This is a selection of the short stories about Spain-Greece migrations in different historical periods that the students wrote in the third mobility of the program. Thessaloniki , November 2019
THE LIFE OF ADRIAN Hi, I’m Adrian. I am a historian specialized in migrations from Spain to Greece. This is the story of my life. My family and me moved from Thessaloniki to Athens when I was a teenager due to my father's new job. When we arrived at our new house we have started unpacking and placing everything. I was helping my mother place the books of the boxes in the shelves , when suddenly I found a book with old aspect , It seemed that he had been there for 1000 years. I asked to my mother that was this book , she told me that it was a family heirloom of our ancestors, but that she had never opened it. I was curious and decided to read it. On the first page you could read “diary of Antonia García”. Despite the worn color of its leaves and its deterioration over time, I could read it . It turns out that our family had not always lived in Greece as we thought. Antonia told her life. She was the daughter of two jewish that lived in Spain .She described the situation in which the Jewish community lived there,as they were in neighborhoods surrounded by walls, their relationship with the rest of the citizens, etc... Pages later she told how the Catholic kings decided expel the Jews from Spain. That supposed that she and her family were forced to leave everything behind. Tthey had to leave quickly and they were barely able to take some of their belongings . She decided take her diary because it was her more important belonging.
Antonia and her parents had to choose quickly one destiny to travel. They had heard that in Greece there were communities of Jews and they thought it was a good option to travel there. She missed her home forever, but she liked Greece very much. She made many new friends and started a new life there. After finishing reading the diary I was curious about the similarities and differences between Greece and Spain at that time .I decided to investigate more and finally that became my great passion. That is how I decided that when I grew up I wanted to dedicate myself to that and now I have the job of my dreams. Regarding the diary, today it is in the main Jewish museum of Athens and is considered a historical Relic of great importance. Monica Carrasco
SWEDEN 1994 "We're going back to Greece guys!" my mother's excited scream sounded distant and I grimaced. "Aren't you glad you're going to see Greece?" "Yeah, of course!" I replied fake smiling but the truth was I didn't even know how I felt. Even though I was excited to leave the Swedish cold behind for our mother land, this is where I was raised, where I have spent eleven years of my life… Where all my friends are… Greece may be my homeland but I don't know it. And it doesn’t know me either. I do want to get to know it but I'm scared... Scared that I'll be a foreigner there… What if I don't speak Greek as well as the other kids? What if they don't like me? What If I'm not Greek enough? Sixteen years later I find myself -who would've thought - waiting for my flight to Stockholm! My friends are all there bidding me goodbyes, some of them already crying "Don't you forget about us, eh?" John teases me and I laugh warmly. How could I possibly forget about the lads? I'm gonna miss them... I'm gonna miss Greece. I loved it I really did... Surely I'm only leaving to get my master's degree; I won't even be gone for that long! Truth be told, however, I really have longed to see Sweden again. It seems I can’t escape airports, since even though it's already been only about three years I find myself in one yet again...Observing my ticket I come to think… Barcelona...Barcelona not Athens like I had originally planned… And from there straight to Malaga… Obviously it was impossible for me to pass on such a great business opportunity. It will be a new adventure. One into the unknown… But I don't even know the language! Will the locals accept me? What if I am a stranger
once again? But life has proven that it has its way of fixing things… Maybe it'll work that way yet again… Laughs fill the beige office walls. They bounce off of one person to another and then back to me again. I approach the sink to fill my now empty cup with some much needed water. Break's over and I look through the window thinking… how I have loved Spain in those six short years! It has such a striking similarity to Greece and the people welcomed me so warmly! The language really was no problem since one year was more than enough for me to speak it as my mother tongue. Spain, I think, is a golden middle between countries combining the Mediterranean beauty of Greece and the organization and development of the western civilization. Spain, Sweden, Greece… I have willingly given a part of me to each of them, even though I feel a tad more Greek inside. And if the phone was to ring right now and I was given another chance to move somewhere else again I would do it undoubtedly. Not because I don't love Spain but solely because the experience is so worth it... My thoughts are harshly interrupted by the all too familiar ringing of my phone, the bright screen revealing the identity of the caller. It’s my cousin, probably for that interview with her students I promised her…
Anastasia and Iatropoulou Maria
EMMA’S DIARY… 6th february 1492 Dear Diary, I’m Emma, I’m 12 years old and I live in the jewish neighbourhood of Zaragoza. Life here isn’t bad at all: during the day, the walls of the neighbourhood are open, and we can go into Zaragoza for a walk; and during the night, the walls are closed, so that we can avoid problems or fights. I belong to a jewish family, not too rich, and not too poor. During hundreds of years, jewish people had lived in Spain. At first, some jewish worked at the court making some jobs for the king, but later, all these jewish workers were fired and put in the streets. The jewish had to survive and work, usually as merchants, artisans and labourers… although some of them were poor.
As we’re jewish, many people discriminate us or they’re angry with us, honestly, I don’t understand very well why, but since always, the most different ideas or features that you have, the most criticised you can be. Jewish people we need to pay high taxes (sometimes, at house my parents are really nervous trying to have the money), we must wear something that distinguish as from christians or muslims, but fortunately, jewish people we also have some rights. The fueros are a kind of special privileges here, in Aragón, and as jewish, we can have some rights. Less than fueros, but at least is something, don’t you think so?
Some days ago, people started to talk about a new alliance between Aragón and Castille: Ferdinand from the crown of Aragón, will marry with Isabella, queen of
Castille. They both seem to be a cute couple, but my parents are hiding something…
12th october 1492 Dear diary, Today is being a really intense day. Finally Aragon and Castille are getting into an alliance: Ferdinand and Isabella are the new kings of Spain (the alliance of both territories). That could be a great for christians, but muslims had been expelled, and jewish, we must move to another country. I don’t know why, but I just want to stay together with my family. Now, we’re my father, mother, brother and I in a ship. I don’t know where are we going or how much the travel will last, but my parent bought some clothes for my mother and I. He said that we must dress up as a men, so that more problems that the ones that we already have could be avoid. I’d listen many rumors about rapes with girls as me, and probably if I seem to be a boy, no one could try to do it to me. The sun had gone, my father says that is time to sleep, hope to write soon again. 13th february 1493 Dear diary, We arrived to Greece 2 weeks ago. Now we’re in Tesalónica, in the north of Greece. The travel wasn’t easy at all. We were really hungry, cold and scared. Probably we couldn’t find asylum never. We almost got lost in the middle of the sea and when we arrived finally and gracefully to Tesalónica, we had to start again from 0. My dad and my mom had opened a shop, there we try to sell everything customers may need, specially handmade products and delicious fruits and vegetables. Learning Greek is going to be really hard but as we’re living
in a jewish neighbourhood, we’re knowing people that had to move too from different parts of the world,that lived in different cultures and some others that came from Zaragoza too! It’s being hard to leave all my precious friends, city and customs. But Tesalónica and the new people and traditions makes me feel more relaxed. Fortunately, my family and i we’re fine, nothing bad has happened and we could overcome the obstacles that appeared in our way. It wasn’t easy, but nothing it’s impossible.
Signed: Emma
Ixeya Blasco
THE MOVING Mom is too quiet since Dad told us we were moving to another place. She is not animated, doesn’t she like moving? For me, the idea of moving makes me very excited! From what I've heard, I'm not the only one who moves, my friends too! There is something that seems strange to me, well, we barely take things, just clothes and little else! Among my dresses I managed to hide the lyrics of my favorite songs. Now we are on our way to the ship, we are going by boat to a new home! I hope it is a beautiful place full of flowers and animals, a quiet and fun place where I can play with my friends. The ship doesn’t seem as big as I imagined, we are many people who are going to travel, will we all fit? It begins to distress me to know that I will be so stuck among strangers. Anyway, I'm worried about my parents' status, they don't look excited, they won't like the change. But I find it strange that almost all travelers have a somewhat disappointed mood… ─ What do you write, dear? ─Nothing mom, I’m just drawing. I'm hiding my notebook so my mother doesn't see it, I don't want her to read my secrets, I'm embarrassed. Although she seems sad, she has given me a smile, my mother is a beautiful and smiling woman. The boat has started sailing! I was never at sea, I feel weird. The trip is eternal, I want to arrive now. We had several problems on the trip, there are people who have fallen into the sea and haven’t returned, will they be okay?
The place we are going to start terrifying me, I feel like my parents, sad. We have arrived in Thessaloniki, our new home. I have asked my mother if we will return to Spain, she has denied me. I want to return to Spain, this change is going to be very hard.
Ă frica Pomar
EL GRECO My name is Domenicos Theotokopoulos. I'm a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. I was born in Heraklion of Crete, and due to my heritage, I adopted the nickname El Greco, meaning The Greek.
I spent most of my early years of life in my homeland, who was then under the Venetian rule. I was part of a prosperous urban family, making me a respectable member of society. My father was a merchant, and a tax collector, but I don't know much about my mother. In Crete, I learned the ways of the post- Byzantine art, and received training as an icon painter of the Cretan School, the centre of post-Byzantine art. After years of training, I had mastered the techniques of that tradition. Alongside that, I also studied the ancient Greek and Latin classics. After that, I was able to handle my very own workshop, as I was described as 'master'. It was in 1563, I believe. I was twenty-two years old at the time.
However, I didn't handle my lovely workshop for too long. After four years, in 1567, I left Crete and moved to Venice for around three years. There I became a disciple of Titian. My master was in his eighties, at the time, but as vigorous as ever. I even got the liberty of working in his large studio. Around that time, my dear friend, Giullio Clovio described me as a "Rare talent in painting". I couldn't be more thankful.
But then again, I left Venice and headed to Rome, staying there for a few years. There, thanks to the efforts of my sweet friend Giulio, I was received as a guest of the Palazzo Farnese, the centre of the artistic and intellectual life of the city. You cannot imagine my gratitude and happiness at that moment. Due to my stay in Venice and Rome, I became
the only Cretan artist to alter my style, and I sought to distinguish myself by inventing new and unusual interpretations of religious matter. My works in Italy were influenced by the Venetian Renaissance style of the period, with elements from the works of my master Titian, and Tintoretto.
One summer day, while I stayed in Italy, I was visited by my friend Giulio. He had found me in a darkened room by myself. "I find the darkness to be more conducive to thought than the light of day." I had explained to him when he asked me about it.
By the time I was in Rome, Michelangelo and Raphael had passed away. However I was determined to make my own personal mark in the city, defending my artistic views. I didn't even hesitate to dismiss Michelangelo's The Last Judgement. He was a good man, yes, but he did not know how to paint.
The year was 1577, and it was time I left Italy, and I moved to Toledo, the religious capital of Spain. It was there where I spent the rest of my years, and where I produced my mature works. During that decade, Spain was in need of good artists. The monasterypalace of El Escorial was under construction, and Phillip II was having difficulty finding artists to create the painting to decorate it. Titian had passed away, Tintoretto, Veronese and Anthonis Mor all refused to come to Spain, so Phillip had to rely on the, frankly lesser, talent of Juan Fernandez. The King approved his "seriousness and decorum", but unfortunately Fernandez died in 1579. As you guessed, that moment was ideal for me. Through some of my friends, I was able to secure my first large commission in Toledo, and I signed contacts for a group of paintings that were to adorn the church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo. By September of 1579, I was able to complete nine paintings for the church. Those had established my reputation in Toledo.
I didn't intend on staying long in Toledo. My final aim was to win the favour of Philip, make my mark in the court. I did manage to secure two important commissions for the monarch, but the King didn't like my work, and placed one of the paintings in the chapter house, instead of the intended chapel. I still don't know why he didn't not approve my work, but it's all up for interpretation.
So, lacking the favour of the King, I was obliged to stay in Toledo. There, I was received as a great painter. I remember, a Spanish poet and preacher, Hortensio Felix Paravicino had said about me; "Crete gave him life and the painter's craft, Toledo a better homeland, where through Death he began to achieve eternal life." It was one of the greatest compliments I received in my career.
The period of intense activity for me was, I believe in 1597 all the way to 1607. During that decade I produced some of my greatest works, as I made Toledo my home. However, a year later, I was involved in protracted legal dispute with the authorities of the Hospital of Charity at Illescas, concerning my payment for my work. That, and other legal disputes all contributed to the economical difficulties I experienced in my later years. It was in 1608, when I received my last large commission, for the Hospital of Saint John the Baptist.
I spent the rest of my life in Toledo. I lived in an apartment complex that belonged to the Marquis de Villena. These apartments also served as my workshop, where I worked and studied for the rest of my life. I lived there with my darling partner, Jerรณnima. I, regrettably, never got to marry her. With her, I had a lovely son, Jorge Manuel, who gave me a grandchild in 1604. My son followed the same path as myself, becoming an artist.
In 1614, as I worked on my commission for the Hospital de Tavera, I fell seriously ill.
A month later, I had passed away. Two friends of mine, from Greece, as I never lost touch with my roots, witnessed my last will and testament.
My life story is filled with hardships and hard work, and I always strived to leave my mark in art and go down in History as one of the greatest painters. I can only hope my wish has been fulfilled. Evangelia Koutsoura
THE SAMIAN COLAEUS I´m going to tell you my story, I´m Colaeus from Samos, captain of a Samian ship. We Left Samos and we were moving towards Egypt , as usual, when strongs winds, these winds were called apeliotes, pushed us and our ship almost was wrecked but we arrived to a territory wasn´t the same as always, we didn´t know what to do,but we decided go. When we step on land,we inspected the territory, The guys and I were afraid of being attacked, there lived Phoenicians,who were also good navigators and merchants, There was a market ,that was unexplored, we had to hurry so the Phoenicians could to take the products before us, so we got great earnings and products never seen in Egypt , we were so happy, that we decided back home to tell our families and the rest of the town our adventure. Neverthless the return was long but it didn´t matter.Arrived at home and got the double income, we obtained one hundred fifty kilos of silver, with half of money we wanted to do a gitf in honor of Hera, the goddess of marrige. Later the historian, Herodotus from Halicarnassus, will tell that we didn´t arrive to Egypt but to Iberian Peninsula, to Tartessus, on the south coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Me and my crew
were the first greeks to step on Iberian Peninsula.
Andrea Ramos Garcinuño
ALMOGAVARS This is the stories of how the beautiful city of Athens was invaded and turned into a military center, instead of being considered a center for ancient culture. This story goes back to the XIV century: Just after carrying out the almogávares his famous revenge, called “Almogabar's revenge” against the kingdom of Thrace, located in the north of Greece, a kingdom that a few years ago had murdered its leader and all the assistants of a celebration banquet after the battle against them.
They razed the entire kingdom until the land they left behind couldn’t offer nothing. In the spring of the year 1311, and after having razed the region of Thessaly, north of Greece, they reached the borders of the Duchy of Athens, then ruled by a French commander, who offers them to enter his army. For a while they accepted, but once the Duke has achieved his goals, he decided to license the company, leaving only a few Aragonese and Catalans under his service. The rest of Almogavars ignore the requests of the Duke to leave their lands, and again became a serious threat to the locals. The commander then set out to eliminate the mercenaries once and for all, and reunited the largest army in the region with numerous Frankish knights. He finally marched on them, and already on the battlefield, the Almogavars who had followed under the command of the Duke of Athens decided to abandon him and reunite with his former comrades in arms, although they were in numerical inferiority and seemed to expect a certain death . They were wrong again.
On March 15, 1311, the powerful French and Venetian cavalry ended up completely shattered by the Catalans and Aragonese at the Battle of Almyros. After his great victory, the Almogavars had the free passage, and immediately occupied the two main cities of the region, Thebes and Athens. Those mercenary barbarians who had terrorized the Middle East ended their long journey and ended up forming two States, the Duchy of Athens and Neopatria. For several decades they maintained their independence and fought against their neighbors for control of Greece, but once settled they were losing their legendary strength.
Already in 1379, within the expansive policy of Pedro IV of Aragon, both ducats were integrated into the dominions of the Crown of Aragon, although they hardly remained for a few years, because in 1388 Athens was lost and in 1390 Neopatria against another company of mercenaries, this time Navarre, at the service of the Republic of Florence. But in spite of everything, it never hurts to remember that for almost a century, the bars of the king of Aragon waved proud, as we said at the beginning, at the top of the Parthenon of Athens.
Javier Gimeno
FAMILY LEGACY My mother had passed away three months ago, but I still hadn’t found strength enough to revise her belongings. It was too hard for me because we had been very devoted… But that day I decided to go to that home which had passed from generation to generation. Anyway, it was early in the morning, and the first sunrays leaked through the windows. It was a beautiful day but my mood wasn't the best. I had to do what I had left for too much time. I had almost finished when I noticed an old, picturesque cage. I carefully held it in my hands and, suddenly, noticed that the object had made me nervous. My heart was pumping turbulent, and I could hardly breathe. I opened it slowly and looked inside. A card and a key, the only thing inside was a card and a key. They both looked as old as the box. After hesitating-what seemed a long time-, I decided to open the card. I slowly breathe, swallowed twice, and started to read aloud. 15 Augustus 1492 Dear Francisca: I'm writing you this letter even if I know you will never read it, I need someone to listen to me. Everyone is already asleep, benjamin too, but I'm not able to do that. The memories pass across my mind as a parade. A chaotic, overwhelming, and nostalgic parade. Now, I'm remembering the day of my first milvé. I was really nervous cause' the next day I was going to get married. I still remember the touch of the freezing water, how I shivered, not only because of cold.
But that is not my only thought at this moment. I really miss you, I miss that entire days together where we met near to the door. "A Christian and a Jew can't be friends", they said. But we were too young to understand what they meant, there was no difference for us, it was just you and me. We are currently being separated by the same people, by their thoughts, not ours. Now you may ask yourself why didn't I change my religion instead of leaving. But don't blame me, it wasn't that easy. I debt obedience to my husband, and you know it. The question was this: Spain or religion? And the answer was obvious to him: religion overall. But for my family, it wasn't that easy. They have everything there, and I couldn't ask them to leave it all for me. That would have been too selfish. I miss them so much, however, I know they will be fine there. And that is the only thing I can aim. I wish we are able to come back again, I am holding the key of our home in my hands.
Hada Lorenzo
ALONSO’S GETAWAY In a co-operation treaty that Spain and Greece had together to exchange their art and exhibit it in the partner-nation, one of the works that was to be exhibited in Spain was lost during their journey or rather was stolen by a poor farmer who worked in agriculture and that would come out of their poverty.
For that he used his great skills to create an anonymous theft and ask for his reward. Alonso de Lara who was this farmer, contacted with his acquaintance who lived in Greece He was a nobleman named Alessandro who, due to his purchasing power, was able to control the number of workers who would be responsible for installing the painting in Spain.
So he sent the minimum number of men so Alonso could commit the robbery. The painting was called "the view of Toledo" painted by El Greco who was a painter born in Greece. His works gained great importance in the Renaissance so the reward for its recovery, was going to be very high . Alonso managed to steal the painting and earn a lot of money. The European allied countries and their surroundings heard the news and that made the farmer had a wide range of offers to accept.
Finally, I accepted the painting for a large amount of money that today would amount to about 25,000 euros. After a few years an investigation was successful
to find the picture , but they didn’t find the offender, although they knew who he was. Alonso de Lara, left behind him a historical work and kept the money he earned without being aware that he had lost more than what he had earned. He earned a lot of money, but lost the freedom to go outside and also his calm conscience. Today the original painting "Vista de Toledo" can be seen in the National Museum of Madrid.
Victoria Barrera
FROM APOLLONIA TO IBEROS Dear diary. Hi, I’m Adnes, It’s the VI century b.C, I don’t know what the C stands for, but I think I have to write it, so future generations can understand what I am talking about. I’m in a boat, prepared to sail to Iberos, Apollonia is now small for us, so we are now emigrating to other places so we can make our culture bigger.
What can I say about my culture? Society is divided into completely different categories, as well as kings or chieftains, nobles, priests, artisans and slaves. Our aristocracy, usually referred to as a "senate" by the traditional sources, meet in a council of nobles. Kings or chieftains maintain their forces through a system of obligation or serfdom. We adopt wine and olives from my old city, Apollonia. Breeding is notably necessary to us and our nobility. Mining is additionally important for our economy, particularly the silver mines close to Gades and Cartago, the iron mines within the Ebro River depression, where we are going to live. We create fine metalwork and prime quality iron weapons like the falcata.
We crave sculpture in stone and bronze.Our pottery and painting is going to be completely different from others and widespread throughout the region, a definite feature of our culture, the pottery is primarily embellished with geometric forms in red however in some areas or enclosed figurative pictures.
I hope everything related with the trip is going to be ok and that we don’t have to fight with any pirates all over the Mediterranean Sea. We have enough food for all the people, so I hope that anyone dies.
See you soon!! Adnes
Alec MillĂĄn
THE CATTLE OF GERYON The cattle of Geryon is the name of the tenth labour of the greek mythological hero Heracles and one of the twelve famous tasks he had to comlete in order to clean himself off of the murder of his wife and children. In order to do that he had to comlete twelve tasks given to him by his archenemy Eurystheus. Eurystheus hating Heracles made sure to send him to the ends of the world every time he had to comlete a labour, and that’s exactly what happened when for his tenth labour the king asked our hero to go and bring him the gold of Geryon , a giant with three heads and six hands. The country were Geryon ruled was so far awey that Heracles had to borrow the sun’s vessel to get there. Arriving there he realized that Geryon having three brains had smartly beried the gold in the field where he feed his cattle. The cattle was guarded by a herdsman Erythion and his two headed dog Orthus. After killing them both Heracles also murdered Gyrion. However he left the animals alone since they didn’t get in his wey as he dig out the treasure. When it was time to leave however our hero anderstud that all this gold could not be not be carried by him alone so he loaded the cattle with gold and stated the jurney home by foot. The jurney was long and they faced many difficulties on the wey many of them sended by Hera herself. When they finaly made it home Heracles gave all the gold to the king. Eurytheus gladly took it and the cattle trieting the animals like prisoners of war and finaly secrifacing them all to the gods.
EL GRECO A great painter of the Renaissance, originally from Crete, is undoubtedly one of the greatest figures in world art. He lived and worked for most of his life in Spain, from which he became known as El Greco (Greek), by which he is also known. Dominicos Theotokopoulos was born in 1541 in Chandakas (today Heraklion) of Crete, from wealthy parents. In 1567 he travelled to Italy, and in particular to Venice, where he remained for three years and studied in the workshops of the painters Basano, Ticino, and Tidorendo, while painting paintings such as “The Tradition of Traders in the Temple”. In 1570 he left Venice and went to work in Rome. In the Eternal City he expanded his circle of acquaintances and gained such confidence in his art that he would argue that if the paintings of the “Sistine Hat” painted by Michael Angelos were destroyed, he could do better. His observation was then considered blasphemous and accelerated his decision to leave Rome and, in conjuction with his acquaintances in the circle of the Spanish nobles of Rome, first settled in Madrid (1576) and the following year in Toledo. In this Spanish city his artistic production reached its climax. He decorated with paintings the church of St. Dominicus, the palace of Escorial and the metropolis of Toledo. 1578 is an important year in Greco’s life. He will have his first and only child, Jorge Manuel, from his relationship with the donkey Jeronimas, with whom he will live the rest of his life, but will not marry her. He died on April 7, 1614, at the age of 73, and was buried in the church of St. Dominicos in Toledo.
QUEEN SOPHIE In 1938, a beautiful baby girl was born at Tatoi Real Palace, near Athens, in Greece. Her parents were very happy because of her birth. They were prince and princess of Greece and celebrated with big parties that Sophie was born. She was growing up, but when she was a child, she had to leave Greece along with his whole family because of the German invasion during World War II, staying in Egypt and South Africa. After that, they moved to London, where they spent the rest of the war. Queen Sofia, despite being the daughter of princes and not of kings at the time of her birth, always held the title of Her Royal Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark, being the firstborn daughter . On June 8, 1961 she went to York to the wedding of the Dukes of Kent, where she met Juan Carlos de Borbรณn, future king of Spain, and also her third cousin. The hand request came on September 13, 1961 in Lausanne, and the wedding took place in Athens on May 14, 1962, Sofia formally converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Roman Catholicism to be more acceptable to Catholic Spain, and therefore she renounced his rights to the Greek throne. She moved to Spain with her husband and during many years she has been and excellent queen and has suffered a lot because of her family. Probably she has missed a lot Greece. She was very brave to change religion, learn another language and left her country. Was she really in love or was she forced to marry him ?
Ana Fanlo
LETTER FROM EL GRECO Dear Andrea, As I told you in the previous letter, I'm going to tell you about why I decided to come to Spain and my experience here. After receiving my initial training as an icon painter of the Cretan school, which is a leading center of post-Byzantine art, and then learning new art styles in Italy, I migrated to Spain, due to the construction of El Escorial, near to Madrid. They were looking for painters and even though no one wanted to participate in the El Escorial's decoration I was interested in it, that was the reason why I came to Spain in the first place! But sadly, the king didn't like my painting and I was devastated, because it would had been a big opportunity to me, but I didn't give up and I kept improving my skills and then I moved to Toledo where I got my first large commissions, which were a group of paintings that decorated the church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo. After that, I kept receiving more and more commissions and I felt satisfied with myself and my art, because I realized that this was what made me happy and I'm glad that I left Madrid, because there I wouldn't had painted what I really wanted to. To be honest with you, I didn't plan to settle permanently here because I wanted to travel throughout Spain. but at the end I made Toledo my home. It was perfect to me, Toledo was so religious that I had inspiration everywhere. I met a lot of incredible and interesting people who I could talked with and I learned a lot from them. Also, I used to get lost easily in the beauty of the medieval and renaissance style of its alleyways. And it was such a pleasing to walk around there for hours. It was so different from my times living in Venice or Rome‌ I would never forget my beloved Toledo. Andrea Navarro
INDEX THE LIFE OF ADRIAN SWEDEN 1994 EMMA’S DIARY… THE MOVING EL GRECO THE SAMIAN COLAEUS ALMOGAVARS FAMILY LEGACY ALONSO’S GETAWAY FROM APOLLONIA TO IBEROS THE CATTLE OF GERYON EL GRECO QUEEN SOPHIE LETTER FROM EL GRECO