Records note that 700 experienced mountain guerrillas and Gaucin residents (Gaucin residents in costume), tried unsuccessfully to defend the town and the castle. The French hauled canon up the escarpment, sacked the town, laid waste the Carmelite convent and expropriated its treasures. Razed 135 private houses and killed citizens, as well as burning the municipal archives. They stripped the Santo Niño (the Gaucin Saint) of his costly vestments and threw the image over the cliff.
The French adventure impoverished Gaucín, and bandolerismo became a career. Traditional costumes for the annual re-enactment from the “romantic era” and the Serrania de Ronda were made by residents of Gaucin in the Bandoleros workshop under the supervision of - Faustino Peralta Carrasco. They looked wonderful as you can see.
There was plenty of rain this spring which meant that the countryside benefited enormously and the wild flowers were spectacular everywhere: It made for absolutely stunning walking or riding weather.
I / Casa Mosaica Studio took part in Art Gaucin Open Studios again this year. 22 artists were in the group, it was a super sunny weekend and Sebastian Fisher brought some of his beautiful metal art pieces to show alongside mosaics in the house and garden.
If you are interested to find out more about the other exhibiting artists have a look at artgaucin facebook page or www.artgaucin.com. You can follow Casa Mosaica Studio on face book to find out the latest mosaic news.
The calendar is going up for next year as I have already taken bookings for Easter and several weeks in May 2017. If anyone is interested in staying at Casa Mosaica over Christmas 2016 and New Year do contact me as I will definitely not be here this year and could possibly make some extra rooms available upstairs for a larger house party as well as make it all very festive with decorations etc. Last year Christmas was wonderful in Gaucin, good weather and lovely walking...
Looking forward to the summer ahead and welcoming new guests who are coming for the first time as well as seeing familiar faces back at Casa Mosaica again.
Best wishes as usual from all the Casa Mosaica team, and of course the very naughty but lovable... Kevin and Geoffrey.
Emma
