The Arts Society Costa del Sol closes its 2025/2026 season with a compelling illustrated lecture on the secret symbols hidden in centuries of great art masterpieces, open to non-members for just €10. 

Art: A Detective Story Decoding Symbols in Painting

The final lecture of the season takes place on Monday, May 11 at the Salon Varietes Theatre, Fuengirola, doors open from 4pm, with the talk beginning at 4:30pm. The lecture is titled Art: A Detective Story – Decoding Symbols in Painting, and it promises to change the way you look at every painting you will ever see again.

The premise is simple and fascinating. Paintings are silent, yet they are designed to communicate. Sometimes the message is obvious. More often it is layered, encoded in objects, gestures, colours and figures that carried specific meaning to the audiences of their time. 

From medieval altarpieces and Renaissance portraits to Dutch still lifes, Baroque ceiling paintings and Victorian genre scenes, the lecture traces the rich tradition of symbols, emblems and allegories that artists used to elevate, educate, warn and criticise,  communicating far more than the eye first registers.

Lydia Bauman the lecturer

The talk is delivered by the incredibly impressive Lydia Bauman, a highly experienced art educator working in the field today. Born in Poland, she completed her BA in Fine Art at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where she was awarded both the John Christie Scholarship and the Hatton Award. She then studied at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, earning an MA in History of Art with a Distinction for her thesis on Matisse’s Illustrations to Poetry.

Her talents don’t end there, Lydia has taught at London’s National Gallery for more than 35 years, and has lectured intermittently at the Tate Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Hermitage, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Since March 2020 she has delivered more than 180 online lectures through her own programme, Art For The Uninitiated. She is an accredited lecturer with The Arts Society.

Ticket information and how to attend

Admission is free for members of The Arts Society Costa del Sol, whose membership covers the full lecture season. Members of other Arts Society societies are welcome at a discounted rate of €8, payable at the door. Non-members are invited to attend for a donation of €10, also payable on arrival.

The Salon Varietes Theatre is centrally located in Fuengirola. Arriving from 4:00pm allows time to take your seat before the lecture begins at 4:30pm.

More about the society

Founded in 1988 as the Costa del Sol Decorative and Fine Arts Society (DFAS), The Arts Society Costa del Sol was the first society of its kind in Spain and remains part of a global network of Arts Society chapters. The society has members from a number of different nationalities all united by a shared love and interest in art and culture. 

Monthly illustrated lectures run from October to May, covering painting, architecture, history, and cultural heritage, with particular attention to the artistic legacy of Spain. Members have a full social calendar including after-lecture drinks and dinners, a Christmas lunch, an end-of-season dinner dance, a Members’ Forum, and carefully researched cultural day trips to destinations across Spain and Europe.

New members are encouraged and always welcome. For more information visit The Arts Society Costa Del Sol website. 

If you have an interest in art, would like to learn something new, or have a painting in your house that you believe has an inner meaning then this event is perfect for you. 

Art: A Detective Story  – Decoding Symbols in Painting. Monday, May 11, 4:30pm. Salon Varietes Theatre, Fuengirola. Non-members €10, pay at door.

A technical issue involving the Airbus 310 carrying Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez led to an unscheduled landing in Turkey while he was travelling to Armenia for a European summit. The incident occurred during an official trip linked to the European Political Community meeting.

According to reports, the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction mid-flight, prompting the crew to divert as a precautionary measure.  The landing took place in Ankara, where the delegation remained overnight before continuing their journey to Armenia the following day. The stopover interrupted the planned travel schedule but did not affect Sánchez’s participation in the summit. The aircraft was operating as part of an official government flight, with security and technical protocols activated once the issue was identified.

Diversion decision and landing in Ankara

The decision to divert to Ankara was taken after the crew detected a technical problem during the flight. Safety procedures required an immediate assessment of the situation, and the landing in Turkey was carried out as a precaution rather than an emergency descent. Once on the ground, checks were carried out on the aircraft while arrangements were made for the delegation to remain in Turkey overnight.

No injuries were reported among those on board, and there was no indication of any security threat linked to the incident. The following day, alternative arrangements were made to continue the journey to Armenia so that Sánchez could attend the planned European Political Community summit. The meeting brings together leaders from across the continent to discuss political, economic and security issues.

Official trip to Armenia

The visit to Armenia forms part of Spain’s participation in European discussions involving heads of state and government. These summits are designed to provide a forum for coordination between European countries on shared challenges, including international security, energy policy and regional stability.

Despite the disruption caused by the aircraft issue, the Spanish delegation proceeded with the programme once travel resumed. The stopover did not result in any changes to the agenda in Armenia.

Aircraft safety procedures

In cases involving official government flights, strict protocols are in place to deal with technical irregularities. When a fault is detected, crews are trained to prioritise landing at the nearest suitable airport where maintenance and safety checks can be carried out. The diversion to Ankara followed standard aviation procedures designed to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

Such measures are routine in civil and government aviation when technical concerns arise, even if the issue does not constitute a critical emergency. Once grounded, aircraft undergo inspection by technical teams to determine the cause of the fault and whether repairs are required before further travel. In this case, the delegation waited overnight while arrangements were made for continuation of the trip.

No reported impact on delegation

There were no reports of injuries or medical incidents among those on board. The delegation, which included officials accompanying the Prime Minister, remained in Turkey during the overnight stop without further complications.

Press reports indicate that the situation was managed in coordination with aviation authorities and relevant government services. The aircraft later continued its journey once the necessary arrangements were completed.

Context of European Political Community summit

The European Political Community summit, which was the destination of the trip, brings together leaders from across Europe to discuss cooperation on political and strategic issues. It has become a regular forum for dialogue between European Union and non-EU countries.

Spain’s participation in the summit reflects its role in broader European discussions on regional stability and policy coordination. The event typically includes bilateral meetings and multilateral sessions between attending leaders.

Travel disruption resolved

Although the technical fault led to an unexpected interruption in travel, the situation was resolved without further incident. The aircraft diversion to Turkey ensured safety procedures were followed, and the delegation was able to continue its journey to Armenia once conditions allowed.

Three fatalities have been reported following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship currently traversing the Atlantic Ocean. World Health Organisation (WHO) representatives confirmed the deaths occurred aboard the MV Hondius as it sailed from Argentina to Cape Verde.

One case of the rare virus has been officially confirmed, with five additional suspected cases currently under investigation by international health bodies. British officials are currently monitoring the condition of a 69-year-old UK national who remains in intensive care in Johannesburg following an emergency evacuation for specialist care.

Fatalities reported during Atlantic crossing

South African health ministry officials said that the first casualty was a 70-year-old man who died while the ship was still at sea. His 69-year-old wife also succumbed to the illness in a Johannesburg hospital after being moved from the vessel for urgent treatment. Sources close to the case identified the deceased couple as Dutch nationals who were holidaying on the remote route.

Hantavirus transmission and ship safety

Hantavirus infections typically reach humans through direct contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine, and saliva. Severe respiratory distress often follows infection, creating a serious medical emergency for those affected by the pathogen. While human-to-human transmission is rare, the contained environment of a cruise ship necessitates strict health protocols to protect all those remaining on board during the voyage.

World Health Organisation experts are currently coordinating with member states and Oceanwide Expeditions to manage the ongoing public health risk and facilitate medical evacuations. Two other passengers displaying symptoms may face isolation in Cape Verde before the ship proceeds to Spain’s Canary Islands later this week to undergo further screening.

MV Hondius originally departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on March 20 and was scheduled to finish its journey in early May. Global authorities are monitoring the situation closely to guarantee all remaining passengers receive necessary support and medical screening before the voyage continues to its final destination.

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