Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste, 26 September 2026

Carlos V Las Canciones del Imperio (Charles V: Songs of the Empire)

Xistras is a Spanish early music ensemble specialising in medieval and Renaissance repertoire. Originally founded as a recorder consort, the group gradually expanded to include voices, percussion, and a variety of historical string instruments, allowing it to broaden and enrich its repertoire. The ensemble has performed primarily at concerts and festivals held in historic venues, paying equal attention to both the musical and the theatrical dimensions of its performances. Xistras’s principal aim has always been to recover and promote historical music through a rigorous approach to interpretation, seeking to recreate the way it may have sounded in its original context as closely as possible.

A concert inspired by the music that may have remained in Emperor Charles V’s memory during his retirement at the Monastery of Yuste, recalling the dances and other Renaissance compositions that had accompanied him throughout his life. It evokes the musical experiences he recalled in those final years. Through works by Spanish composers such as Juan del Enzina, alongside Franco-Flemish masters including Josquin des Prez, the programme invites us to journey back to the age of the emperor.

Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste, 19 September 2026

The programme presented by the Coro Amadeus de Puebla de la Calzada offers different listening perspectives with the aim of commemorating the 500^th anniversary of the marriage of Charles I (Prinsenhof, 1500 – Monastery of Yuste, 1558) and Isabella of Portugal (Lisbon, 1503 – Toledo, 1539). These programme notes seek to guide listeners and highlight information, interpretations, and aspects that may enrich the concert experience.

Blending fiction and historical reality, the distinguished figure of Miguel de Cervantes, portrayed by an actor, will, through his characteristic prose, recount the story of Charles and Isabella in four stages of their lives. Rather than following a conventional chronological approach based on facts, dates, and music corresponding to each period, these stages focus on the love story that we can infer and perceive from contemporary documents and testimonies.

Our programme is therefore structured around music that expresses universal affections (affetti) transcending the historical stature of its protagonists: (1) the emotions of first love; (2) those of adulthood; (3) destiny and the loss of a loved one; and (4) the final years; memory and reflection. Each section concludes with a brief sacred epilogue that provides moral balance and spiritual resolution to its theme. Thus, the excesses of youth end in repentance (Peccantem me quotidie); the labours of daily life, in admiration (O gloriosa Domina); the workings of fate, in faith (In manus tuas); and mature reflection, in remembrance, gratitude, and hope (Pulchra es).

Religious Background

A second perspective highlights the importance of the Catholic faith and the values that helped shape what are now Spain, Europe, and Hispanic America. Through a number of chants, the programme reflects this legacy while underscoring the significance of the Hieronymite Order in Extremadura and how, through royal patronage, it fostered a remarkable humanist flourishing documented in the monasteries of Yuste and Guadalupe. These religious centres enhanced their liturgies, Masses, and ceremonies with music of exceptional artistic quality, which today continues to be studied and remembered.

In this regard, it is worth noting that the three introductory monophonic chants in the opening sections all come from the collection of choir books preserved at the Monastery of Yuste (Requiem aeternam from E-CUYm/Cant 1, the antiphon Magno Hieronimo, and the hymn Nunc sanctae nostra from E-CUYm/Cant 24, respectively). Likewise, the responsory In manus tuas by Fray Melchor de Montemayor, transcribed from the musical holdings of the Monastery of Guadalupe, bears witness both to the musical legacy that the Hieronymite Order left in our region and to the tribute this programme pays to the new Holy Jubilee Year of Guadalupe.

Other Considerations

Having explained the reasons behind the structure and overall concept of the programme, we now turn to other aspects of the repertoire.

The sacred polyphonic works that conclude each section (and open the final one) serve a dual purpose. On the one hand, they establish a coherent chronological and stylistic progression; on the other, their increasingly rich harmonies and ornamentation reflect the growing majesty experienced by the protagonists of this commemoration throughout their lives. Following these principles, the first sections conclude by highlighting the importance of the Seville school during the first half of the 16^th century through the works of Cristóbal de Morales and Pedro Fernández de Castilleja (regarded as a “master of masters”). Both composers may well have witnessed the marriage that this programme commemorates. The third section features an eight-part work by Melchor de Montemayor, which bridges the stile antico still preserved in the musical collection of the Monastery of Guadalupe with the transition to the early seventeenth-century Mannerist style. Finally, the last section gives pride of place to the polyphony of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, an outstanding musical figure whose technical mastery and stylistic influence transcended centuries, borders, and even Church councils.

The secular repertoire, meanwhile, deliberately extends beyond the chronological boundaries of the programme in order to strengthen its dramatic narrative. Alongside the celebrated “Mille regretz” —known as the “Emperor’s Song”— the programme includes works by Juan Vázquez as well as pieces drawn from several important songbooks, including those of Uppsala, Turin, and the Casanatense. Although some of these compositions are little known today, they make a vital contribution to the emotional narrative that the concert seeks to convey.

Finally, special mention should be made of the prominent place given to the Extremaduran composer Juan Vázquez in this programme. A verse from his villancico “En la fuente del rosel” inspired the title of the programme and forms the basis of the final contrafactum, created especially for this production. This newly written text transforms the original song into an evocation of Charles and Isabella, bringing the musical journey full circle by returning to its point of departure, now enriched by the experience of the concert itself.

Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste, 22–24 July 2026

For the 16^th edition, the jury decided to award the Carlos V European Award to His Excellency António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, in recognition of his distinguished, extensive, and longstanding commitment to social engagement, the process of European integration, the promotion of multilateralism, and human dignity as the cornerstone of his work in addressing global challenges and crises. He has been a key figure in confronting a period of unprecedented change with profound consequences for Europe and the world. Through his tireless efforts, he has promoted actions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the climate emergency, and the implementation of ambitious reforms to address the challenges of the 21^st century. His determination to tackle one of the greatest challenges facing Europe and humanity —climate change— also deserves special recognition, promoting sustainable development and establishing the 2030 Agenda as the global roadmap centred on people and the planet.

This seminar will focus on the subject of “Migration, Refugees and Human Rights”. It will examine the contribution of the European Union, as a historical, political, and legal project, to the management of migration, the protection of refugees, and the defence of human rights, understood as central elements of the European integration process and of the values that underpin it.

Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste, 15–17 July 2026

This academic programme offers an exploration of the matrimonial and diplomatic strategies that defined the power of the House of Austria between the 15^th and 17^th centuries. Through eight sessions and three round tables, it will examine how the Habsburgs turned marriage into a tool of governance, replacing military conquest with family alliances.

The course will address the construction of a transnational dynastic network that united the crowns of Castile, Aragon, Burgundy, Austria and Portugal, thereby consolidating Catholic hegemony in the face of the Reformation and rival powers. It will analyse the decisions of Maximilian I, Charles V and Philip II, the emblematic marriages that shaped the European political map, and the biological and symbolic limits of dynastic inbreeding.

It will also study female agency in court diplomacy, queens, infantas and regents who acted as political mediators, as well as the global projection of the Habsburg imperial model in the American viceregal sphere, where the monarchy’s familial and religious order translated into new colonial hierarchies and a process of social mestizaje, generating alliances between Creole and peninsular elites.

The programme concludes with an analysis of the literary representation of Habsburg power during the Spanish Golden Age, where imperial marriage was exalted as a symbol of divine legitimacy and authority, but also subjected to critique within Baroque culture.

Overall, this course offers a comprehensive view of the diplomacy and political culture of a dynasty that aspired to embody the ideal of universal monarchy.

Directors:

Rosa Perales Piqueres. University of Extremadura

Rosa María Martínez de Codes. Complutense University of Madrid

Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste, 8–10 July 2026

Relations between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have been built over recent decades on the basis of a bi-regional approach that has supported the development of areas of cooperation and joint action. These relations are exposed to the transformations affecting international society, reflected in the evolving consensus on which they have been shaped. The geopolitical tensions emerging in both regions define a context for the consolidation and development of their cooperation frameworks and shared areas of interest. In the face of the questioning of multilateralism, the pressures on international trade, the adaptation of production and supply chains, rapid digital transformation, and joint action on climate, the environment and the energy transition, key components for strategic cooperation have been identified. Their essential character remains rooted in shared values typical of democratic societies that respect human rights and the rule of law, reflecting historical ties that should continue to bind them collectively.

Both regions face significant challenges linked to substantial differences that generate tensions in established integration processes, the reconfiguration of national interests, and the influence of external actors. At the same time, they have developed shared elements of identity to address these challenges, such as the defence of representative democracy, the rule of law, the promotion of a rules-based international order, the universal and regional institutional frameworks underpinning cooperation, and the peaceful conduct of international relations.

Analysis and reflection within the academic sphere, together with the creation of spaces for dialogue and exchange, underpin the organisation of this course. It is conceived as a forum for strategic reflection and engagement among young people, academia, public institutions and civil society. Its aim is to study, strengthen and project the future of EU–LAC relations through a multidisciplinary and intergenerational perspective that facilitates the formulation of concrete public policy proposals and fosters bi-regional cooperation.

Directors:

Juan Manuel Rodríguez Barrigón. University of Extremadura

Lorena Chano Regaña. University of Extremadura

Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste, 1–3 July 2026

The European Union is going through a difficult period, given the threats it faces from the East, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the shift in attitude of its traditional ally, the United States, which has become a power particularly critical of the European integration process. Added to this is the serious energy deficit affecting Europe, its unbalanced economy (with an overinflated tertiary sector and primary and secondary sectors in clear decline), the crisis facing its welfare state, and the influx of large migratory flows, which pose a challenge of integration and coexistence for European societies. The analysis of these developments, and the strategic response that the European Union will have to provide to these challenges, will form the focus of discussion in this summer course.

Directors:

Alfonso Pinilla García. University of Extremadura

Jaime Rossell Granados. University of Extremadura

Guadalupe, 8–9 April 2026 – Sala Capitular of the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe

The European Union is facing new challenges linked to the ongoing changes taking place at global level. Competitiveness and the social model will be key to responding to this reality, by advancing innovation and technological development, deepening the protection of social rights, strengthening cooperation between States, and enhancing strategic autonomy in the fields of energy and defence.

The seminar “The European Union in the New Global Context: Enhancing Competitiveness through the Social Model”, organised by the Spanish Economic and Social Council (CES) and Yuste Foundation, aims to provide answers and foster debate on key issues for the present and future of the EU.

Badajoz, 15–16 April 2026 – Plenary Hall of the Provincial Council of Badajoz

The Ministry of Defence promotes the development of a culture of security and defence with the aim of ensuring that Spanish society understands, values and identifies with its history and with the effective and supportive efforts through which the Armed Forces safeguard national interests. Fostering awareness and a culture of security and defence is a priority objective. Bringing defence closer to citizens is an essential part of the culture of National Security, serving as a tool to achieve a society that is committed to and actively engaged in its own security.

The European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation aims to contribute to the promotion of democracy, respect for human rights, the fostering of peace and international harmony, as well as the comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development of all peoples and nations worldwide, particularly through the promotion of culture, research, the dissemination of knowledge and social integration.

The Ministry of Defence, the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation and the University of Extremadura have been collaborating for years in the organisation of joint academic activities, among which defence sessions focusing on Europe and Ibero-America as geographical areas of study are of particular importance.

The European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation organises the Security Sessions in Ibero-America, under the umbrella of the SCHOOL OF GUADALUPE, with the aim of promoting dialogue on security and defence policy, including the new threats and challenges of the international strategic landscape, with particular attention to Europe and Ibero-America, as well as the adaptation and response of the Armed Forces to these new challenges.

Guadalupe (Cáceres), 11–12 March 2026 – Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe

The gathering of legal specialists from such diverse yet closely interconnected professions as the judiciary, notarial, and registry sectors around the themes of agriculture and livestock presents a unique opportunity to advance the study of a field that has been relatively unexplored from a legal science perspective.

The meeting is held under the auspices of the General Council of the Judiciary and the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation, an institution with a transnational, Europeanist, and Ibero-American vocation. This gives the meeting a scope that extends beyond our borders and, it must be said, benefits from the invaluable collaboration of the distinguished Notarial and Registral Colleges of Extremadura. They provide the perfect framework and combination to achieve the goal of granting the recognition and visibility deserved by a sector that, for a long time, was the economic driving force of virtually all of Spain and continues to be so in large areas of our territory.

Now, all that remains is for the topics chosen for the various lectures and round tables to spark interest among speakers and attendees alike, in line with this ambitious goal, and for constructive dialogue and debate to give rise to genuine proposals for the improvement and promotion of the sector.

Guadalupe (Cáceres), 25 March 2026

The European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation, the University of Extremadura (UEx), and the Centre for Research on Ibero-American Studies at Rey Juan Carlos University (CEIB-URJC) announce the 9^TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON RELATIONS BETWEEN LATIN AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND EUROPE, entitled “THE ROLE OF LATIN AMERICA AND EUROPE IN A WORLD AT WAR”, which will be held in Guadalupe (Cáceres) on 25 March 2026.

The objectives of this Congress are:

• To continue deepening the interaction that over five centuries has been taking place between the Americas and Europe.
• To prioritise research that studies this relationship, which has been shaping a historical reality in both regions, evidenced in a cultural and material heritage that is, in many cases, shared. On this occasion, the focus will be on aspects related to the environment, energy, and critical infrastructures in the two regions.
• To continue advancing studies on migratory flows between the Americas, Extremadura, and Europe.
• To increase debate between the two regions, highlighting above all the participation of young researchers in the fields of International Relations and the History of Ibero-America as a space reflecting the profound relationships between the two regions.

This edition of the congress forms part of the activities of the project “EU–LAC Cooperation in a Transforming World: Institutional Strengthening for Global Governance”, funded by the Extremaduran Agency for International Development Cooperation (AEXCID). The project aims to strengthen institutional capacities, enhance bi-regional political dialogue and promote strategic cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in response to an international context shaped by profound economic, social, technological and geopolitical changes.

You can register to attend the Congress via the following link:

https://forms.gle/mozN5q9syQkf6hQc8