The Royal Monastery of Guadalupe hosts a two-day academic meeting examining the formation of New Spain’s society and highlighting cultural mestizaje, dialogue and coexistence as elements of a shared past. (26/10/2026)

The Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe is hosting the 3^rd Guadalupe in America Sessions, which opened under the title “Colima at Its 500^th Anniversary”, with the aim of exploring in greater depth the historical processes that shaped New Spain’s society during the 16^th century and examining the historical, cultural and social ties that link Extremadura with this Mexican city.

The event, organised by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation and the Extremadura Foundation for Culture, brings together specialists and institutional representatives to mark five hundred years of Colima’s history, now the capital of the Mexican State of the same name.

During the welcome address, the guardian and custodian of the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, friar Vidal Rodríguez López, highlighted the monastery’s historical role as a space for cultural exchange and knowledge, describing it as a “distillation vessel for knowledge distilled by history, which continues to produce culture and serves as a space for Christian spirituality, cordial encounters, dialogue and knowledge”.

Friar Vidal Rodríguez López also emphasised Guadalupe’s deep-rooted ties with the Americas and the importance of keeping alive the bonds that have historically linked this Extremaduran site with Mexico. In this regard, he highlighted the value of the sessions as an opportunity to continue exploring a relationship built over five centuries.

For her part, the president of the High Court of Justice of Extremadura, María Félix Tena, stressed the importance of studying the historical relations between Europe and the Americas from the perspective of “coexistence, respect and mutual enrichment”.

In her address, Tena argued for the need to recover the lessons history offers on coexistence between cultures, particularly in an international context marked by complexity and difficulties in achieving mutual understanding. In this regard, she emphasised that “peaceful coexistence, communication and relations between cultures have enabled us to move forward and grow as humanity. In a world as complex as today’s, we must not forget that respect for those who are different is essential if we are to continue making progress”, she claimed.

In her capacity as a legal professional, she also highlighted the figure of the Extremaduran Francisco Lebrón de Quiñones and his contribution to the study of the principles of coexistence that began to take shape five centuries ago between the Europeans who arrived in America and the populations already inhabiting those territories.

To conclude the opening session, the co-director of the sessions, Sixto Sánchez Lauro, emphasised that the event coincides with the Holy Year of Guadalupe, a circumstance that adds a “religious dimension inseparable from the bond we share with America”. He also explained that the sessions aim to “gain a better understanding of our shared past, strengthen present-day ties and open up new avenues for cooperation and friendship between Colima, Guadalupe and Extremadura”.

The director of Promotion and Tourism of the Honourable City Council of Colima, Roberto Moreno Béjar, recalled the origins of the Mexican city, founded by Gonzalo de Sandoval on the orders of Hernán Cortés, and highlighted the process of cultural exchange that began to develop from that point onwards. “From then on, a process of mestizaje began to take shape, reflected in language, customs, traditions, gastronomy and religion”, he noted.

Moreno Béjar emphasised the significance of Extremadura’s presence in Colima’s history, particularly through figures such as Francisco Lebrón de Quiñones, whose involvement between 1550 and 1553 was linked to the history of a Franciscan monastery that remains part of the city’s heritage.

In this context, he argued that “we cannot understand any aspect of life in Colima without taking into account the convergence of cultures that began five hundred years ago and continues to shape our identity today”. The Mexican representative stressed that the ways in which the people of Colima think, believe and feel are deeply rooted in this historical process and in the legacy of those who arrived from Extremadura.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the mayor of Puebla and Villa de Guadalupe, José Miguel Martín Ramiro.

Over two days, the 3^rd Guadalupe in America Sessions explore the history of Colima and the processes that shaped New Spain’s society, helping to deepen understanding of the historical and cultural heritage shared by Extremadura and Mexico, while fostering new opportunities for dialogue and cooperation between the two regions

The European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation continues to foster forums for dialogue and debate on relations between both sides of the Atlantic. To this end, it has organised the 10^th International Congress on Relations between Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe in Santiago, Chile. Entitled “Multilateralism and Global Governance”, this tenth edition seeks to examine and analyse the joint responses that both regions can develop to address the major global challenges arising in a changing geopolitical, economic, technological and social landscape, one that calls for stronger cooperation, dialogue and institutional capacities between regions. (25/10/2026)

On 27 and 28 October, the Universidad Autónoma de Chile will thus provide the setting for a discussion of global significance and serve as a meeting point for two regions that share history, ties and challenges. The congress will bring together knowledge, institutions and territories to strengthen horizontal dialogue between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and help develop shared responses to a world in transformation.

A MEETING POINT

Over two days, the programme will bring together leading academics, researchers, specialists and institutional representatives from Spain and Chile, with the aim of creating an international platform for bi-regional reflection and strategic dialogue on cooperation, multilateralism and global governance.

The opening lecture will be delivered by Francisco Pérez Mackenna, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Chile. Topics to be addressed include Europe’s and Latin America’s responses to the crisis of multilateralism; the impact of technological development, particularly artificial intelligence, on democracy and international relations; multilateralism and global governance; and Extremadura as a bridge between Europe and Ibero-America, a presentation to be delivered by Fernando Pizarro García-Polo, director of the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation.

The congress is organised by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation and the Universidad Autónoma de Chile, with the support of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Rey Juan Carlos University – Centre for Research in Ibero-American Studies, the University of Extremadura, and the International University of Extremadura (UNINDE).

The initiative is being held within the framework of Yuste Foundation’s School of Guadalupe and the project “Cooperación UE-ALC en un Mundo en Transformación: Fortalecimiento Institucional para la Gobernanza Global” (EU–LAC Cooperation in a Changing World: Strengthening Institutions for Global Governance), funded by AEXCID.

IN-PERSON AND ONLINE

Those interested can register free of charge via the following link: https://www.uautonoma.cl/x-congreso-internacional-fundacionyuste/. The congress can also be followed via livestream on Yuste Foundation’s YouTube channel.

27 October: https://youtube.com/live/o8zw1sfWcRc?feature=share

28 October: https://youtube.com/live/jknxzJFf-q4?feature=share

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Yuste Foundation’s institutional agenda in Santiago de Chile will also include a series of meetings with institutional representatives. Fernando Pizarro, director of Yuste Foundation, will meet with Paulina Núñez, president of the Senate of Chile, and Mario Desbordes, mayor of Santiago de Chile.

Yuste Foundation also aims to strengthen its ties with the Universidad Autónoma de Chile. The two institutions will sign a general cooperation agreement, to be signed by Fernando Pizarro, director of Yuste Foundation, and Teodoro Ribera Neumann, rector of the university. The visit will also include a tour of the Universidad Autónoma de Chile’s Huechuraba Research and Innovation Centre.

Historians have called for deeper exploration of the relations between Spain and the Americas and greater investment in scientific and academic research on the subject. (23/10/2026)

The influence of the Order of Alcántara on Nicolás de Ovando’s career was the focus of the final session of the International Congress “Frey Nicolás de Ovando: The Extremaduran Who Organised the New World”, held as part of the 15th Humanism Sessions, which concluded at the San Benito Convent in Alcántara.

Dionisio Martín Nieto, a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts, examined in his lecture how Nicolás de Ovando’s family origins, his ties to Cáceres and his career within the military order proved decisive in shaping his political career and his subsequent appointment as governor of the Indies. “Although Ovando held important positions within the Order of Alcántara, the Catholic Monarchs thwarted his ambitions to attain the position of grand master, but he was compensated with the governorship of the Indies”, he explained.

The historian also recalled that, after returning from America, Ovando was laid to rest at the San Benito Convent in Alcántara, reflecting his close ties to the institution and his Extremaduran roots.

Before the closing session, a round-table discussion was held with Spanish and Dominican academics and professors to share insights into the current state of Americanist studies at universities in Spain and Latin America, as well as academic publications on the Americas. “There is a need for more in-depth research and greater resources to promote scientific and academic studies of the relationship between Spain and the Americas, and between the Americas and Spain”, argued José Julián Barriga, coordinator of the congress and a member of its scientific committee.

To close the international congress, María del Mar Lozano, director of the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts (RAEX), called for a rigorous and critical interpretation of the relations between Extremadura and the Americas, stressing that “the task is not to replace one oversimplification with another, nor to judge the past using easy formulae, but to understand it in all its complexity”.

The RAEX director also highlighted the participation of researchers from the Dominican Republic and the strengthening of academic collaboration between both sides of the Atlantic. Finally, Lozano announced plans to publish the papers presented at the congress, with the support of Alcántara town council, and stressed that “the congress does not truly end with the final session on its programme, but must continue through new research and publications that will bring this history closer to future generations”, she concluded.

The day began with a guided tour of the San Benito Convent, while the academic sessions were chaired by Carmen Fernández-Daza, a member of the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts (RAEX).

Organised by the Regional Government of Extremadura, through the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport, and the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts, the congress brought together Spanish and Dominican specialists over three days in Cáceres, Trujillo and Alcántara to explore the figure of Nicolás de Ovando and his role in the political, economic, legal and territorial organisation of the New World.

The 15^th humanism sessions in Trujillo examine the political, legal and cultural legacy of the Extremaduran Frey Nicolás de Ovando in America. (23/10/2026)

The 15^th humanism sessions, dedicated to “Frey Nicolás de Ovando: The Extremaduran Who Organised the New World”, held their second day at the Lorenzana Palace in Trujillo, the seat of the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts (RAEX). The programme focused on the political, legal and cultural transformations that marked the early years of the Castilian presence in America.

The morning session featured presentations by Francisco Javier Pizarro, professor emeritus at the University of Extremadura, who analysed the evolution of the image of the Antilles. Angélika García, professor at the University of Extremadura, explored the figure of Anacaona, a Taíno cacica, and her legacy, particularly through the work of Ana Mendieta, one of the most widely recognised and acclaimed artists of the second half of the 20^th century, whose extensive body of work “draws on the artistic and mythological canons of the Taíno people to reflect on the image of America as applied to women in the 15^th century and in the present day, creating a concise yet eternal feminine line”, she explained.

To conclude the morning session, Sixto Sánchez Lauro, a legal historian and member of the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation of Extremadura, examined royal instructions as the origins of Derecho indiano (the body of law governing the Spanish territories in the Americas). “Ovando’s role takes centre stage not as a mere executor, but as an active agent in the development of the law, interpreting, adapting and sometimes going beyond the Instructions to make the political, economic and spiritual organisation of the island viable”, he stated.

The afternoon session will explore the establishment of the first municipal councils (cabildos) on Hispaniola and their importance in consolidating the colony’s territorial and administrative organisation and strengthening the authority of the Crown. The presentation will be delivered by Genaro Rodríguez Morel, a member of the Dominican Academy of History.

The programme will continue with three papers examining the historical origins of the Virgin of Altagracia and the religious ties between Garrovillas de Alconétar and the Dominican Republic, as well as the role of publishing in disseminating studies on the history of the Americas. The speakers will be Genaro Rodríguez Morel, a member of the Dominican Academy of History; Florencio-Javier García Mogollón, full professor and professor emeritus at the University of Extremadura; Julia Antonia Vicioso Varelas, a lecturer at Sapienza University of Rome; and Basilio Rodríguez Cañada, a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts (RAEX) and publisher, respectively.

With this programme, the second day of the Congress has offered a multidisciplinary perspective on Nicolás de Ovando’s legacy, bringing together history, law, art and heritage, while further exploring the historical ties between Extremadura and the American continent.

Those attending included the cultural attaché of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Spain; Miguel Reyes Sánchez, president of the Dominican Academy of History; María del Mar Lozano, director of the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts; and Fernando Pizarro, director of the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation.

Following the sessions held in Cáceres and Trujillo, the sessions entitled “Frey Nicolás de Ovando: The Extremaduran Who Organised the New World” are scheduled to conclude tomorrow, Saturday 24 October, at the Convent of San Benito in Alcántara.

The event is organised by the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts, in collaboration with the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Yuste Foundation and other institutions.

Experts from Spanish and Dominican universities examine the figure of the governor of Hispaniola and his role in shaping the Atlantic world. The event will take place in Cáceres, Trujillo and Alcántara. (22/10/2026)

José Luis Gil Soto, secretary-general for Culture of the Regional Government of Extremadura, has inaugurated the International Congress “Fray Nicolás de Ovando: The Extremaduran Who Organised the New World” in Cáceres. The academic event brings together Spanish and Dominican specialists to explore the life and career of this Extremaduran figure and his influence on the institutional organisation of the first American territories under Castilian rule.

In his address, he highlighted the strategy promoted by the Regional Government of Extremadura through its Regional Ministry of Culture and the Extremaduran Foundation for Culture, Extremestiza. The aim, he explained, is to “renew the ties between Extremadura and the Americas through knowledge, dialogue and cultural and ethnic mixing, recognising that our shared memory can become a basis for cultural, academic and social cooperation in the present and for the future”.

In the secretary-general’s view, cultural and ethnic mixing is not merely a historical category, but the result of centuries of movement and exchange involving people, languages, knowledge, ideas and ways of understanding the world, “making it today one of the major areas of connection between Extremadura, Europe and Latin America”.

For her part, Mar Lozano, president of the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts, noted that the congress aims to deepen understanding of Nicolás de Ovando through a shared historical perspective, “incorporating research and experiences from both sides of the Atlantic in order to avoid partial interpretations”, she stated.

The congress seeks to deepen understanding of the Americas and the role played by Extremadura in history and in shaping the Atlantic world, drawing on rigorous historical research. “Our aim is to make tangible progress in our understanding of Nicolás de Ovando by examining his career within the political, institutional, economic, social and cultural context of his time”, said the president of the Royal Academy of Extremadura.

The programme features researchers from Spanish and Dominican universities, as well as representatives of the Dominican Republic’s Academy of History, led by its president, Miguel Reyes Sánchez. The sessions will take place in Cáceres, Trujillo and Alcántara, three towns closely linked to the life and career of Nicolás de Ovando.

The opening ceremony also featured speeches by Emilio Borrega, first deputy mayor of Cáceres, who highlighted Extremadura’s growing profile as a meeting point for Hispanism and international historical debate, and Teresa Terrón, vice-rector for University Outreach at the University of Extremadura, who emphasised the opportunity to revisit a key figure for understanding the shared history of Europe and the Americas.

Among the other authorities attending the event were María Félix Tena, president of the High Court of Justice of Extremadura, and José Antonio García Muñoz, deputy government representative in Cáceres.

Nicolás de Ovando

Ovando represents a pivotal moment in the transition from the experience of the military orders in the Iberian Peninsula to the institutional organisation of overseas territories. Having been trained in the Order of Alcántara, which was closely linked to Extremadura and the Crown, he served as tutor to Prince Juan and held important positions, including commander of Lares and grand commander. In 1502, the Catholic Monarchs appointed him governor of Hispaniola, tasking him with restoring order and consolidating royal authority. His administration, which lasted until 1509, marked a decisive period in the establishment of Castilian rule in the Caribbean. During these years, administrative and economic foundations were laid, the territory was organised, and the establishment of new settlements and town councils was encouraged, marking the beginnings of colonial urban life. His administration also saw the promotion of charitable institutions, including some of the earliest hospitals in the Americas.

Nearly 200 people have registered for the international congress “Nicolás de Ovando: The Extremaduran Who Organised the New World”, which will take place in Cáceres, Trujillo and Alcántara on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th, respectively. The congress has attracted considerable interest among historians and researchers, with a strong representation of participants from across the Ibero-American community, particularly the Dominican Republic. (21/10/2026)

The event will present and examine previously unexplored aspects of the life and career of one of the most influential figures in shaping the Hispanic world in the Americas and a key figure during the early years of the Spanish presence in the New World. In doing so, it will contribute to a deeper understanding of his legacy and historical significance.

Among the speakers at the congress will be Miguel Reyes Sánchez, president of the Dominican Academy of History, and several members of the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts, including professors Esteban Mira Caballos, José Miguel de Mayoralgo y Lodo, Javier Pizarro and Sixto Sánchez Lauro, among others.

The programme will also feature professors Angélica García Manso of the University of Extremadura and Julia Antonia Vicioso of Sapienza University of Rome, respectively.

In addition to shedding further light on Nicolás de Ovando, the congress will help strengthen academic and scientific ties between Extremadura and the university and historical research communities of the Hispanic world.

Those wishing to attend in person or online can register by 6 November via the following link: https://www.raex.es/index.php/actividades/jornadas-seminarios-congresos.html

The event is organised by the Royal Academy of Extremadura of Letters and Arts, in collaboration with the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Regional Government of Extremadura and Yuste Foundation, among other institutions.

The 3rd Guadalupe in the Americas Sessions Focus on the 500th Anniversary of the Founding of Colima and the Twinning of the Mexican City with Puebla de Guadalupe. (21/10/2026)

The European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation and the Extremadura Foundation for Culture are organising the 3rd Guadalupe in the Americas Sessions on 26 and 27 October at the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe. This year’s edition will focus on the Mexican city of Colima.

The third sessions take as their starting point the 500th anniversary of the founding of the town of San Sebastián de Colima, now the capital of the Mexican State of the same name, to examine the historical processes that shaped New Spanish society during the 16th century.

The founding of Colima provides an opportunity to study the establishment and adaptation in the Americas of the Castilian municipal model, its institutions of government and justice, and the processes of evangelisation, transculturation and cultural and ethnic mixing.

The programme will bring together specialists from Spain and Mexico, particularly from Extremadura and Colima, to analyse these processes from historical, legal, religious and cultural perspectives. The participation of municipal representatives from Colima highlights the institutional dimension of this gathering, which aims to make knowledge of this shared history a foundation for strengthening relations between the two cities and their communities.

Topics to be addressed include local government, the administration of justice, the Franciscan presence, the legal protection of Indigenous communities, and the responsibilities of those in positions of authority during the early years of viceregal society.

One of the key figures to be explored during the sessions will be Lorenzo Lebrón de Quiñones, a jurist born in Guadalupe in 1515 who was closely associated with the history of Colima. His career is particularly significant because of his role in the administration of justice and his defence of the Indigenous population within the framework of Derecho indiano, the body of law governing Spain’s overseas territories.

GUADALUPE’S HISTORICAL LINKS WITH THE AMERICAS

The Guadalupe in the Americas Sessions form part of Yuste Foundation’s so-called School of Guadalupe and aim to deepen understanding of Guadalupe’s historical legacy and its longstanding commitment to the study of the Americas and, by extension, that of Extremadura.

The academic gathering will also coincide with the formal celebration of the twinning between Puebla de Guadalupe and the city of Colima, recently approved by both municipal councils. It will take place within the context of the Holy Year of Guadalupe.

The choice of Guadalupe as the venue for these sessions reflects the historical significance of the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe and its role in the history of relations between Spain and the Americas.

Holding the event during the Holy Year of Guadalupe will also provide an opportunity to explore the spiritual dimension of this shared heritage and its potential to keep alive the historical and cultural ties between communities separated by the ocean.

The convergence of the 500th anniversary of Colima, the Holy Year of Guadalupe and the twinning of the two cities makes this gathering a particularly significant occasion to highlight the value of historical memory as a foundation for dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding between Spain and Mexico.

Those interested can register free of charge via the following link: https://forms.gle/nZdGipYjhsHLnk9B9. Attendees who request one will receive a certificate of attendance issued by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation.

All presentations will be streamed live on Yuste Foundation’s YouTube channel.

An international conference will bring together European experts in cultural heritage, innovation and new technologies at the Palace of Charles V in the Alhambra on 21 and 22 October. (19/10/2026)

The European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation is helping to organise the international conference “Storytelling Europe’s History in the Age of AI”, dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to promote, interpret and disseminate European cultural heritage. The event will take place at the Palace of Charles V in the Alhambra, Granada, on 21 and 22 October.

The event, organised in collaboration with the Cooperation Network of the Cultural Routes of Emperor Charles V, the University of Granada and the Alhambra and Generalife Board of Trustees, will bring together European specialists to examine the opportunities offered by new technologies to improve the conservation, interpretation and accessibility of cultural heritage, as well as to make it more accessible to the public.

The conference is part of the European project MARY4ALL, in which Yuste Foundation is an associate partner, and coincides with commemorations marking the 500^th anniversary of Emperor Charles V and Isabella of Portugal’s honeymoon in Granada.

Digital exhibition

As part of the same project, the Taller de la Cordelería, a former rope-making workshop in Granada, will host the digital exhibition “The Dream of a Renaissance Princess. Mary of Hungary, Sister of Charles V and Power Politician” from 20 October to 20 November. The exhibition is dedicated to the sister of Emperor Charles V, one of the most influential political and cultural figures of the Renaissance.

MARY4ALL is a cultural cooperation project funded by the Creative Europe programme. It promotes the use of digital technologies to recover and disseminate Renaissance heritage, with particular emphasis on female patronage and cultural accessibility.

The conference will be streamed live on the YouTube channel of the Cooperation Network of the Cultural Routes of Emperor Charles V:

– 21 October: https://youtube.com/live/Z5ZrpghZrNA?feature=share

– 22 October: https://youtube.com/live/1cNmtgS1kHY?feature=share

The event, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, is being held in Cáceres, with both in-person and online participation, to analyse the main geopolitical challenges facing Europe and Ibero-America. (15/10/2026)

Over 150 people from nine countries have registered for the 4^th edition of the Sessions on Security and Defence in the Ibero-American Region, organised by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation and the Ministry of Defence. The event, being held in Cáceres with most participants attending online, brings together experts, institutional representatives and students to reflect on the strategic and security challenges posed by the current international context.

At the opening ceremony, the director of Yuste Foundation, Fernando Pizarro, stressed the importance of creating spaces for rigorous analysis in response to the proliferation of messages about security and defence in public debate, the media and on social media. In this regard, he highlighted the value of sessions that “bring together the experience and knowledge of people with an in-depth understanding of these issues, which are of crucial importance to a country and to the world”.

Pizarro also highlighted the message of “unity and concord” conveyed by King Felipe VI during his recent visit to Ceuta and Melilla. Referring to Miguel de Unamuno, he defended truth and knowledge as the foundations of a solid and lasting peace.

Fernando Manzano, secretary-general for Home Affairs, Emergencies and Civil Protection of the Regional Government of Extremadura, emphasised the topicality of the issues being discussed and the opportunity these sessions provide for students from the University of Extremadura to share knowledge and experiences with specialists in the field.

The deputy defence representative in Cáceres, Colonel Vicente Lunar Bravo, highlighted how security and defence continue to shape the balance of power and the world order. He also emphasised the importance of cooperation between Spain and Ibero-America in addressing the challenges posed by the so-called “grey zone” between peace and war.

The mayor of Cáceres, Rafael Mateos, thanked Yuste Foundation for holding this event in the city and highlighted its contribution to Cáceres’ bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2031.

The sessions also feature contributions from former minister of Defence Federico Trillo; former president of the Regional Government of Extremadura and senator José Antonio Monago; colonel Juan Carlos Castilla Barea, senior analyst and associate lecturer at the Spanish Centre for National Defence Studies (CESEDEN) and the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE); and Juan Félix González González, full professor at the University of Extremadura.