conservation and biodiversity as well as representatives from all the other partners involved in the bald ibis project and local dignitaries Catalina García highlighted the importance of this milestone for the conservation of a species listed globally as "endangered" underlining the commitment of all the institutions involved in the protection of the bald ibis "This return is a symbol of the international collaboration and sustained effort that we have carried out to ensure the survival of the bald ibis in our lands" which began in 2004 with the collaboration between the regional environment ministry and Jerez zoological park has been a benchmark in the conservation of endangered species The initial goal of establishing a sedentary and self-sufficient population in the region of La Janda "Today we can proudly say that we have 37 breeding pairs distributed in different strategic points of the province which puts us very close to the objective of reaching a stable population of 350 individuals" The process of conservation of the northern bald ibis has involved the annual release of birds born in captivity from different European zoos that are members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and also belong to the EEP (European Endangered Species Programme) These releases have reinforced the wild population favouring reproduction in carefully selected areas such as the rocky cliffs of La Barca de Vejer and the Castilnovo tower in Conil where improvements have been made to the habitat to facilitate nesting In addition to the success in the conservation of the bald ibis in Andalucía as a result of the collaboration between Jerez zoo and the regional environment ministry from 11 to 14 March 2025 Jerez de la Frontera will host the International Symposium of the Northern Bald Ibis an opportunity to share knowledge and advances in the preservation of this endangered species which will bring together experts from around the world will reflect the Junta de Andalucía's commitment to research and the protection of biodiversity The event will include technical talks and a visit to the La Barca de Vejer breeding colony one of the most important breeding sites of ibis eremita in the province "We want this symposium to serve as a meeting point for researchers and professionals working on the conservation of the ibis and other endangered species so that together we can design new strategies to ensure their future," she stated Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados "From its beautiful pueblos blancos (white villages) to the seashore and deep into the forests these are the essential (and gastronomic) stops on a route through Andalucía's Cadiz province," declared the prestigious National Geographic Traveler magazine gastronomy and nature has often looked to the seas to tell us about the unique culinary experiences on offer in the pueblos blancos of Cadiz province people are led to believe that everything that is cooked and served up is all to do with bluefin tuna or comes from the sea you will discover a very tasty province where you won't miss getting away from the cities," said the publication As a result National Geographic Traveler magazine compiled a list of the best places to eat in Cadiz Less than twenty kilometres from Vejer de la Frontera and with 'retinta' beef as the star ingredient on its menu Aasador La Castillería has built up a well-deserved reputation as one of the best steakhouses in Spain A restaurant run by Juan Valdés that has brought thousands of meat addicts to Vejer de la Frontera looking for that grill experience National Geographic Traveler also mentions this different foodies' treasure that makes "cheese honey and cured meats its three gastronomic pillars." El Bosqueño cheese factory serves as a place of pilgrimage for those in search of quality cheeses El Bosque's charcuterie is also a must to fill your bags with 'morcones' (a sausage made from tripe) chorizos or their unique white blood sausage In this part of Cadiz the territory ruled by the 'alfajor' (a type of caramel biscuit) is dominated by Medina-Sidonia Before passing through the bakery of Aromas de Medina the savoury side can be enjoyed in places like Venta La Duquesa a charming restaurant where the favourite dish is the classic rice with rabbit The galeras (mantis shrimps) of Chipiona are what this magazine calls a "blessing" Here we are in the land of Rocío Jurado and the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Regla A place where you can also fall in love with moscatel wine which here is almost worshipped like a religion in its bars Try both in Casa Paco or El Quinto Pino further inland This is one of the favourite towns for tourists as bluefin tuna is the must-have dish to sample when passing through where the tuna with tomato is the main dish to try "An infallible classic to turn to during tuna season." making an authentic grape juice (mosto) is the first step in creating the fortified wines that have made the area world famous In Alcalá de los Gazules their famous variety of cabbage is spring greens (aka collard greens) Not forgetting their gazpacho soup served hot both a la carte and on some set lunchtime menus We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We also use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the BBC website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookie settings at any time British Broadcasting CorporationHome British History in-depth History is traditionally seen by English historians as a great English victory the English failed to press their advantage Sir Francis Drake's squadron led the attack but Drake himself quickly slipped away from the fighting drawing charges of 'cowardice or knavery' from fellow-commanders as it had been throughout almost the entire campaign who would have been able to make use of their superior manpower had the English tried to board their vessels Although overall the Armada had abundant stocks of shot most of the front-line Spanish ships ran out of heavy ammunition before the English closed the range the English suffered almost no damage at Gravelines probably because of the worsening weather and the apparently inexorable drift of the Armada towards the shoals 'From this desperate peril we were saved by God's mercy.' essentially intact and effectively undefeated The English commander thought he had 'plucked its feathers' though apprehensive about how long their fleet could remain battleworthy You're using the Internet Explorer 6 browser to view the BBC website. Our site will work much better if you change to a more modern browser. It's free, quick and easy. Find out more about upgrading your browser here… BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser you will not be able to get the full visual experience Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so The latest edition of Sawday's Special Places to Stay Spain is available for £9.74 from sawdays.co.uk You can register a free account and get 10 FREE premium articles a month please enter your email address in the box below and we will send you an email with a few steps to reset your password and get you back onto your account Firefighters from the province of Cadiz are pictured helping rescue efforts in Valencia The scenes of storm-driven destruction being televised from Valencia have sparked a strong feeling of solidarity amongst the people of the Campo de Gibraltar as emergency services redeployed resources to the stricken region and municipalities marked by the tragedy 24 members of the Cádiz fire brigade and Cádiz rescue teams left for Valencia with eight vehicles and a boat to carry out search tracing and clean-up work in the main affected areas while minutes of silence have been observed and Halloween festivities suspended as a sign of respect the organisations and people of the Campo area have begun to arrange collections of food and basic necessities for those who have lost everything but their lives the torrential rains and subsequent flooding have caused 202 deaths The country is in a state of official mourning but the unprecedented storm has left some of the victims on the ground reeling and helpless due to a lack of food supplies fresh water and the resources necessary to remove vehicles the Spanish Government has deployed the Army to reopen roads support residents and rebuild the roads that Cádiz was not slow in mobilising in support of relief and rescue efforts with a team of firefighters sent into the disaster zone The team was composed of officers from seven of the province’s fire stations (four from the city of Cádiz and one each from Ubrique and Villamartín) and four members of the search and rescue team The convoy from Cádiz arrived yesterday at the Requena fire station in Valencia and immediately began coordinating with the province of Valencia’s fire brigade had spoken personally with the president of the Valencia fire brigade to offer him Cadiz's help “We had no doubt that it was necessary for our personnel to be present in Valencia to support the work following the terrible effects of the storm,” Mr Ortiz said Mr Ortiz thanked the volunteer firefighters and those taking part in the mission for “the effort and dedication we know they will put in as they demonstrate every day with their work and professionalism.” officers of San Roque’s emergency services will be collecting donations for the victims of the Valencia storms at shopping centres across the Campo de Gibraltar the Plataforma de Pensionistas de San Roque is also opening its doors in the Alameda de San Roque to from noon religious organisations such as the Hermandad de Jesús del Gran Poder have started an urgent collection of non-perishable food and basic hygiene products to be sent on to the victims with the collection point being Calle Méndez Núñez 7 the Banco de Alimentos food bank and the Red Cross are also receiving help from citizens wishing to remain anonymous and have their usual lines open for those who wish to collaborate Algeciras city council has organised a campaign to collect non-perishable foodstuffs with those who wish to contribute invited to make deposits at the old Military Hospital building in Calle Alfonso XI or the municipal building in Calle Regino Martínez from 8am next Monday Both collection points will be open until 3pm each day with the old Military Hospital reopening between 5-7pm Those wishing to donate outside those hours can call 647-402888 to arrange a vehicle to pick up goods from their location Financial donations will not be accepted and all the products collected will be sent on to Generalitat Valenciana depots the traditional celebration of Tosantos was suspended due to the official days of mourning observed across Spain Halloween events have been postponed to Sunday All the municipalities in the district have also observed minutes of silence as a gesture of respect for the victims of this tragedy La Línea held the minute's silence on Wednesday while there were gatherings of councillors and municipal workers on Thursday morning at the respective town halls called for “better and greater coordination” to avoid with the technological advances that we have we can give enough advance warning to avoid these catastrophes,” he said “We are used to seeing these tragedies in other parts of the world this time it has happened in our country.” reminded citizens about the need to take extreme precautions though he pointed out that the forecasts do not go beyond heavy rain for Algeciras “that does not mean that we should lower our guard.” which has also been on Orange alert for flooding over the last week the 'Campiña' region has been the worst hit specifically Jerez de la Frontera where houses and garages were flooded though no personal injuries have been reported Firefighters from the Medina Sidonia fire station had to rescue 12 people trapped in a house in Finca Las Poquerisas firefighters were called on to remove two fallen trees one in Los Barrios and the other in Algeciras and to assist in the rescue of a person in a vehicle at a ford The driver had escaped the car and was found uninjured when the rescue services arrived The only positive aspect of the rains for the Campo area is the significant rise in reservoir levels bearing in mind the severe drought that the Campo de Gibraltar has been facing for more than a year The Charco Redondo reservoir has risen from 18.34% capacity on October 30 to 26.01% on November 1 Read our latest newspaper by downloading our app from the link below The Gibraltar Chronicle is a daily newspaper published in Gibraltar since 1801 It is one of the world's oldest English language newspapers to have been in print continuously Our print edition and e-paper is published daily except Sundays The Gibraltar Chronicle (Newspaper) Ltd is licensed by the Gibraltar Government's Office of Fair Trading This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website El Consejo Local de Hermandades y Cofradías de Medina Sidonia ha nombrado al jerezano Miguel Ángel Moreno Pérez asi como de las asidonenses del Nazareno y de la Virgen de la Paz como Pregonero de la Semana Santa de Medina Sidonia del próximo año 2017 Miguel Ángel Moreno es fundador de la Hermandad de Pasión ostentando actualmente el número 1 en el censo de hermanos Fue Presidente de la Agrupación Parroquial desde 2001 a 2009 ocupando en la actualidad el cargo de Mayordomo en la Junta de Gobierno que encabeza David Dormido donde ha formado parte de las cuadrillas de costaleros de Ntra En la Hermandad Sacramental de Santiago realizó una importante labor como asesor de priostía dentro de la Comisión creada para la recuperación del Corpus de Santiago Miguel Ángel Moreno pertenece a la cuadrilla de costaleros de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno y en la pasada Solemnidad del Corpus Christi formó parte del grupo de capataces de Antonio Fernández en la procesión de la Virgen de la Paz Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada Los campos obligatorios están marcados con * Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"