January 24 and 31 Free guided tours of Caravaca tracing the life of artist Rafael Tegeo
The “La Caravaca del Siglo de Tegeo” walks retrace the steps of the artist in the historic centre of Caravaca de la Cruz
Coinciding with the closing fortnight of the “El Siglo de Tegeo” exhibition, which features a collection of works by the 19th century artist at the former church of the Compañía de Jesús, two guided tours are being held in Caravaca de la Cruz in which the places and buildings which marked the artist’s childhood are visited.
The walks begin at the tourist office at Calle de las Monjas nº 19 at 11.30 as participants retrace the footsteps of Tegeo in some of the most famous streets and landmarks of the old city centre. Tegeo lived in Caravaca not only during his childhood but at various times in his adult life, although he died in Madrid in 1856 at the age of 58.
Now, 200 years after he achieved fame, he has returned to Caravaca through the current exhibition of his work.
These tours are entirely free of charge and the maximum group size is 20, so prompt bookings are advised online here.
Rafael Tegeo Díaz was a prominent neo-classical painter, known mainly for his portraits, in the first half of the 19th century and was born in Caravaca de la Cruz in 1798 before studying in Murcia and then in Madrid. In 1824 he travelled to study in Rome with Pietro Benvenuti and received the influence of Raphael and Guido Reni before being named an "Academician" in 1828 after producing “Hercules and Antaeus”.
Although he initially focussed on mythology and historical scenes such as the Siege of Málaga, he achieved most success as a portrait artist, and his last important exhibition was at the Universal Exposition in 1855 before he died the following year.
The street in Caravaca where he was born has now been named after him.
The exhibition “El Siglo de Tegeo” can be visited at the former church of the Compañía de Jesús until February 4 during the following opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Caravaca Today.
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 19, 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702424 / 968 701003
Oficina de Turismo de Caravaca de la Cruz
More information about the places of interest which can be visited in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz, along with what's on and local news can be found in the Caravaca Today.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the north-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the Roman Catholic world, a centre of pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, and is home to the Cross of Caravaca, the Vera Cruz.
The status of Holy City was bestowed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, granting the City a Permanent Jubilee year every 7 years for perpetuity, the first one held in 2003 and the next in 2024.
The strategic and natural advantages of Caravaca de la Cruz have attracted the attention of settlers for more than 800,000 years, the Cueva Negra yielding remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, forbears of the Neanderthals and the municipality also houses important archaeological remains from the Argaric, Iberian and Roman cultures. many of these can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.
As a border town caught between the Catholic forces of Castille and the last remaining Moorish stronghold in Spain, Granada, Caravaca had a turbulent medieval history, but it was during this period that the legend of the Cross of Caravaca was born, bringing the religious orders which shaped the structure of Caravaca today, with its impressive hilltop castle and eclectic collection of churches and monasteries, religious tourism today being a backbone of the town´s economy.
Caravaca de la Cruz is a municipality with important natural resources, including extensive forests, part of which have protected status due to their wealth of flora and fauna, and due to the abundant water supplies is also a major area for canned fruit production, apricots in particular being an important crop.
Caravaca is renown for its important May Fiestas, held in honour of the Vera Cruz, which also incorporate the Moors and Christians celebrations and the Running of the Wine Horses.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the home of Europe´s largest collection of ethnic instruments at Barranda, the Museo de Música Étnica Barranda and is the location of the Barranda festival de Cuadrillas, which celebrates the Region's ethnic music traditions.
The municipality is home to around 26,000 inhabitants and sahres boundaries with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Puebla de Don Fadrique in the province of Granada and Vélez-Blanco in the province of Almería.
Opening times:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Saturdays: 10.30 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
