PICASSO CERAMICS IN BAEZA
A hundred pieces of ceramics are by Pablo Ruiz Picasso are on show in the Andalucian International University exhibition hall in Jaén as a complementary activity to the summer courses. Here we can find pieces made by Picasso from the 40's to the last years of his life. From elements of human and animal nature to subjects from the world of bullfighting. Ceramics arose in Picasso after a trip to the south of France where he discovered the potter’s tradition in a workshop in the Valorís district. The exhibition remains open until September 14.

NATIONAL MAGIC CONGRESS IN GRANADA
Some 400 magicians from across the world meet in Granada between September 13-16 for the 24th National Magic Congress, where there will be conferences, competitive sessions and open air performances. Although the inauguration is on the 13th, previous to that there will be magicians performing to the public at night in several points of the city. On the 15th the streets will again be the stage for an escapologist session on the Paseo del Salón. On the same day an International gala takes place with six of best magicians of the world.
The Granada National Magic Congress also has a fair where more than 25 companies will present the latest new items on the magic market and where demonstrations can also be seen. 19 magicians have been contracted for the event, including the Spaniards Juan Tamariz and Monty.

ESTEPONA DOLMEN
These are the remains of a dolman which is more that 5,000 years old found in the town of Estepona, Málaga - the first megalithic burial chamber of its type to be found in the province. It is an extraordinary find of great scientific interest as there were no previous indications of human occupancy of this area between the third and first millennium before Christ before. In the excavations remains of personal items left inside the tomb were found, thought to be necklaces made of semi-precious stones, as well as tools for cutting such as flint knives. The dolmen was found on a prehistoric site when work to establish the environmental impact of the new Costa del Sol motorway between Estepona and Guadiaro was being carried out.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET SCHOOL
The first hotel school for the Mediterranean diet will start operations in this 2,001-2002 academic year in the Málaga province village of Benahavís. It will have some 30 students, a third of which will be Moroccan. The courses will last two years and be subsidised by the Employment department of the regional government which will give around 60 million pesetas a year to the project. The arab students will be subsidised by their government. Although there are already two hotel schools in the province of Málaga - La Cónsula and in Benalmádena, this one in Benahavís will be the first centre for the Mediterranean diet. This Málaga village has a high number of restaurants - 32 - offering specialities such as suckling pig, lamb and game.

‘CASCAMORRAS’ FIESTA
Andalucía has a great number of traditions which have been celebrated for centuries and which live on in the villages of the region. One of them is the fiesta of Cascamorras which the inhabitants of Guadiz and Baza in Granada province celebrate each year during the first week of September. The fiesta is inspired in the dispute between the villages for the possession of the image of the Virgin of Piety in Baza. The Cascamorras is in fact a youngster who is sent to the town to recover the statue. But he is expected and held back being covered in paint and water. The next day the youngster returns to Guadiz where the locals chase him for not bringing back the virgin. This tradition dates back to the 15th century and was declared to be of National Tourist Interest by the tourism council last March. A spectacle which is well worth watching and which attracts a crowd of visitors each year.

AUTUMN FIESTAS IN JEREZ
The city of Jerez de la Frontera in Cádiz province celebrates its traditional Autumn fiestas from September 8. For 17 days visitors and locals alike in this beautiful Andalucian town can enjoy the events which bring together the best of wine culture, horses and flamenco. The party begins on Saturday, coinciding with the grape harvest. The first event is therefore the gala of the treading of the grapes to celebrate the new crop. Another thing very much a part of these Jerez autumn fiestas is the horses, it being an internationally famous place in the equestrian world, both for the horses from here, and because of its choice as home of the World Equestrian games in 2002. The fiestas include horse shows, races and parades as well as a display of carriages. Fiestas full of fun and spectacle.

MOORS AND CHRISTIANS IN VÁLOR
One of the most picturesque and spectacular fiestas in Andalucía is the battle between the Moors and Christians. On the 15th of September we can enjoy an example of this in Válor, a beautiful village in the Granada Alpujarras. These skirmishes reenact the Moors’ rebellion against Felipe II in the 16th century when he was finally crowned king of the Alpujarras. Hundreds of visitors attend the show each year to celebrate the victory of who was their king in fiestas which start on the 12th in honour of Santo Cristo de la Yedra and which continue until the 15th - the day of the battle between the Moors and Christians. The Granada province village of Válor is found in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and is reached by the N-421 road. Don’t miss one of the most colourful and picturesque fiestas in Andalucía - well worth seeing.

THE QUEENS DRESSING ROOM
Romantic travellers have left their mark of admiration for the High Dressing Room of the Queen - one of the most suggestive rooms of the Granada Alhambra. Numerous graffiti and the signatures of historic people have been added to the painted walls of this room of the Carlos V palace across the centuries. History and art combining in a tower which is now being remembered and rescued from erosion.
A minuscule labour being carried out by 12 art experts intent on rescuing the soul of the paintings, together with professionals in history, chemistry and photography. The idea of the project is to hold a deep respect for the imprint left by man across time. It is not a repainting that is taking place, but a reliving of the wall paintings by Aquiles and Mayner, followers of Rafael, showing the triumphant battles of Carlos V. It’s the first time that a laser technique has been used in restoration in Spain. A lantern defence tower in Arab times, a warm dressing room for Isabel from Portugal in Christian times. This lookout has an immense treasure inside waiting to be discovered.

FIFTH FESTIVAL OF THE MOORISH MOON - GUARO
A small Málaga province village, Guaro, will fill with the magic of the Hispanic Arab culture from this Friday in a fiesta which has been held for the past five years in this village set in the beautiful Sierra de las Nieves. For yet another year the Festival of Moorish Moon on September 7, 8 and 15 lets us discover the charm of the Arab craft market where we can find items from ironwork and pottery to examples of Moroccan cuisine. All in an atmosphere of theatre, music and Arab-Andalucian dance in the light of thousands of candles which burn into the early hours. This year in addition flamenco artists as famous as Manolo Sanlúcar, Carmen Linares and Enrique Morente will add even more to the magic of a festival which is one of the best displays of Spanish- Arab and Sephardic culture.

AGENDA
One of the most popular districts of Granada, el Zaidín, is the stage for the 11th edition of a rock festival which is held between September 13-15. This year names such as Ariel Rot and Elliot Murphy perform. Entrance is free.

September 8 the Cádiz province town of Chipiona celebrates its traditional fiestas in honour of the Virgen de Regla. A festival which awakens the religious fervour of the locals.

The Antonio Machado home of the Andalucía International University in Baeza, Jaén province, is celebrating a cinema festival dedicated to the actor Gary Cooper. It’s in honour of a century from his birth and is part of the complementary offer to the summer courses and continues until September 14.

Saturday September 8 the Málaga province village of Benamocarra holds a music festival. A chance to enjoy good music and the landscape of this inland village.

El Corral del Carbón in Granada hosts the Second edition of the Corral of comedies until the 8th of this month. Each Friday and Saturday sees a performance of ‘El Retablillo de Don Cristóbal’ by García Lorca and ‘El Retablo de las Maravillas’ by Miguel de Cervantes.

Ronda bullring offers the 25th edition of the Carriages competition on September 9. A beautiful show of carts pulled by beautiful pure Spanish breed horses.

Lovers of speed and cars can travel to Cádiz this Saturday where the 5th Slalom car rally is held in Benalup-Casas Viejas.

The town of Lucena in Córdoba province is the place for piano lovers until September 1. The gardens of the municipal Los Santos centre hold an international piano festival until then.

Three Andalucian rock groups are taking part in the 3rd edition of ‘Garbanzo Rock’ which is held in Torredelcampo in Jaén province on the 7th and 8th of this month. The winner from last years competition will also take part.

The town of Villamartín in Cádiz celebrates its 7th flamenco night on September 14. It takes place in the patio of columns of the San Francisco cultural centre at 10pm.

Two Málaga province villages, Fuente de Piedra and Mollina, celebrate their fairs on September 9. An occasion to enjoy and get to know two beautiful villages of Málaga province.

The Alcances cinema show continues in Cádiz until September 15 where films as classic as Modern Times by Charlie Chaplin will be show with new independent productions. This edition has a cycle of films about the working class and their representation on the silver screen.

The village of Casarabonela, in Málaga province holds one of the most picturesque and spectacular fiestas on the 12th. The festival of the Virgen de los Rondeles has the carrying of the virgin through the streets of the village illuminated only by torches.

If you like fast boats don’t forget to get down to the Parque del Oeste in Málaga on September 9 when the 8th Andalucian championship takes place. The Andalucian motorboat federation and the Jábega Naval Club jointly organise the competition.