LECTURE to Prepare You for Málaga’s Carmen Thyssen Museum

If you are planning a trip to Málaga any time soon, then this last lecture of the year 2026 is for you!

Postcards in Oil: 19th Century Andalusian Romanticism

Tuesday, November 17, 2026
11:00am - 12:30pm
10 euros includes eGuide

Boardroom at Benitachell Properties (opposite Sabadell Bank - Benitachell)

REGISTER NOW

Most of the painting in this lecture will prepare you for the fabulous Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga. Tucked into the heart of the city’s historic center, this cultural gem is home to one of Spain's finest collections of 19th-century Andalusian Romantic paintings.

Baroness Carmen Thyssen began assembling this personal collection in the 1980s with a clear mission: to rescue 19th-century Spanish art that was largely overlooked at the time and bring it back home. 

To give these southern masterpieces an authentic setting, she partnered with the city of Málaga to open the museum in 2011 inside the Palacio de Villalón. The building itself is an architectural stunner, pairing a restored 16th-century Renaissance mansion and its serene columned courtyard with sleek, light-filled modern galleries, plus a hidden surprise of 1st-century Roman ruins preserved directly beneath the floors.

Inside, the soul of the museum is its collection of Andalusian Romanticism. During the 1800s, southern Spain captivated travellers with its dramatic landscapes and vibrant traditions, inspiring local masters to paint a passionate, sun-drenched vision of their homeland. 

This lecture and eGuide with give these paintings meaning as you as you wander the galleries, immersed in sweeping, atmospheric views alongside lively Costumbrismo scenes bursting with flamenco dancers, bullfighters, crowded fairs, and Holy Week processions. 

It is a vivid, theatrical celebration of Andalusian identity that brings the history and spirit of the region right off the canvas.

A Magical Visit to Albaida’s International Puppet Museum

This was absolutely the first time I have ever heard of an International Puppet Museum, and it was a super fun experience! Spread across three floors, the Museu Internacional de Titelles d'Albaida (Albaida International Puppet Museum) is an incredible tribute to the art of puppetry.

Adventure the José Segrelles House Museum

Two of my regular students, who have since become close friends through our shared passion for Spanish art history over many years, joined me recently for a wonderful visit to the Casa Museu José Segrelles in Albaida. This trip followed an incredible exhibition of this brilliant Valencian artist's work in Valencia city. 

I am always drawn to exploring historic houses to admire their architecture, and this personal sanctuary did not disappoint. 

Albaida's Valencian Renaissance Masterpiece

If you get the chance, visit Albaida in the Valencia province and cast your eyes upon this incredible architectural gem. 

Standing proudly in the heart of the historic Clos de la Vila (Old Walled Town) on the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Iglesia Arciprestal de la Asunción (Archpriest Church of the Assumption) is a tutorial in stone and history that commands your full attention.

PRESENTATION: 19th Century Andalusian Romanticism - Tuesday, November 17, 11:00am

A lecture with slideshow of captivating paintings that explore, and explain, how Southern Spain’s dramatic landscapes, vibrant essence, and rich folklore became the ultimate universal symbols of Spanish identity.

During the nineteenth century, Andalusia became the ultimate romantic destination for European travellers, transforming the rugged region into a vibrant artistic powerhouse.

It was an era when the modern "tourist" was born, driven by a collective escape from Northern Europe’s rapid industrialisation and a deep fascination with the untouched, poetic traditions of the Spanish south.

Following the Napoleonic Wars, international visitors flooded the region looking for a romanticised Europe, prompting local painters to celebrate their own cultural heritage while capitalising on this booming foreign market.

• Tuesday, November 17, 2026
• 11:00am - 12:30pm
• 10 euros include Lecture eGuide (value 15 euros)
• Benitachell Properties Boardroom (opposite Sabadell Bank - Benitachell)

REGISTER NOW

FREE Friday at 5pm. ArtTalk Mini-Lecture

ArtTalk with Karla Ingleton Darocas, B.A. (Hons) stands out because it blends academic art history with accessible, emotion-driven storytelling rooted in Spanish culture. 

Drawing on her Honours degree in Fine Arts and over two decades of living in Spain, Karla makes complex masterpieces approachable without heavy technical jargon, connecting iconic artists like Sorolla, Goya, and Picasso to vivid local history and legends. 

Through her website SpainLifestyle.com, Karla offers engaging in-person lectures and walking tours alongside an online store where you can buy her unique eGuides to lectures, places, and stories. She also provides this convenient, FREE Friday WhatsApp mini-lectures that bring Spanish art straight to your phone, tablet, or laptop.

You must be a member of the WhatsApp Group to Get Your Invite and Date to the Friday at Five! ArtTalk Mini-Lecture!

JÁVEA Historical WALK *Wednesdays*

NOTE * Wednesday, November 25 is FULL *

- See beyond the surface & Discover Jávea like never before with a Jávea Historical Walk — an extraordinary, intimate adventure through history. 

More than just a stroll, it’s a vivid visual journey led by a passionate local historian who truly knows Jávea inside and out. 

Packed with captivating facts and fascinating stories, this unforgettable experience brings the town’s hidden corners, legends, and heritage to life.

* Guide * Arts Historian, Educator & Author - Karla Ingleton Darocas, B.A. (Hons) 

BOOKING INFO & FORM ⬇️

Jávea Has Stories!

What are the Stories that Only Local Residents Know about Javea?

A must-read for anyone looking to truly understand and appreciate the rich history and culture of this stunning Mediterranean seaside resort town. 

Available on the

SpainLifestyle.com eBook Store

in .pdf format 

Available in Paperback

on Amazon - worldwide 

- search keywords (Amazon, Karla Ingleton Darocas, Jávea Stories)

REALLY Know the Full Genius of Joaquin Sorolla

Long before Joaquín Sorolla became the world-renowned "Master of Light," he was a young boy fighting to make his mark on the world. "Awakening the Brush"is The Untold Story of Young Sorolla. 

"Sorolla’s Truth: Tradition, Triumph, and Artistic Freedom (1890 to 1900)" breaks down the exact formula he used to dominate the art world.

"Joaquín Sorolla and The Blessed Age - Through the Master’s Eye to the Heart of Childhood" explores how Sorolla used his revolutionary artistic vision as a fierce advocate for children's dignity.

Buy the Bundle & SAVE 25%

SpainLifestyle.com eBook Store

in .pdf format 

Available in Paperback

on Amazon - worldwide 

- search keywords (Amazon, Karla Ingleton Darocas, Sorolla)

 

Belle Époque Jewel in Valencia

I was visiting Valencia city recently and this beautiful building stopped me dead in my tracks. What made it so beautiful was the sheer, confidence of its design, standing like a princess in an architectural gown, proud at the corner of Plaza de la Reina.

Known historically as the Edificio Monforte, or the once Almacenes La Isla de Cuba, a famous 19th-century department store and textile emporium, this late 19th-century masterpiece immediately catches your eye because it refuses to blend into the background. Unlike the austere stone facades that often dominate historic European centers, this building celebrates colour, texture, and light in equal measure.

Valencian Gothic Masterpiece Revealed

On my latest trip to Valencia city, my friend and I strolled casually along the backside of the Palau de la Generalitat. Tucked away on the historic Calle Caballeros, this quiet stretch of stone felt like a sudden portal straight into the 15th century, immediately grabbing my attention with its sheer medieval presence.

While the palace is a sprawling complex, this particular wing stands as one of the absolute masterpieces of Valencian civil Gothic architecture. Built starting in 1421 to house the administrative representatives of the historic Kingdom of Valencia, its exterior design manages to look both like an impenetrable fortress and a refined piece of art.

REVIEW ART EXHIBITION - Segrelles Turns Imagination on Its Ear

My friend and I, who has been one of my students for a very long time, went up to see a very rare and special exhibition in Valencia City. I had been teaching about Romanticism lately, and this artist took Romanticism right overboard into pure fantasy.

When we study about Romanticism, we learn about when artists turned away from just reproducing objective reality, like replicating an apple or a human or whatever, and started to use their imagination to create narrative paintings with images that were pulled from their imagination and made visible utilizing their skills. This was a real turning point in art history, and this artist completely turned it on its ear with his imagination.

The exhibition featured José Segrelles 

1885 to 1969), the fantasy illustrator. Among his versatile body of work, his fantasy themes were the ones that achieved the greatest international recognition, earning this Valencian artist a prominent place in contemporary art history.